Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton was not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton shared a positive update on outfielder Byron Buxton ahead of their matchup on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Buxton exited Friday’s game after being hit by a pitch on the right forearm, creating immediate concern given his injury history. As a result, he was held out of Saturday’s lineup, with James Outman drawing the start in center field instead.
However, the early outlook appears to be encouraging. “Byron Buxton is out of the Twins' lineup after taking a fastball off the forearm last night, but manager Derek Shelton seems optimistic he could be back in a day or two — and maybe even available off the bench tonight,” reported Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic.
While it is never ideal to see Buxton sidelined, the fact that he avoided a more serious injury is a major relief for Minnesota. The possibility that he could even be available off the bench suggests the injury is relatively minor and should not require a stint on the injured list.
That is especially important for a Twins team already dealing with a lack of depth across its roster. Buxton remains the focal point of the offense, even as he works through a slow start to the 2026 season. Through his first seven games, the 32-year-old has recorded just four hits in 29 plate appearances without a home run.
Despite that early slump, Buxton is coming off one of the most productive seasons of his career. In 2025, he appeared in 126 games, his highest total since 2017, and earned his second career All-Star selection. He posted a .264 batting average, .327 on-base percentage and .878 OPS, along with 35 home runs, 83 RBIs and 24 stolen bases without being caught.
Now in his 12th MLB season, Buxton is still viewed as the face of the franchise. He remains under team control through the 2028 season as part of a seven-year $100 million contract. However, with the Twins reshaping much of their roster following last year’s trade deadline, questions remain about the team’s long-term direction.
For now, the focus is simply on keeping Buxton healthy and on the field. Even at less than full strength, his presence in the lineup provides a significant boost to a team searching for offensive consistency.
If Buxton is able to return within the next couple of days as expected, it would be a much-needed positive development for Minnesota early in the season.