Byron Buxton Returns as Twins Shake Up Roster During Rough Stretch

Help arrived for the Minnesota Twins on Monday, even if the scoreboard in Cleveland did not reflect it.

Byron Buxton was activated from the injured list before the series opener against the Guardians, ending a nine game absence caused by a right hip strain that also forced him to miss the All-Star Game despite being voted in as a starting outfielder.

The 32 year old wasted little time knocking off the rust, singling twice in his first game back, though the Twins fell 13-4 for their third consecutive loss.

Infielder Tristan Gray was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul to open the roster spot.

"Those extra couple days didn't hurt me to make sure I got everything right before we got here and started this big series," Buxton said.

Manager Derek Shelton explained that the team deliberately avoided rushing its best player back.

"I think it's just a maturation of him knowing his body, and then we just try to be smart. We don't want to rush him back because with 62 games left or 60 games left or whatever we have, it's an extended run. So if we lose a game or two on the front side to gain it on the back side, then I'm all for that," Shelton said.

The patience is understandable given what Buxton means to the lineup, as he is hitting .271 with 25 home runs and a .904 OPS in a season that had him on a career best power pace before the injury.

The roster shuffle did not stop with Buxton.

Reliever Woo-Suk Go was optioned to Triple-A on Monday after a rough outing in the blowout, righthander Jack Anderson was recalled to restock the bullpen, and rookie Kendry Rojas was named the starter for Tuesday's game against Cleveland lefty Parker Messick.

The moves come with the club at 49-52 and three games out of the final American League wild card spot, a gap that keeps the long term questions alive, including which young Twins player could be extended as the front office weighs its direction.

Young pieces like Luke Keaschall have earned praise from Shelton during the climb that preceded this skid, and Brooks Lee stayed hot in the loss with a run scoring triple among his team's better swings of the night.

Minnesota still has two more games in Cleveland before the trip ends, and a healthy Buxton changes how opponents attack the top of the order.

Expectations for the second half were already a talking point, with bold predictions circulating about his finish to the year, and the Twins will need every bit of that production to stay in the race.