The Twins Made a Mistake Waiting on Byron Buxton’s Hip Surgery

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

Byron Buxton's 2026 season ended with another injury. Buxton's incapacitation derailed the team's push toward the postseason, but the bigger concern for the Minnesota Twins might be what happens next. Buxton underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right hip last week, with the Twins announcing that the procedure included a labral repair, decompression and cam resection. Some of that is just to relieve the hip impingement he dealt with all year, but the labral repair is more involved—and more ominous.

Nobody should pretend to be a doctor when discussing a complicated hip surgery. However, previous MLB cases involving labral repairs suggest a recovery that can take roughly 6-8 months. That timeline raises a question: Why did the Twins wait as long as they did to make this decision?

Buxton's last game came on August 25 in Sacramento. His surgery didn't take place until September 18. That's nearly four weeks between Buxton's final game and the procedure. The Twins quasi-officially shut Buxton down for the season on September 11, but another week passed before the surgery actually happened. By that point, Minnesota's postseason chances had dwindled to virtually nothing, anyway.

Even after he limped off the field against the A's, there was some hope that Buxton could return late in the season, but that increasingly looked like a long shot. Once that became clear, the argument for continuing to wait became much more difficult to understand. This is where the timeline becomes particularly important. Six months after Buxton's September 18 surgery lands on March 18. That's only one week before Opening Day. An eight-month recovery pushes his potential return to May 18, which would be 47 games into the 2027 season.

Obviously, recovery timelines aren't guaranteed. Buxton could progress faster. He could also require more time. The latter seems more likely, given Buxton’s extensive injury history. There are too many variables involved to declare a specific return date this far in advance. But that's exactly why those extra weeks mattered.

If the Twins had determined earlier that surgery was necessary, they could have started the recovery process sooner. Instead, they waited until late September to perform a procedure that could keep their best player out for a significant portion of the following season.

The most frustrating part is that the Twins had already been dealing with the hip issue for months. Buxton and manager Derek Shelton both expressed confidence before the surgery that Buxton would be ready for next season. The exact wording varied, particularly when it came to whether that meant being ready for spring training or Opening Day. That optimism now feels more like a pipe dream. If he'd had surgery three weeks sooner, the chances of being ready on time would certainly be better.

There is also a significant difference between saying a player will be "ready for next season" and having him physically prepared to play 162 games. That’s something few players accomplish in modern baseball, and Buxton has averaged 107 games per year over the last three seasons—the three healthiest campaigns he's had in the last decade. Even if Buxton avoids a major setback, a player returning from this type of surgery could need additional time to build strength and regain his normal workload.

The Twins have spent years trying to get the most out of Buxton while managing his injury history. Minnesota paid Buxton roughly $70 million through the first five seasons of the contract. FanGraphs estimates that he has provided approximately $122.5 million in value over that span. Even when he misses time, he provides remarkable value.

That makes the decision to sacrifice four weeks of recovery time even more difficult to understand. Maybe the surgery ultimately doesn't cost Buxton any games in 2027. Maybe his rehab goes perfectly and he's ready for Opening Day. But the Twins didn't need to gamble on that outcome. They had an opportunity to give Buxton more time to recover, and they didn't take it.

A Mistake that Could Linger into 2027

The Twins' decision to wait on Buxton's surgery is one of those choices that might not be fully judged until next season. If Buxton is healthy for Opening Day and plays a full season, the timing becomes a footnote. If he's forced to miss the beginning of the season because the recovery takes closer to eight months, those September weeks will look much more significant.

Minnesota already has plenty of questions to answer heading into the offseason. Payroll needs to be addressed, the roster needs more direction, and the organization needs to determine what kind of team it wants to build around its remaining core.

The last thing the Twins needed was to unnecessarily complicate their plans for their most important player. There was a point when waiting made sense, because Buxton was still trying to return. But once it became apparent that his season was effectively over, the clock should have started immediately. Instead, the Twins waited. Now, they have to hope those lost weeks don't come back to haunt them in April and May. Considering the usual recovery timeline for Buxton's surgery, that is a gamble the Twins probably didn't need to take.

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Was it a mistake for the Twins to wait on Buxton’s surgery? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

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[Czelgert]

The Twins were probably measuring whether they’d meet their medical plan deductible for the year and only scheduled after they had.  It’s all you can eat for the rest of the season!  /s

[Original_JB]

There's also the possibility that imaging didn't show the extent of the damage. I know when I went in for a knee "cleanup" that was supposed to be a minor meniscus snip, the surgeon came out and told my wife that they had to do quite a bit more than they'd expected and I'd be in more pain and have a longer recovery time. The vast majority of that was essentially clearcutting the forest of cartilage tears that had been been trying to "fix" themselves by regrowing, so it happens. That said, I would have been pushing for resolution after the 1st hip incident of the year, since they already knew it was an ongoing thing.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Wait a minute here.  You have assumed that the Twins' front office made the decision as to when the surgery would take place. How do you know it wasn't Buck's decision? How do you know what the doctor recommended? Did Buck get a second or third opinion? If so, what did these doctors recommend?  What went into this decision? Were there additional factors that influenced whomever made the final decision?   I know Buck has a contractual relationship with the Twins, but I doubt that contract gives the Twins carte blanche to make Buck's health decisions for him. 

[Whitey333]

No the Twins messed it up.   They should have waited longer so that maybe he would miss more if not all of next season if there is one.  Putting up with Buxtons injuries isnt just an issue for Byron.  It affects the team as well and not because he plays well for a month tgen is injured plays poorly then the season is over.  It happens all the time.  Hes only played full time 2 years out of 12.  You cant count on him and it hampers the roster always, and i mean always having to roster another player to plan for his inevitable injury.  Its way past time to move on from Buxton.  To keep thinking of him as one of your core players is foolhardy.   

[rv78]

 If Buxton is healthy for Opening Day and plays a full season, the timing becomes a footnote.

You are stretching the fact that Buxton can play a full season to the point of rediculous. At this point in his career, and with Jenkins, ERod, Keaschall in the outfield, I won't miss Busted, I mean Buxton. Had they got him under the knife sooner and he was more ready to go at the start of 2027, he would just have his next injury sooner in 2027. I know his $15M is considered cheap, but I'd like to see a CFer that can play an entire season and be counted on to help the team when needed. And if they move him to full-time DH, he'll just hurt himself swinging the bat or running the bases. 

[Mike h]

I’ve had several surgeries including a back surgery that was supposed to take 4 hours but ended up taking almost 7. More to the point, once it was determined that surgery was necessary I still had to fit in to the doctors schedule and O.R. availability, etc.  And Buxton may have needed some time to digest the reality and rethink alternatives.  That would seem normal and his right. The wait could have been on him, not the Twins.  If so, that’s ok.  When it comes to your health you have to look out for number one.

[TopGunn#22]

Unfortunately, even if Buxton was willing to be traded (Atlanta?) wasting the 3 weeks in September when both Byron and the team doctors knew he was going to need surgery of some sort is troubling.  It's not like this was a sudden injury.  This hip issue had been troubling Byron most of the 2026 season.  

Original_JB makes a very good point about doctors sometimes finding "more" than they had expected.  But it just seems that not addressing it in a timely fashion on the surface is a head scratcher for both the team and Byron.  Underneath the surface, maybe there were reasons.  

At this point, and honestly, for most of his career, the Twins should have approached each season like it was a roll of the dice whether Buxton would be available and if he was, treat it like a bonus.  I would much rather be looking forward to the season starting on time and all labor disputes being settled.  However, since that is not likely, a delay to spring training and baseball in general may work in Byron's and the team's favor.  

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

Im not entirely sure it was the teams decision. Buck probably had a bit of say on the matter. However, whoever was responsible for the decision waited too long. It was clear he couldn't play even when he came back off the injured list. 

[HarmanWithAnA]

I'd rather have peak Buxton for the last 107ish games of the season than the first.  The mistake might have been not waiting till June every season to start playing him even when he was healthy.

[PuckettPond]

Buxton will also need a hip replacement. He will never be the same as it is doubtful he plays in 2027. He is doing more harm than good to the Twins. Please retire for the sake of everyone as he will only embarrass himself.

[JBK]

You're just asking that question now?

[MapleGroveTwinsFan]

This isn't a defense of Buxton, because his injuries suck and the timing is worse. 

Since 2021 Buxton has played in 559 games with 2321 at bats and a WAR of 21.4, Jeffers has played in 579 games with 2154 at bats and a WAR of 10.7. 

Jeffers OPS in September .537, Only played in 8 games in 25, .463 OPS in 24. .943 OPS in 23, only played in 7 games after July 15th in 2022. 

Jeffers OPS in August .740 (SLG .393), in 2025 .747(SLG .389), In 24 OPS .926 (SLG .593), .IN 23 876 (SLG .538), 22 didn't play. 

An people are done with Buxton, but want to lock up Jeffers? Doesn't make sense to me. (I get that Jeffers is a catcher, part time catcher really)

[offensive_loons_fan]

I mean, could the answer be as simple as just once they finally came to the conclusion he would need the surgery, they scheduled it and it was scheduled weeks out? Which is what I have to do whenever I need to get surgery?

Especially if you want a particular surgeon, they do not necessarily drop everything they are doing and fly out to give you same-day surgery like a medical Amazon.

[Bangkok Twins Fan]

39 minutes ago, soyouresayingtheresachance said:

Im not entirely sure it was the teams decision. Buck probably had a bit of say on the matter. However, whoever was responsible for the decision waited too long. It was clear he couldn't play even when he came back off the injured list. 

Yes, as you and tarheeltwinsfan noted, Buxton most likely had the biggest say in the matter. And even if we DID have Buxton in the lineup for this past month I don't think it would have been enough of a factor in getting the Twins more wins. I am positive that Buxton wanted to play, but at some point you have to listen to your body and realize you need to do what is best for your health and opt for the surgery. The guy has had his share of bad luck in recent years with the various injuries, but he has shown what a difference he can make when healthy. I think the Twins will need him to compete for the rest of this decade. 

[Trov]

The article seems to suggest that Buck has no decision in this process and it is fully on the Twins management and their doctors.  I am pretty sure the person that decides if, and what kind of surgery they are going to get and when is the person getting cut open.  We do not know what options were given to Buck, and what he was advised by the doctors.  The assumption that Twins can just tell a player this is what you are going to do is crazy.  Every surgery has risk.  I do not know the extent of the injury, or the risk of the surgery, but I am sure Buck thought about it.  

I tore and ACL long ago.  Most would say just get surgery that is the answer.  However, my doctor did not say I had to get surgery that was my only option.  In fact, people and athletes live without ACL in their knees.  He said though that without surgery, with the amount of sports I do, I would most likely need a knee replacement at 40, no matter how much I put muscle on around the knee.  

My options, get surgery, do physical therapy and not do surgery and see how my next 20 years go.  I went with the surgery, but it was not the only option I was presented by a doctor. 

[IndianaTwin]

Paragraph 2 starts, “Nobody should pretend to be a doctor when discussing a complicated hip surgery.”

And then the rest of the article basically analyzes a medical decision without having all of the information…

[old nurse]

Medical decision making starts and ends with the patient, the medical profession can hawk their knowledge to get the patient in, the patient always has consent. The process for each patient is going to be different, maybe only slightly, but still different. Medical imaging gives the practitioner an idea of what is there, but inn not totally definitive. As many other people have done, i can speak from experiences. I can say I have heard “Once we hot in there it was worse than we thought” as well as”It wasn’t as bad as we thought”. “_______ did not show up on imaging”. From what I have seen, with joints they try other things before cutting.  What I know is that in the case of Byron Buxton I don’t know anything specific so it would be foolish to criticize the process. I can hope along the way they assed risk to benefit with the outcomes and made the correct decisions.  

[laloesch]

Rubbish.  Buxton had a say in all of this and when the surgery happened.  If he delayed the surgery foolishly thinking this team was going to make the playoffs with a lineup full of holes like swiss cheese that's kinda on him too.  What is on the Twins is not bringing up Culpepper, Jenkins, and Erod sooner.  All three should have been up after the trade deadline, playing a significant number of games to be ready for the 2027 season (if there is one).  It's also the Twins fault for NOT trading Jeffers and getting prospects.  They now will only get a compensation pick.  Such a shame.  

[old nurse]

7 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

Paragraph 2 starts, “Nobody should pretend to be a doctor when discussing a complicated hip surgery.”

And then the rest of the article basically analyzes a medical decision without having all of the information…

The criticizing with minimal knowledge of complex situations is what people do. 

[Andy MacPhail]

I agree sooner the surgery gets done sooner Buck gets back into shape. But like what has been discuss Buxton might have had a say to the delay & also the doctors need to be available. 

The way things look there'll be a lockout & could be longer than some would like but could aid in Buck not losing any games.

[LastOnePicked]

1 hour ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Wait a minute here.  You have assumed that the Twins' front office made the decision as to when the surgery would take place. How do you know it wasn't Buck's decision? How do you know what the doctor recommended? Did Buck get a second or third opinion? If so, what did these doctors recommend?  What went into this decision? Were there additional factors that influenced whomever made the final decision? 

These are all good questions. I guess I've heard so much about what a great leader Buck is in the clubhouse that I assume that if Twins club reps had come to him and explained that the sooner they can get a diagnosis and a surgery done, the sooner Buck can get back to the team and contribute, Buck certainly would've agreed. 

Instead, they kinda indulged his worst instincts and even allowed him to entertain the idea of coming back this season. They put him in a game where he couldn't pick up a ground ball - that could have been a decisive loss. They essentially played shorthanded with him on the active roster during a potential WC run. Again, this is not a serious baseball organization. They seem to have no foresight, no leadership and no ability to avoid common pitfalls.

[MeleMouth]

The Twins made many bad decisions regarding Buxton and his hip, but the timing of the surgery is not one of them and may actually be good.

Mistakes:

1. Letting Buxton continue to play when he was obviously injured and his results were terrible. Unlike surgery, which should be the player's decision, whether a player should play should not be up to the player.

2. Not filling his roster spot with Roden or someone else who could play every day, likely with better results, and should have been given an opportunity so that the team could plan for next year.

3. Deluding themselves, for the third time in just the last few years, that Buxton could get better with rehab and return to lead them in the playoffs.

4. Deluding themselves that they actually had a team that could make the playoffs, with or without Buxton, and deciding to buy at the deadline with a team that already lost Lopez and Buxton, two of their three top players, and not admitting that Joe Ryan had much worse second halves in each of the three previous years (now four in a row), instead of leaning into a rebuild.

5. Bonus mistake: not persuading Buxton to agree to a trade last summer or during the winter. His loyalty is admirable, but it's hard to see how staying on the Twins is good for Buxton or the Twins. I guess he wants to be remembered as a one-team player, but his legacy would be better if he was known as a guy who played in the World Series, which isn't going to happen here. This may be water under the bridge now, because it's hard to see how another team would give much for him.

As for the timing of the surgery, it's fine. If it takes him eight or even nine months to recover, he can return in mid-June or July. Based on his average 90-game season, that would actually allow him to be relatively healthy for the playoffs, if the team is in them, instead of being run down by the All Star game. 

[Cris E]

10 minutes ago, MeleMouth said:

This may be water under the bridge now, because it's hard to see how another team would give much for him.

Oh good lord. Hyperbole much?

The man is only making $15m and had hit 25 HR with a .930 OPS in mid-JUNE.  Yeah, he sucks. 

[djvang]

Unfortunately he's just cursed with a body that constantly breaks down under routine baseball wear-and tear. 

18 minutes ago, Cris E said:

Oh good lord. Hyperbole much?

The man is only making $15m and had hit 25 HR with a .930 OPS in mid-JUNE.  Yeah, he sucks. 

What are his stats when he's on the IL, where's he's been as often as on the field?

[HarmonK03]

46 minutes ago, LastOnePicked said:

They put him in a game where he couldn't pick up a ground ball - that could have been a decisive loss.

His hip locked up on him during the game, yes it may have been predictable it would happen but the night before he was 3 for 5 and running around like the Buxton we know.  And the weekend before he had a nice diving catch.

Yes we can debate all day as to when he should have been shut down, but to make it sound like he started the game injured and couldn't move is incorrect.  It happened during the game and they knew reinjury was a risk.

[HarmonK03]

30 minutes ago, MeleMouth said:

Bonus mistake: not persuading Buxton to agree to a trade last summer or during the winter.

The team isn't going to force a trade if he wants to be here.  Regardless of how frustrated we are with the amount of games missed by Buxton, he has produced when in the lineup and has earned this right both contractually and from a business sense to be deferred to on this decision.

[Cris E]

Buxton was playing very well in the first half. Like Aaron Judge well. Top of the charts. But in June his hip flared up again (after missing 5 games in May) and his play suffered, yet he was allowed to keep trying to contribute. 

But honestly those last games in June he was not playing well, and then he aggravated the hip again stealing a base on July 5, so after the all-star break he stayed home for a couple weeks, until July 20. And when he came back he was still not helping, running a .477 OPS through his injury in mid-August. 

So let's do some Monday morning quarterbacking, shall we? September was too late, according to the aggregated (and aggravated) wisdom of this board.  How about early July after he tweaked it against the Yankees? How about June 22 when he was still at his peak OPS but just starting to decline?  How about the first set of games he missed in May? 

You can only see where the crest of a hill is by getting over it and looking back, but when Buxton looked back what he was mostly seeing was how good he'd been playing, how well this team was playing with him hitting well (near the top of MLB in scoring for much of the year) and how much he was able to recover and continue on at a high level after a short period of rest. 

What?  

He took off five games in May after injuring the hip again, and when he came back he went on a tear. Between his May 19 return and his high water mark on June 22 he played in 18 games, hit 10 HR and had a .977 OPS. I really think that every time he looked at whether he should rest a bit or get surgery he was seeing that week off followed by continued success. 

Shelton let him think that for a few reasons. First of all he probably saw it too: take a week and come back strong.   But he also saw that the replacement was Fedko or Grey or some other non-entity.  Remember that ERod was injured at several points this summer when the team wanted to call him up, and that Jenkins was both injured and not playing well for much of the season as well. Even Roden was hurt this summer. So getting Byron back was vital to any success in 2026. And finally, six months from any point in the season is the end of the season, so it kind of didn't matter when he turned to the docs because it was all over until 2027. Everyone wanted to delay the end as long as possible because the door to the AL Central was open for them well into September.  Playing .500 baseball would have done wonders. 

So sure, too late, Monday morning everyone is smart. But if he could have come back to DH and hit at all after June it could really have helped, and surgery in July or August doesn't gain you much if there's a work stoppage this winter.  It was wrong to play a guy who was playing so poorly, but not wrong to let him work on things off the 25 man roster and to hope he could bounce back again.

[djvang]

3 hours ago, rv78 said:

Had they got him under the knife sooner and he was more ready to go at the start of 2027, he would just have his next injury sooner in 2027. 

You beat me to it!

[Cris E]

27 minutes ago, djvang said:

Unfortunately he's just cursed with a body that constantly breaks down under routine baseball wear-and tear. 

What are his stats when he's on the IL, where's he's been as often as on the field?

HIs stats are still 25 HR and an .829 OPS,  twenty points ahead of second place on the team Ryan Jeffers who also missed extended parts of the year. What were Tristan Grey's numbers? Because that's who picked up a lot of the CF innings when he was out.  Be careful what you wish for, they weren't going to spend last year and the alternatives to Byron Buxton were ugly.