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One of the Twins’ biggest goals for 2023 is keeping Byron Buxton healthy and productive. Buxton’s injury history is well documented. Minnesota’s All-Star center fielder has only played over 100 games in one big-league season. His value to the Twins is undeniable, with 48 home runs in his last 162 games. There isn’t an easy solution to keeping Buxton on the field, but the Twins are attempting a different strategy to start the 2023 campaign.
Buxton took a slow approach to prepare for the season during spring training. He got a lot of work on the back fields before appearing in his first game with the big-league club. Eventually, the Twins announced that Buxton would begin the year as the team’s full-time designated hitter. He is one of baseball’s best defensive center fielders, but he can’t play in the outfield when hurt. His bat has become so valuable that it hurts the team significantly when he can’t be in the lineup.
The Twins traded for Michael A. Taylor this winter to have some insurance for Buxton in center field. Taylor is among a handful of players near Buxton’s level regarding defense in center field. At the time of the trade, it looked like a solid move to provide some Buxton insurance. Taylor isn’t an offensive threat, but the Twins hoped Buxton would play regularly in the outfield, and Taylor could be a bench option. That plan hasn’t come to fruition because Taylor has been needed in the line-up daily while Buxton is in the DH role.
Typically, batters are slightly behind pitchers at the season’s start because of colder weather and the ramp-up to the season. Taylor has struggled to start the season by hitting .194/.219/.258 (.477) with two doubles and 12 strikeouts in his first nine games. Nick Gordon (-37 OPS+) is the only regular with a lower OPS+ than Taylor (32 OPS+). Taylor has a career 80 OPS+ which is below league average, but it also points to some improvement in his performance.
With the plan for Buxton and Taylor, the Twins are losing an opportunity to have a bigger bat in the line-up regularly. If Buxton were in center field, the Twins could rotate DH through players like Trevor Larnach, Matt Wallner, Joey Gallo, and even Jorge Polanco when he returns from injury. Even if he is hitting his career average, Taylor provides negative offensive value, keeping the Twins line-up from reaching its full potential.
So, what does building Buxton up look like when he isn’t getting any opportunities in the outfield? Based on reports, it sounds like the Twins will take the approach of “if it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it.” In a radio interview this past weekend, Derek Falvey said Buxton won’t see any time in centerfield until mid-May. When he starts in the outfield, it seems likely for the team to use a slow ramp-up with him starting in the outfield one-two days per week. Like it or not, Taylor will continue to get regular at-bats throughout the season’s first half.
Looking forward, Twins fans can hope that Royce Lewis returns to the line-up in the second half and can make starts in center field. Lewis projects to start playing in minor league games in the coming weeks. It will be a slow build-up for one of the team’s top prospects as he returns from his second ACL tear. The Twins have stated that his knee might feel good, but he needs to continue strengthening the muscles around the injury to avoid future injuries. Many fans will eagerly be awaiting Lewis’ return, but it likely won’t come until mid-summer.
Besides Lewis, some of Minnesota’s other center field depth has already been tested to start the year. Gilberto Celestino suffered an ulnar collateral ligament tear in his thumb that will sideline him until May. Austin Martin has a UCL sprain in his right elbow, which means the Twins have shut him down from throwing and hitting. Martin’s injury can eventually result in Tommy John surgery, but the Twins are hoping rest will help him avoid surgery. The team’s center field depth chart can quickly get low if Taylor misses time.
Minnesota’s plan for Buxton is complicated because he is not guaranteed to stay healthy even when playing DH regularly. Fans have seen him be aggressive on the base paths to start the year, and he can get hurt just as easily sliding into a base as diving in the outfield. What is the correct timeline for Buxton to return to center field? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.
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