Byron Buxton Not w/Saints; Plans to Meet with Twins About Bad Knee on Friday

Byron Buxton hasn’t been in the Minnesota Twins lineup since August 1, after going on the injured list with a strained hamstring. But earlier this week, he began a rehab assignment with the St. Paul Saints and started his first game back in center field, something he hadn’t done since August 22, 2022.

Buxton and the Twins were hoping he’d be able to play some centerfield, so they’d have a spot for him in their 2023 playoff lineup. As a designated hitter this season, Buxton has been mostly terrible (.207/.294/.438), which puts Rocco Baldelli in a difficult spot, when making out the game 1 wildcard lineup, especially if Byron can’t play defense.

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That plan took a hit in Buxton’s 2nd rehab appearance, when he was removed from the lineup (DH), after two at-bats, because of soreness in his patella tendon (knee). Rocco played it off cool, at the time, but there’s no doubt the Twins are concerned about his status going forward.

Byron Buxton to meet with Twins brass about plan for knee

On Friday, according to Phil Miller (Star Tribune), Byron is not on his way to Louisville with the Saints and plans, instead, to meet with Twins’ brass at Target Field so the two sides can formulate a plan for him and his knee going forward this season.

As the Twins move closer to an American League Central Division title, they hope to receive more clarity on Byron Buxton’s status Friday.

Front office and medical staff planned to meet with Buxton to discuss his right knee injury that paused his rehab assignment and next steps in his attempt to get back in the Twins lineup. Buxton played two games at Class AAA St. Paul, one in center field and one at designated hitter, before patella tendinitis flared up in his right knee.

Phil Miller – Star Tribune

Darren Wolfson (SKOR North, KSTP) has mentioned on multiple occasions the past handful of weeks that Byron Buxton has been ready for months, in his own mind, to play center field. Is that still how he is feeling, after being removed from the Saints game last week, just two nights after he made his return to center field?

And here is some of what Byron Buxton told us pregame. A rehab assignment seems to be fast approaching, one that is expected to see him play CF. #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/74qkdw2MZ4

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) August 28, 2023

It sounds like we’ll soon find out.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan