Minnesota Twins: Byron Buxton starts slow in his rehab with Triple-A Rochester
By Nate Palmer
The Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton’s toe fracture has healed and it is time for him to get his swing right while out on his rehab stint.
The Minnesota Twins starting center fielder continues to be on the mend from a fracture to his big toe. The toe has healed and is feeling well enough for Byron Buxton to begin a rehab stint with the Twins Triple-A affiliate Rochester Red Wings. That stint began Tuesday night as the Red Wings took on the Syracuse Chiefs.
You may remember that Buxton first fractured his toe while out on a rehab assignment with the Fort Myers Miracle after he had been battling migraines. With migraine symptoms gone, Buxton returned to action May 10th still clearly hampered by his fractured toe. Only to land him on the disabled list again after last playing on May 29th.
Buxton and the Twins admitted to the fact that Buxton still just wasn’t right and the toe was limiting him. That may have been no more evident than at the plate where Buxton hit .122/.140/.163 in his most recent stint between DL trips.
Tuesday as Buxton’s rehab stint started he served as the DH and led off the Red Wings line up right in front of Twins prospect Nick Gordon. Looking at the box score it is good Buxton will get an opportunity to work on his game form while in Rochester. Buxton was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in his return to baseball action.
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It sounds like there are clearly some bad habits that have crept into Buxton’s approach at the plate. Something that manager Paul Molitor said has happened and fixing those habits has been Buxton’s focus with hitting coach James Rowson ever since landing back on the DL.
This rehab stint seems like a good opportunity for the Twins to take their time with Buxton’s return to the majors. The Twins seem to be thinking that as well as they have not determined a return date as is common with most rehab stints. The Twins instead seem to be prepared to use all of the 30 day window if they have to to get Buxton hitting right again.
Considering how important Buxton is to the Twins in 2018 and beyond that is the right move. It is better for the Twins to be patient and take advantage of this opportunity to get Buxton back to the hitter he was the second half of 2017 when he slashed .300/.347/.546 then to rush him back to be what we have seen this season.
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Buxton’s defense is important, but the Twins are playing in a way that Buxton’s defense would make a difference but not enough of a difference if his bat isn’t right. If the Twins want to truly challenge the Cleveland Indians for the division crown they need a fully healthy and good swinging Buxton. Get right, Buck! See you soon!