Byron Buxton Could Need Offseason Surgery

[Cody Christie]

The Minnesota Twins have spent much of the 2026 season trying to keep Byron Buxton on the field. Once again, they have been unable to do it.

Buxton was placed on the 10-day injured list over the weekend with a right hip impingement, marking his third IL stint of the season related to hip issues. Minnesota made the move ahead of Sunday's game against the Chicago White Sox, calling up outfielder Gabriel Gonzalez from Triple-A St. Paul.

At this point, the problem isn't simply that Buxton is missing games. The bigger concern is that the issue could follow him into the offseason and require surgery.

Buxton hinted Wednesday that he would eventually need to work with the Twins' training staff to develop a plan for addressing his hip during the offseason. General manager Jeremy Zoll took that possibility a step further Friday, telling reporters that a surgical procedure remains on the table.

“(It’s) definitely a potential option as we sort through everything,” Zoll said. “It would be some type of hip procedure, but not at that point right now. … (We) just need to see how these symptoms progress over this next stretch, and then we’ll continue to assess options.”

That doesn't mean Buxton is headed for surgery. The Twins aren't at that point yet, and there is still time for the symptoms to improve. But the fact that surgery has entered the conversation is significant.

Buxton has dealt with his share of physical setbacks throughout his career, and the Twins have become increasingly careful about managing his workload. This season was supposed to provide another opportunity for the veteran to put together a lengthy stretch of games. Instead, the hip has continued to interrupt his season.

Manager Derek Shelton's comments Sunday reflected the frustration surrounding the situation.

“We can’t just magically snap our fingers and all of a sudden it’s the Jetsons and he’s healthy,” Shelton said. “If he could, it would be a lot cooler that way … in terms of it just automatically getting better. We just need to give it time.”

Unfortunately for the Twins, time has been a difficult solution with Buxton's hip. The three-time All-Star has still produced when he's been available, hitting .254 with 25 home runs and 46 RBIs across 93 games. He was on pace to reach 100 games for the third consecutive season, something he has accomplished only four times in his 12-year career.

That availability matters as much as the production. Minnesota's offense has relied heavily on Buxton's power and ability to change a game with one swing. His presence in the lineup also impacts how opposing pitchers approach the rest of the order. When he's healthy, the Twins are a different team.

That's why the next few weeks could be important beyond simply determining whether Buxton returns this season. The Twins need to learn whether rest and rehabilitation can get him back to full strength or whether a more permanent solution is necessary.

For a Twins team trying to figure out what comes next, finding a way to get its best players consistently onto the field remains one of the biggest challenges. And right now, Buxton's hip is at the center of that conversation.

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