MN Twins Release Some Good News on Injury Front

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Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins
Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The (20-25) Minnesota Twins have been bludgeoned on the injury front, of late. Early this season, their health problems have mostly stayed local to the pitching staff… but it’s been unrelenting, wiping out most of their starting rotation and multiple relievers, at one point or another.

Currently, FOUR MN Twins starters are sitting on the injured list — Pablo Lopez, David Festa, Mick Abel and, most recently, Taj Bradley (pec). Worse yet, this 2026 injury bug has recently spread to the lineup too, and in the worst possible spot.

Larnach smacks homer in return

The Twins are playing their National League neighbor tonight, the Milwaukee Brewers. And for the third straight game, Byron Buxton is not available to hit or play center field because of a hip injury. More on him momentarily.

Meanwhile, right fielder Trevor Larnach — who also missed the last two games (back tightness) — did return to the Twins lineup tonight. And he did so in grandiose fashion, smacking a third-inning solo home run in his second plate appearance.

This season, after playing center field for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, Byron Buxton is off to one of the better starts of his 12-year MLB career, smacking 15 homers in his first 40 games, good for third-most in baseball, to go with a .260 batting average and .899 OPS (145 OPS+).

Unfortunately, Buxton has been sitting out the last couple games due to an injured hip. However, the Minnesota Twins brought some good news to the ballpark Saturday, regarding their All-Star center fielder.

Byron Buxton injury update brings more positivity

As relayed by Dan Hayes (The Athletic), Buck returned to the field pregame this afternoon, for the first time since suffering his hip injury. Given the quotes from him and manager Derek Shelton (below) the 29-year-old is very close to a return, but they aren’t in a hurry to rush him back either.

“He’s probably (going to) get more time than anyone else, just depending on how he feels. The actual answer to that is I don’t know; we’d have to see where he’s at and see what level of availability he has moving forward. … We’ll have a better idea after those baseball activities, but the fact that he’s out there moving around, I think we’re trending in the right direction.”

Derek Shelton – The Athletic

“Just to get out here and do some work definitely feels good. (Saturday) felt good. Obviously, it’s a little bit warmer, so that helps. But to be able to get out and run, I did my fielding stuff. I’ve got to do more stuff in the weight training room. To be able to test it out, it feels good. Two days ago, I definitely wasn’t doing this.”

Byron Buxton – The Athletic

After stumbling out of the gates a bit during his first ten games of the season, Buxton is batting .290 with a 1.017 OPS in his last 30 appearances. Most importantly, Byron has been been healthy, which has always been the one thing holding him back throughout the course of his career.

While Sunday’s contest doesn’t appear guaranteed for Buck — because the MN Twins being so cautious with this injury — but he should be back sooner than later, and without a trip to the injured list.

MN Twins on verge of getting Taj Bradley back too

The last injury update we got Saturday was in regard to starting pitcher, Taj Bradley.

After throwing a short bullpen session late this week, the best pitcher in Minnesota’s rotation so far this season is scheduled to make his first (and likely sole) rehab start Sunday for the St. Paul Saints.

If all goes well, you’d have to think that his start next week will be in a Minnesota Twins uniform.

With eight turns through the rotation so far, Taj Bradley has a 2.87 ERA (3.48 FIP) and 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings. With Pablo Lopez out for the year, and other starters already sitting on the IL, Bradley can’t just return. He needs to come back and continue to pitch like an ace.

Matt Wallner’s struggles continue at Triple-A

I attended today’s St. Paul Saints game Saturday, where I got to see recently demoted Matt Wallner continue to struggle, in person. The 28-year-old “one of us” outfielder went 0-for-5 at CHS Field today, with a strikeout. Whatever he is working through, the Forest Lake native is a ways away from seeing the light.

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