The Twins are down their star outfielder in the run up to the trade deadline. Byron Buxton is going on the 10-day injured list with a right hip impingement, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Infielder Tristan Gray is being recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move.
It’s unfortunately a quick return to the IL for Buxton. The 32-year-old went down for a right hip strain on July 7th and only just returned on the 20th. He’s played in seven games since being activated, and they haven’t gone well, as Buxton’s batted just .160/.222/.160 in 27 plate appearances. All four of his hits in that span have been singles.
That’s a minor blip compared to how well Buxton has performed this year. In 362 plate appearances, he is batting .263/.320/.544 with 25 home runs and a 136 wRC+. He struck out 27.3% of the time last year, but he’s cut that to a more manageable 24.3% clip in 2026 while continuing to hit for power. Buxton is also still an asset on defense, with both Defensive Runs Saved (+1) and Outs Above Average (+3) viewing him favorably for his work in center field.
More to come.
