Byron Buxton will have a decision to make this offseason regardless of if the Twins make the playoffs.
Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton has dealt with right hip soreness since May of this season and it is an issue he has not been able to put behind him. Although the injury originated in May it did not resurface until late June when he suffered a right hip strain and missed the All-Star Game.
He returned after a couple of weeks but then reaggravated it in late July, leading to another stint on the injured list. This past Tuesday, Buxton was forced to exit a game against the Athletics due to the same right hip discomfort, making this the third flare-up of the issue this season.
The setbacks have completely disrupted what has otherwise been a special year from Buxton. When healthy he has continued to be an elite all-around talent. Across 93 games, the 32-year-old veteran has posted a .254 batting average, .319 on-base percentage, .829 OPS, 25 home runs and 46 RBIs while also providing reliable defense in center field.
The version of Buxton the Twins get when he is fully healthy is one of the most impactful players in the American League, which makes these recurring setbacks all the more frustrating for the organization and its fan base.
Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll provided an update on Buxton's condition during Minnesota's current series against the Chicago White Sox, per independent Twins writer Aaron Gleeman.
Zoll revealed that Buxton is still day-to-day and the situation remains fluid as he tries to avoid the injured list for what would potentially be his third stint this season. Zoll also dropped a significant note about the future, saying that Buxton undergoing surgery this offseason is a definite possibility that both the player and the organization will have to decide on together.
Given that it would be an offseason procedure, the hope would be that Buxton could be ready for spring training in 2027, though that is not fully guaranteed depending on the nature of the surgery. Given how Buxton has been unable to get healthy on his own this year, going under the knife may ultimately be the best path forward for his long-term health and availability.
Next year will mark Buxton's 13th season in the big leagues. Trade rumors surrounding him have cooled considerably given how both the front office and Buxton himself have made clear he is not going anywhere.
With the Twins still in the American League wild card hunt and playing better baseball recently, that commitment is expected to hold firm regardless of how the hip situation resolves itself over the coming weeks.
