Return to Center Field? Byron Buxton Declares "I'm Back"

[Cody Christie]

One of the most significant storylines from Twins Fest weekend was Byron Buxton and his return to center field. How optimistic can fans be about his health?

Image courtesy of Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Twins Fest weekend allows fans an opportunity to get up close and personal with the team’s players while also getting excited for the upcoming season. The Twins usually add pieces to the roster before the last weekend in January. Still, this offseason has been relatively quiet, with the club searching for a new television deal and multiple top free agents still unsigned. Fans are searching for other things to get excited about with the team, and Byron Buxton provided that opportunity.

Throughout the weekend, Buxton was asked about his health and the possibility of returning to center field in 2024. On Friday night at Twins Fest Live, Buxton was asked about this possibility and said, “Oh yeah. I'm back.” On Saturday, the assembled media continued to probe Buxton with questions regarding his return. He said, “I wouldn’t have said that if I wasn’t sure. … [The] rehab feels money.”

Buxton is rehabbing after a year when he was limited to 85 games while playing exclusively as a designated hitter. He attempted a comeback late in the season, including an appearance in center field for the Saints. However, he couldn’t be on the team’s playoff roster until Alex Kirilloff injured himself during the Houston series. Buxton made one pinch-hit appearance and failed to reach base. Overall, he hit .207/.294/.438 (.731) with 17 doubles, one triple, and 17 home runs. There were glimpses of his powerful bat, but the season, for the most part, was a disappointment. 

Following the team’s elimination, team doctors evaluated Buxton and decided a second knee procedure was needed for him to return to center field. He underwent a procedure to excise the plica, a membrane flap, in his right knee. Derek Falvey told reporters that the team hoped the surgery would alleviate some of the pain Buxton had suffered while dealing with patellar tendinitis throughout the season. It had a much shorter recovery timeline than the knee procedure he had following the 2022 season, so the Twins hoped he could have a fairly regular build-up to the 2024 season. 

The Twins have been optimistic about Buxton throughout the winter, especially following his first post-operation check-up back in December. At the time, the team said Buxton was doing “really well” with a plan for him to start baseball activities.   

“(The doctors) felt like he was moving around as well as they had seen him move around in a long time, which was great,” Falvey said at the winter meetings. “He was doing some things that he couldn’t really do last year at different times in terms of how he was moving, so that was good. … Our expectation is that will ramp up really the latter half of this week and into next week, which puts him on a pretty normal schedule from an offseason standpoint in terms of what he’s doing baseball activity-wise. Obviously, we’ll continue to update as we get more running progression pieces to this.”

Buxton hasn’t been the most reliable narrator about his health in the past. He is a competitor, and his attitude has always been to push himself to make every play, even at the expense of his body. Buxton isn’t the only one that is pushing the positive narrative surrounding his health. Manager Rocco Baldelli and Falvey have been on record saying they expect Buxton to return to center. The team’s goal is for Buxton to play 80 games in center while splitting time at designated hitter. Minnesota will also rely on other center field options like Willi Castro, Nick Gordon, and Austin Martin. For fans, Buxton returning to center might be a pipe dream, but the Twins are a better team him in center, and he seems on track to meet the team’s goal with spring training on the horizon. 

Will Buxton play 80 games in center next season? Is he a reliable narrator on his health? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. 

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[Mike Germain]

Whatever

[CRF]

Like GW said..."There's an old saying in Tennessee—I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee—that says, 'Fool me once, shame on... shame on you. Fool me—you can't get fooled again. " 

Whadda classic line that is! Anyway, I'll believe Buck playing CF, when I see it. Not before. I sure hope he's better and can do it, but I ain't holding my breath.

[Oldgoat_MN]

I certainly understand, CRF.

I'm far more comfortable with the idea of Buxton in CF this year than I was last year.  Why?

Am I just drinking 🍸 the kool-aid?

[CharlieDee]

I'll take the under....

[theBOMisthebomb]

I mean, yeah sure guys. You just kinda have to shrug your shoulders and smile at these type of Buxton stories at this point in his career. They are the Buxton version of the 'fat guy in the best shape of his life' stories. 

After Buxton's career is finished there will probably be quite a fascinating history with this theme. If the guy could get 80-100 games in the field in a season, I think most Twins fans would take it going forward. 

[rv78]

LOL. The goal is for him to play 80 games in CF. I'm sure the goal last season was to get him in CF too. The goal when Falvine took over was to build a perrenial contender. Took 8 years for them to win a playoff game. I find it hard to believe they are serious about any "goals" that they tell the fans except for the one goal.... to spend less money.

[Heiny]

I hope to see Bucky out there on a consistant basis.  He's fast enouph with good instincts to be above average without beating his body up by running into walls and making diving catches at 20 mph.  Hopefully he has learned as much.  I also hope that he doesn't think he has to make up for all the lost time in one year.  Just try to make good solid contact and good things will happen.  He doesn't need to try to hit 40 homers, but 25 will come easy to him with just a solid approach.  He is still a premier athlete when he is on the field.  

[Fatbat]

I will take the over.  He is actually healthy and the best option we have in CF. He has matured mentally as well and finally understands that he isn’t indestructible.  All the doubters are going to see the best Buxton before his career is over.  I wonder how many more games we win just having one of the best CF’s playing in CF on a regular basis. Does over 100 games in CF bring the team close to a 100 win season?

[Doctor Gast]

Buck is the best! Have Buck for the postseason, I don't even care if he gets 80 games in if we make it to the postseason with him with everyone pumped!

[jimbo92107]

Can TJ Hockenson get the same knee surgeon? 

[Twins_Fan_For_Life]

I have coached athletes that have had the Plica surgery. Pretty straightforward stuff. Pretty high success rate with alleviating patellar pain. What that means for buck? I guess we'll find out.

[Trov]

I am sure he will play out there.  He will play like 30 games out there before he is moved to DH only or back on IL for rest of season.  The man cannot play a full season, no matter what position he plays.  It sucks because he has the talent to be great, but not the body to stay healthy. He has had about every injury a man could have over his career it would seem too. 

[IndyTwinsFan]

Extremely cautious optimism on my part.  Maybe the plica surgery was the "missing piece".  However, only time will tell the full story there.

The more we can have him playing pain-free in CF, the better it is for both him and the team, IMHO.  Not even going to try putting a floor on the number of games in the field, however. 

[Parfigliano]

Buxton playing CF at 80% full health would be gravy.  Im leary due to past statements from him and the Twins.

[JD-TWINS]

He’s 30 now - played over 100 games once at age 23. He’s a great athlete that’s fragile & it isn’t changing. Hoping for a 100 games in CF seems to be pretty unrealistic. He’ll miss games……maybe 2 stints of 20 games on IL? Hoping for 80 games at DH & 35-40 in CF. October is when he’s needed in CF!!!

[wabene]

At this point of course it is all speculation. I'm not drinking the KoolAid and I'm also not drinking whatever the sour grog is that others are peddling. As I've posted many times on other threads there is hope because of the very common success of plica surgery, the very short recovery time and the fact that it is hard to diagnose and is often confused with patella tendonitis. This all fits this situation well. They are singing a very different tune than last season clearly stating they expect him in center. It sure would be great if Buxton opens the season healthy in center. None of any of this will matter if Buck cannot learn to protect his body while he plays baseball. That is his only hope of fulfilling his contract. It could happen. Buxton could actually have a good career.

[FLYBOY1979]

Should Buxton only  be a DH in the first half of the season? Try and save the knee until later? Glad it is not my call.

[NotAboutWinning]

At TwinsFest I thought he looked solid. Like he has finally filled out his frame. He always seemed so wirey and and kind of fragile... Which is a weird way to describe a dude his size!

[karcherd]

1 hour ago, FLYBOY1979 said:

Should Buxton only  be a DH in the first half of the season? Try and save the knee until later? Glad it is not my call.

No, he needs to play CF, that is when we are a better team.

[Jocko87]

5 hours ago, Twins_Fan_For_Life said:

I have coached athletes that have had the Plica surgery. Pretty straightforward stuff. Pretty high success rate with alleviating patellar pain. What that means for buck? I guess we'll find out.

This is as expected I would think.  My theory is that they knew the plica needed to go mid season but they also were doing everything they could to avoid surgery during the season.  

Sure, hope springs eternal, but this is miles ahead of last years optimism.  The knee is probably good to go, hopefully the rest holds together. 

[DJL44]

deleted

[mnfireman]

Buck says he's ready to go... all BS aside let's agree and let him go play. 

[cmoss84]

Let him play 2 months and prove he's a healthy boy...then trade him for the polar bear before its too late. 

[PatPfund]

Very cautiously optimistic. Buxton isn't a 'reliable narrator' not because of any dishonesty, but because he REALLY wants to be out there. But... he does actually sound like he IS out there running, on both O and D. Though I still want to see it in back-to-back games before going full optimistic.

I actually don't care how many games he is out there; I just want him out there only when healthy. Because I couldn't disagree more about "80%" being good enough. It isn't, and when he can't go full speed he should go on the DL to rehab instead of racking up gimpy 0-for-20s in the DH slot.

[UK Twin]

I think there are certainly signs to be optimistic. He's on the right track right now that's for sure. His surgery seems to have gone well and he seems to be pain free and is running multiple times a week, plus doing outfield work. 

The question now is how his body copes when workload increases during ST and then the regular season. It would be a MASSIVE boost for everyone if Buxton is jogging out to CF for the bottom on the 1st in KC on opening day, preferably after crushing one into the fountain in the top of the 1st. 

[Doctor Wu]

18 hours ago, Oldgoat_MN said:

I certainly understand, CRF.

I'm far more comfortable with the idea of Buxton in CF this year than I was last year.  Why?

Am I just drinking 🍸 the kool-aid?

I'm sipping some of that kool-aid today too! Sure, I'm skeptical, especially considering Buxton's injury history and lack of durability over the years, but I'm an optimist at heart and am hoping he is healthy and good to go this year. 

[Riverbrian]

Player: I feel good about something

Fanbase: We will make sure you don't. 

[Clyde Scheevel]

I think 80 games in center field wouldn't be enough.  He's a guy that we seen last year doesn't cut it as a DH.  He needs to play and be active to be of any benefit to the team.  I'd say he needs to play at least 100 games in center field. 

[stringer bell]

4 hours ago, Clyde Scheevel said:

I think 80 games in center field wouldn't be enough.  He's a guy that we seen last year doesn't cut it as a DH.  He needs to play and be active to be of any benefit to the team.  I'd say he needs to play at least 100 games in center field. 

I think the biggest factor in Buxton's offensive struggles last year wasn't that he was a DH, but that he wasn't close to fully healthy. Using BB as the DH a lot (40-60 times) would make sense given his injury history. Probably no day games after night games (in the field) and breaking up eight to ten consecutive game stretches. 

In 2022, Buxton's stat lines were very close when he was DH and when he was the center fielder. I do believe that a slump can deepen when the only thing the player is doing is coming to the plate, but I don't think using Buxton as a frequent DH should be ruled out.