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Byron Buxton Could Be Activated in the “Next Few Days”

Cody Christie

By Cody Christie
in Minnesota Twins Talk

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Cody Christie GOAT

Cody Christie

Twins Daily Contributor
Posted
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Byron Buxton is getting closer to a return, and the Minnesota Twins could have their star back in the lineup before the end of the week.

Buxton made meaningful progress Monday as he works his way back from a right hip impingement. Before the Twins faced the Orioles, he took batting practice on the field for the first time since landing on the injured list. He also ran the bases, giving the team another opportunity to see how his hip responds to baseball activities.

The next checkpoint comes Tuesday. If Buxton arrives at the ballpark feeling good after Monday's workload, there may not be much left for him to accomplish before returning to the active roster. The Twins do not currently expect him to need a Minor League rehab assignment.

"The plan is to see how he comes in tomorrow,” said general manager Jeremy Zoll. “We're just trying to get a sense of how he's recovering from all of the activities, and then hopeful for activation within the next few days."

Running Is the Biggest Test

Buxton wasn't pushing himself to full speed during Monday's running work, but he did make his way around all three bases. The goal was less about testing his top-end speed and more about seeing how the hip responded to the various movements required during a game.

That includes something as simple as slowing down or coming to a stop. Buxton said he has been paying particular attention to those movements because they were among the actions that caused problems when the hip issue first surfaced in May. Being able to run without discomfort will be one of the biggest indicators that he's ready to return.

He took time off around the All-Star break to rest the injury, but it didn't work.The Twins placed Buxton on the injured list again after the issue resurfaced. This time, he received an injection in the joint and stepped away from all baseball activities for more than a week.

That extended shutdown was designed to give the injury a chance to settle down rather than having Buxton immediately try to play through it again. Both the player and organization are hoping the additional recovery time will allow him to return at full strength for the remainder of the season.

Twins Need His Bat

Minnesota's offense has had difficulty putting together consistent production during the second half of the season. The Twins have needed more length throughout the lineup, and there are few additions that could provide a bigger boost than getting Buxton back.

The timing of his potential return is still somewhat up in the air. The Twins are scheduled to participate in the Field of Dreams game Thursday, which would make for a memorable setting for Buxton's return. However, bringing him back for that game could mean pushing the timeline more than necessary.

If he responds well to Tuesday's workout and continues progressing without any setbacks, a return sometime this weekend appears to be a more realistic possibility. For now, the Twins are simply waiting to see how Buxton's body responds. Monday represented a significant step forward. Tuesday could determine just how many steps remain.


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DJL44 Minnesota Twins

DJL44

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
7 hours ago, dxpavelka said:

Buxton in, Rhoden out?  Jenkins in, Martin out?  Or maybe a catcher?  Shock the world and keep Jackson over Caratini?  Both can play 1B and Jackson might be a better hitter.

Buxton for Roden, no other moves until September unless there is an injury.

IndianaTwin Wichita Wind Surge

IndianaTwin

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
7 hours ago, dxpavelka said:

Buxton in, Rhoden out?  Jenkins in, Martin out?  Or maybe a catcher?  Shock the world and keep Jackson over Caratini?  Both can play 1B and Jackson might be a better hitter.

So DFA Caratini and pay him $7M not to catch next season AND enter the offseason with only Jackson on the roster? Don’t think that’s going to happen. 

Whitey333 FCL Twins

Whitey333

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For 10 of the past 12 years they have us waiting with extreme anticipation about Buxtons return to the lineup.  The sports media and especially the Twins propaganda machine always treat Buxton with kid gloves and like he's baseballs version of the second coming.  So is the season saved when Buck steps back on the field?  I admit he was great last year.  One of the few full seasons in which he has played.  I believe 2017 was the other.  He had a good season going until about 2-3 weeks before he went on the injury list.  When he does come back he will need to be hot at the get go.  There isn't much season left for us to wait for him to be productive.  Sounds familiar!!

IndianaTwin Wichita Wind Surge

IndianaTwin

Verified Member
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26 minutes ago, Whitey333 said:

For 10 of the past 12 years they have us waiting with extreme anticipation about Buxtons return to the lineup.  The sports media and especially the Twins propaganda machine always treat Buxton with kid gloves and like he's baseballs version of the second coming.  So is the season saved when Buck steps back on the field?  I admit he was great last year.  One of the few full seasons in which he has played.  I believe 2017 was the other.  He had a good season going until about 2-3 weeks before he went on the injury list.  When he does come back he will need to be hot at the get go.  There isn't much season left for us to wait for him to be productive.  Sounds familiar!!

And yet he still leads the team in bWAR. 

HarmonK03 FCL Twins

HarmonK03

Verified Member
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2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Do you want to bench Larnach, Keaschall or Bell for Jenkins? Those are three of their best hitters.

You can rotate the 4 outfielders and they all can play 4 to 5 days with mixing in a spot at DH at a couple days a week.  There is no need to bench anyone, elevate your lineup and your bench.

Vanimal46 GOAT

Vanimal46

Old-Timey Member
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Posted
2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Do you want to bench Larnach, Keaschall or Bell for Jenkins? Those are three of their best hitters.

Larnach has not been good for several weeks now. I'd have no issue starting Jenkins over him. 

DJL44 Minnesota Twins

DJL44

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
7 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Larnach has not been good for several weeks now. I'd have no issue starting Jenkins over him. 

Larnach has an option. Sending him down to start the rookie would be a bold move.

Vanimal46 GOAT

Vanimal46

Old-Timey Member
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8 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Larnach has an option. Sending him down to start the rookie would be a bold move.

I would option Austin Martin for Walker Jenkins. Martin plays every day and IMO should not be a part of future competitive Twins teams. 

DJL44 Minnesota Twins

DJL44

Old-Timey Member
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2 minutes ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

At this point I would say Buxton for Roden -  The outfield is then Larnach, Buxton, Clemens and Martin.  There is a possibility they send Culpepper back down as well if the next 2 games go rough as well.  

Plus Keaschall in the OF.

If the expectation was for Culpepper to immediately contribute in his first 30 plate appearances they should have never promoted him in the first place. Sending players up and down based on small sample size results is stupid and would show a complete lack of ability to assess talent by the front office.

DJL44 Minnesota Twins

DJL44

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
4 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

I would option Austin Martin for Walker Jenkins. Martin plays every day and IMO should not be a part of future competitive Twins teams. 

Martin is the short side platoon partner for Larnach. He plays when Larnach has to face a lefty.

Hawkeye Bean Counter FCL Twins

Hawkeye Bean Counter

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
2 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Plus Keaschall in the OF.

If the expectation was for Culpepper to immediately contribute in his first 30 plate appearances they should have never promoted him in the first place. Sending players up and down based on small sample size results is stupid and would show a complete lack of ability to assess talent by the front office.

Or that they admit they rushed his call up do to trying to jump start the offense and caving to fan and media pressure.  All we have heard is they need to call up Culpepper and Jenkins.  I am fine with leaving up and adjust.  I also think Keaschall made a stupid challenge that may have saved Culpeppers last at bat.  Even still he struck out in every at bat other than his sac fly.   

HarmonK03 FCL Twins

HarmonK03

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
14 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

I would option Austin Martin for Walker Jenkins. Martin plays every day and IMO should not be a part of future competitive Twins teams. 

I would say send Roden down, Martin has made contributions and can help against lefties.

HarmonK03 FCL Twins

HarmonK03

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
1 minute ago, Vanimal46 said:

My assumption is Roden goes down when Buxton is activated.

Then I still am in favor of Jackson, I would take the risk of not having a third catcher for the rest of the season.  And reset the position in the offseason.  They are not using him, it is not a good situation to only use a player twice in 10  days as a pinch runner.

DJL44 Minnesota Twins

DJL44

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
4 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

Then I still am in favor of Jackson, I would take the risk of not having a third catcher for the rest of the season.  And reset the position in the offseason.  They are not using him, it is not a good situation to only use a player twice in 10  days as a pinch runner.

They are using him. Having Jackson on the bench lets them use Jeffers as a pinch hitter on his off days. We have had several lineups with both catchers in them. That doesn’t happen without Jackson on the roster.

mnfireman Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

mnfireman

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
1 minute ago, DJL44 said:

They are using him. Having Jackson on the bench lets them use Jeffers as a pinch hitter on his off days. We have had several lineups with both catchers in them. That doesn’t happen without Jackson on the roster.

Not sure there is a reason to play Caratini when he is not catching, it makes the overall defense weaker. Jeffers should be catching 2/3 or 3/4 depending on the series, after all he is not coming back next year.

HarmonK03 FCL Twins

HarmonK03

Verified Member
Posted
Posted
1 minute ago, DJL44 said:

They are using him. Having Jackson on the bench lets them use Jeffers as a pinch hitter on his off days. We have had several lineups with both catchers in them. That doesn’t happen without Jackson on the roster.

They have used Jeffers as a pinch hitter twice since he came off the IL in early July.  And both times they moved Caratini to 1B, negating the need for a third catcher.  

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