Byron Buxton Lands on IL as Caution Takes Priority for Minnesota Twins

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of © Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

The Twins announced Tuesday that they’ve placed Byron Buxton on the 10-day injured list with left ribcage inflammation. While any injury to Buxton triggers a wave of anxiety in Twins Territory, this particular case appears to be more about precaution than cause for panic.

Buxton left Saturday’s game with what the team initially called left side soreness. After undergoing imaging, he was diagnosed with rib cartilage irritation. Manager Rocco Baldelli referred to the MRI results as positive, and the Twins listed him as day-to-day. A few days later, they’ve decided it’s best to let him heal on the IL. He’ll be eligible to return next Wednesday, though the team has not committed to a firm timetable.

And really, why rush it?

This is a frustrating development, no doubt. Buxton has been in the middle of a spectacular campaign, finally playing like the superstar everyone knows he can be. He’s hitting .282/.343/.561 with 23 home runs and 17 stolen bases. His 3.9 WAR ranks him among the best in the American League. His defense in center field has again been excellent. He’s played with a spark and intensity that remind fans of why the Twins believed so strongly in him for so long.

But the Twins are 50-57, and slipping further from contention by the day. Buxton's value this year is real, but his long-term availability is more critical. The decision to place him on the IL doesn’t feel like a setback, as much as a decision made with clarity. The goal for the Twins isn’t to squeeze a few extra August wins out of their best player. It’s to protect the best version of Buxton for 2026 and beyond.

The injury is not believed to be serious. That’s the silver lining here. But this is still the second time this season that Buxton has landed on the IL, having previously missed two weeks with a concussion. And this is a familiar refrain. He’s only once topped 100 games in a season since 2017, and he hasn't reached 400 plate appearances since then. This year, he had a real shot to clear both hurdles. There’s still time for that to happen, assuming this rib issue doesn’t linger.

In the meantime, the Twins have a capable fill-in (for now). Harrison Bader has done everything the Twins could’ve hoped for this season, hitting well and playing solid defense. He’s primarily worked in left field this year, but his Gold Glove pedigree in center makes him a natural replacement for Buxton. The catch is that Bader may not be around much longer. With the trade deadline looming and the Twins clearly leaning toward a light sell, Bader is one of the club’s more obvious candidates to move.

Bader and utility man Willi Castro are likely to be gone after Thursday, so that the Twins may be left with DaShawn Keirsey Jr. in center field. The rookie’s offensive struggles have been evident, hitting just .120 with a .354 OPS. His speed makes him a serviceable defender, but there is a reason the Twins haven’t been giving him regular at-bats with Buxton and Bader on the roster.

Still, this is the direction the season is going. The Twins know Buxton’s career is worth protecting. He has played like a franchise player in 2025, but the franchise’s focus is shifting. Resting Buxton might cost them a few games in the short term, but they’re games that likely won’t matter in the standings. What matters more is giving Buxton the best chance to stay healthy for the seasons that still hold meaningful possibilities.

He’s been worth the wait before. They just need to make sure he’s there when it matters again.

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What has been the best Buxton moment so far this season? Can Keirsey handle the center field duties if Bader and Castro are traded? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

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[Jeff K]

It's a no brainer to be cautious with him.  If Bader is traded, I would hope that Emma is available to call up.

[TopGunn#22]

I still wonder if the the All Star Game Homerun Derby might have contributed to this.  The good news:  It doesn't sound serious.  I'm all for erring on the side of caution here.  Bader & Castro will play in today's game (Wednesday) and then be traded...somewhere. 

That leaves Kiersey for the time being as the guy in CF with a small possibility the Twins promote Emmanuel Rodriguez to play some OF for the time it takes Buxton to get back.  Who knows, maybe the Twins get back a CF ready to play some games who has more of a track record (translate that "better health) than E-Rod.  

[Bodie]

"Long term future",,,

So, maybe for his 12th season (2026) we might finally see him get to 500 at bats in a season????

"Building around" Buxton is now officially insanity!!!  We can when that became the case, not if it is true.

Lord knows that he is an absolute treat to watch play in the field. That anyone can say with a straight face that he might be the best CF in Twins history (laughable IMO, but...) is a testament to just how exciting he is to watch when "on",

No one expected his production (hoping is not expecting) to be the best of his career for the simple fact that almost no one emerges as a legitimate star in thier 30s.  Or in thier 11th season. Especially when those previous 10 seasons were all cut short due to injuries 

Expecting a (first) full season in his 12th (or inevitably after next year his 13th) is foolish.  We all hope for it, but using him as a building block for the future is... professional malpractice. 

 

[mikelink45]

It is hard to comment - it seemed inevitable, but we all hoped for a full season Buxton, just to have one really positive story for the year.  Correa's lightheadedness yesterday is another concern although his play will not be missed like Byron's 

[Bodie]

Insanity- repeatedly doing exactly the same thing and expecting different results. 

[Doctor Gast]

Absolutely, give Buck all the time he needs. Give Correa a break. Love to give Ryan a break but that won't happen.

[MinnInPa]

please bring up someone that can play Rt field NOW also. Wallner is costing us runs out there..and his hitting should be replaced easily.. so sick of watching him flail away at the plate

[laloesch]

47 minutes ago, Bodie said:

"Long term future",,,

So, maybe for his 12th season (2026) we might finally see him get to 500 at bats in a season????

"Building around" Buxton is now officially insanity!!!  We can when that became the case, not if it is true.

Lord knows that he is an absolute treat to watch play in the field. That anyone can say with a straight face that he might be the best CF in Twins history (laughable IMO, but...) is a testament to just how exciting he is to watch when "on",

No one expected his production (hoping is not expecting) to be the best of his career for the simple fact that almost no one emerges as a legitimate star in thier 30s.  Or in thier 11th season. Especially when those previous 10 seasons were all cut short due to injuries 

Expecting a (first) full season in his 12th (or inevitably after next year his 13th) is foolish.  We all hope for it, but using him as a building block for the future is... professional malpractice. 

 

Buxton is having a very good season, but it's been surrounded by so many mediocre short ones, he's not a player to build around anymore.  Unfortunately he has a full no trade clause and he's the least likely guy to consider waiving it otherwise i would deal him in a heartbeat for the right package of return players, while he's hot.

[rdehring]

Has been so enjoyable watching Buxton this year.  He gives 100% on everything he does.  That is perhaps the main reason for most of his injuries over the years.  Let's hope this isn't serious and he is back out in center field next Wednesday.

[Aggies7]

How tf do you inflame your rib cage?

[jkcarew]

4 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

How tf do you inflame your rib cage?

Up there with bilateral leg weakness.

Oh well…let the tanking begin!!

[Mike Sixel]

Good thing they played with a short bench! No one could have seen this coming with the history of this FO.....

[Rod Carews Birthday]

Sorry.  I posted something in the wrong place here.  

[jkcarew]

17 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Good thing they played with a short bench! No one could have seen this coming with the history of this FO.....

😂And then the legacy media Twins beat writers (and I use the term lightly) highlight the fact that the move is RETROACTIVE like it’s some brilliant idea, and completely ignore the 2,3,4,5 games played with a short bench.

[KnoblauchWasFramed]

Damn, I am having the BIGGEST case of Déjà vu ever right now.  I keeping having flashbacks to this time when some guy name Ron Gardenhire used to run the team in the mid 2000s.  And he for sure had his core of “Gardy’s Boys” on the team that could do no wrong and constantly got second and third and forth chances that some of them never deserved.  But I digress. 

Anyway, I always remember that the weirdest phenomenon would happen right around mid to late July.  Gardy’s boys would all of the sudden come up lame with some random injury that was never too serious but was just enough to either require a quick stay on the DL which would carry over the trade deadline or an injury that was just enough to make them a tough sell for a contending team to take a chance on.  So year after year Gardy’s boys always made it past the trade deadline safe and secure.  And yes I am talking about Hunter, Punto, Dougie Baseball, Kubel, Koskie, Radke, Bartlett – etc etc etc.

So it’s kind of weird that in his one and only season where he has any trade value Buxton has a random injury that is not all that serios, but is just enough to get him over the trade deadline.  Now before you scream it at me I already know that BUXTON HAS A NO TRADE CLAUSE and he just said over the All Star Game that he IS A TWIN FOR LIFE.  Yea, yea, yea.  But if a team that is always in contention every year came in with some unbelievable deal and Buxton could have the chance to play for a winner and not a team just starting on a 3 year rebuild do we all really believe that he wouldn’t at least consider the opportunity?  A guy who has only won one playoff series in his career and could be 34-35 by the next time the Twins are competitive??? 

But now, with this injury, this is all academic and a moot point.  But… the parallels are pretty coincidental, you must give me that. 

[twinstalker]

It's possible this is part of the excuse they'll use for keeper Bader, if they do.  My feeling is they would like to sign Bader for another 2-3 years, but the $$$ won't allow that.  It's an no-win situation, really, but it's understandable, given the likely return.  It might be best to package a couple of the guys to get something slightly better than a lottery ticket.

[DocBauer]

He can swing a bat without pain, and I believe he can throw as well. It was reported thst running caused pain.

He's quite possibly having the best season of his career, and certainly one of the healthiest. The Twins aren't winning anything this season so why not give him a few days off at this point? 

So much angst over something so small.

[rv78]

LOL........ If he is important enough for the future and this season is lost, then give him a few extra days off. Ummm ..... Why play him at all the rest of the season then? Aren't you risking the future if you bring him back at any point in a lost season? Seriously, this is so insane that it isn't funny. You can rest him until the cows come home and he'll still end up with an injury. At least consider who the heck you're talking about here. There is NO amount of rest that will keep Buck healthy.