Revealed: Why Byron Buxton is Out of the MN Twins Lineup Again

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Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins
Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images

Last season, Byron Buxton played 100 games for just the second time in his career. It was a monumental accomplishment for a guy whose single biggest knock during his 10-year MLB career has been health.

The 2025 season started out on a positive note too, at least as it pertains to Buck’s health. While the Twins stumbled out of the Opening Day gates with a 3-8 record, one background positive bas that Byron Buxton was written in at center field in every single one of those 11 contests.

Looking back to Byron Buxton’s last run in with old foe — The Wall

Not only was he in the lineup, the 30-year-old former No. 2 overall draft pick has looked better than ever, chasing down fly balls, stealing bases and running out infield singles that only he can turn into hits. But then… in the bottom of the 1st inning vs the Kansas City Royals, Buxton sprinted to the gap in left center for a fly ball that only he could make routine.

Except… he didn’t, opting instead to lower his right shoulder and slam into the wall like a rookie linebacker who just arrived at NFL training camp with something to prove. Oh, and in un-Buxton-like fashion, he dropped it.

Immediately afterward, Buxton appeared a bit shaken up, but did recover and finish the next 8.5 innings of the Minnesota Twins’ eighth loss of the season. On Tuesday, worry of Byron’s health went out the window when he played another full game vs the Royals.

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Then Wednesday, the former Platinum Glove winner was out of the lineup. Still, nobody thought twice about his absence, after starting the first 11 games of the season. But when Thursday’s lineup card came out and Buxton was left out for the second-straight game, the internet started asking questions.

Revealed: Buxton out of the Minnesota Twins lineup for personal reasons

A little while later, however, Dan Hayes (The Athletic) ended the chatter regarding Buck’s inavailability when he reported on X that Buxton’s absence is not due to injury. Instead, he is has been MIA for “personal reasons”.

Obviously, we all hope whatever those personal reasons are, that everything is (or ends) okay. From strictly a baseball standpoint, Dan’s update will allow fans to breathe a sigh of relief.

Of course, the Minnesota Twins want Byron Buxton on the field. Yes, he has gotten off to an ugly start offensively, but his defensive presence in the outfield alone makes him invaluable to this lineup.

Related: New Day, New Minnesota Twins Top Prospect Injured

Last season, Buxton posted a whopping 3.7 fWAR, despite playing in just 102 games (388 PA). For comparison-sake, Freddie Freeman posted 4.7 WAR last year in 638 plate appearances. When Byron Buxton played in 61 games during the 2021 season, he had a 4.1 fWAR. In 2022 he turned 92 games into a 3.5 fWAR.

Nonetheless, Rocco Baldelli needs needs Byron Buxton to produce offensively too. His .171/.209/.293 slash line this season is not good enough, especially with a 16/1 K/BB. Hopefully, when he returns on Friday night (per Darren Wolfson – KSTP), he’s able to get right in the batter’s box.

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