The Twins announced that they have placed outfielder Byron Buxton on the 10-day injured list with a right hip strain, retroactive to July 6th. Fellow outfielder Alan Roden has been recalled in the corresponding move. Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune was among those to pass along the news prior to the club announcement.
Buxton is a supremely talented baseball player but frequent injury issues have often limited the volume of his production. This is his 12th big league season but he has only twice played more than 102 games in a season.
Various injuries have contributed to his absences but the right hip has been a frequent one. A right hip strain put him on the shelf for over a month in 2021 and then again in 2022. Right hip inflammation put him on the IL for just under a month in 2024.
It has continued to be an issue here in 2025. He missed five games in the middle of May due to right hip flexor soreness. When he returned from that issue, he spent more time as the designated hitter, as opposed to being in center field. He started playing center field more regularly in June but that month ended with him dealing with a right hip impingement. He missed four games before returning to the lineup Saturday but then was removed from Sunday’s game after re-aggravating the injury.
At this point, it’s unclear if the Twins expect an extended absence. Perhaps next week’s All-Star Break provided them with a convenient time to give Buxton a rest. If he is ready to return next week, he would only miss six games.
Whether it turns out to be a brief absence or not, it’s a blow to the Twins. Buxton is the best player on the team. He has 25 home runs, a .271/.328/.575 line and seven stolen bases this year. As mentioned, he has often been kept in the DH slot, but he has solid defensive metrics for the time he has spent in center.
With Buxton out, the Twins will have a few options to cover center. Ryan Kreidler, Kody Clemens, Austin Martin and Kyler Fedko have all seen time at the spot this year, though Clemens is currently playing second base almost every day and perhaps needs to stay there. Roden has some limited experience at the position and could factor in as well.
No one in that group can reasonably be expected to produce like Buxton, so it’s a downgrade for the team, ideally only for a short time. The Twins are in a crowded American League playoff picture, currently a game and a half out of a playoff spot. If they stay that close, they could stave off a summer sell-off, but dropping in the standings could make that more likely.
Buxton himself has been in plenty of rumors over the years but shouldn’t be expected to be available this summer. He has a full no-trade clause and has repeatedly said he wants to stay in Minnesota, including as recently as last month. Shortly after Buxton made those comments, general manager Jeremy Zoll doubled down by saying that the club has no plans to move him.
More likely trade candidates include guys like catcher Ryan Jeffers, Trevor Larnach and Joe Ryan, though it’s not a guarantee that any guy in that group will be moved as long as the club keeps their playoff hopes alive.
Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Becker, Imagn Images
