ARLINGTON, TEXAS – In 2012, the Twins decided not to bring up infielder Brian Dozier, who had debuted earlier in the year but was eventually sent down to Class AAA Rochester for seasoning. A motivated Dozier reported for spring training the next year and took off on a path that led to an All-Star Game appearance in 2015 and a Gold Glove last season.
Perhaps that's what the Twins hope will happen with Byron Buxton, as they announced following Saturday's game that the former No. 2 overall pick would not be called up for the rest of the major league season despite batting .365 at Class AAA Rochester since coming off the disabled list on Aug. 14.
"I know there's a lot of questions surrounding this entire issue," Twins manager Paul Molitor sad. "Everything from other clubs have done with different players, us with Brian, and people are going to react differently sometimes.
"I think time is a really good ally for everybody involved. Ultimately, it's going to still be about him and his career and his performance and his health and all those things moving forward. When we circle back and start another campaign, everybody hopes that all our goals are the same of what we're trying to accomplish."
Buxton was not in the lineup Sunday for Rochester for its game against Lehigh Valley, and indications were that he wouldn't play in Monday's season's finale. Perhaps that's why he left Rochester on Sunday; perhaps frustration is why.
When announcing the decision after Saturday's game, Twins General Manager Thad Levine laid out three reasons:
The Twins want Buxton healthy for 2019, and he has been playing with soreness in the left wrist that landed him on the DL in early August; his impressive batting average apparently belies his approach or quality of contact; and they want to look at other players in September.
"We are singularly focused on putting together a plan with our strength and conditioning, medical staff, hitting staff to put Byron in the best position to enter spring training 2019 ready to compete, seize the starting center field job and be the force we all believe he can be, which he knows he can be for the Minnesota Twins for years to come," Levine said.