Byron Buxton was able to avoid the injured list on Friday as the Twins opted to send down outfielder Alan Roden to clear the way for top prospect Walker Jenkins to make his major league debut against the Chicago White Sox on Friday night. But while Buxton avoided his 20th career trip to the IL, there are still plenty of concerns that still exist after suffering a setback with his hip in Tuesday's loss to the Athletics.
In the short term, Buxton’s absence robs the Twins of a quality bat in the middle of a playoff race. But it also comes with a long-term truth that Twins fans may never see Buxton return to the form he showed during the 2025 season.
Byron Buxton’s 2025 season may be a high water mark for his career
Buxton has had a solid career as a three-time All-Star and former Gold Glove, Platinum Glove and Silver Slugger winner. But his career is a tantalizing case of what if. The second overall pick in the 2012 draft, Buxton’s athleticism jumps off the charts, but he’s played over 100 games just three times in his 12-year career and over 120 games twice.
That being said, Buxton shrugged off the injuries to put together one of the greatest seasons in Twins history last year. Playing in 126 games, Buxton hit .264/.327/.551 with 35 homers and 83 RBI. In addition to his power at the plate and elite defense, Buxton’s speed had returned, going a perfect 24-for-24 on stolen base attempts.
Since the Divisional Era began in 1969, Buxton and Trea Turner, who went 30-for-30 in stolen bases for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023, are the only two players who have stolen at least 24 bases without a caught stealing. It’s the kind of stat that creates star power and hope that Buxton was experiencing a second act. But instead, it led to another injury-plagued season.
Another Byron Buxton setback left the Twins with more questions than answers
Buxton hasn’t experienced a full-blown regression this year, hitting .254/.319/.511 with 25 homers, 46 RBI and seven stolen bases on eight attempts. But like several Twins, Buxton has slumped since the trade deadline, hitting .179/.304/.231 with two doubles, no homers and one RBI since returning from the injured list on Aug. 13.
Twins manager Derek Shelton said this week that Buxton was “trying to find his timing” at the plate and that’s understandable after skipping a minor league rehab assignment before his return. But the issue has been decelerating and coming to a stop on the basepaths and in the outfield.
The latest setback came on Tuesday when Athletics outfielder Henry Bolte lined a hit to the gap. When Buxton reached down for the ball, he could not bend over to pick it up, allowing it to roll to the wall and Buxton to limp around the outfield. The Twins pulled him from the game immediately and while the Twins were in “wait-and-see” mode after the game, their decision to call up Jenkins was announced on Thursday evening, leaving questions about Buxton’s future.
The Twins may need to adjust their expectations for Byron Buxton
Buxton has been able to avoid the IL so far and the hope is that some rest will help Buxton get ready for the stretch run. But that seems like an optimistic view as Buxton has been struggling with the injury for three months. It also echoes several injuries that have stayed with Buxton over the years, most notably a knee injury that kept him from playing in the outfield during the entire 2023 season.
Because of this, Buxton is maligned by some Twins fans who have placed “Mr. Glass” right next to Joe Mauer's “bilateral leg weakness” in franchise lore. But Buxton is a hard-working player who has shown flashes of talent only to wind up back on the injured list.
If anything, Twins fans should adjust their expectations for Buxton moving forward. Producing at the plate like he did last year isn’t a stretch as he's been solid when healthy. But it’s also fair to expect a maximum of 100 games, especially as he will turn 33 in December.
For the present, it’s a perfect reason to give Jenkins a shot in the bigs. It may also create an opening for fellow top prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez in 2027 when he will be out of minor league options and raises the possibility that Buxton could move to a corner infield spot the same way Mike Trout did with the Los Angeles Angels to preserve his health. But it’s also a painful realization for Buxton as he seemed to be crafting a second act with his monster season one year ago.
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