Byron Buxton got ejected from his rehab start after pitch clock violation

It’s been almost a month since Byron Buxton has been in the Minnesota Twins’ lineup, but that’s soon about to change.

When he returns, he’ll have some new fire to him as well.

Buxton is on a rehab assignment in St. Paul, working his way back from a hip injury, and added something to his career-firsts list. Never in his MLB career has Buxton been ejected from a game -- a streak that still technically stands -- but the same can't be said for his time in the minor league.

Byron Buxton ejected from St. Paul Saints game after pitch clock violation

In the third inning of Wednesday’s game against the Iowa Cubs, Buxton was called for an automatic strike on a batter pitch clock violation. It wasn’t his last strike, as he fouled off the next pitch, but struck out swinging at a fastball after that. 

Buxton’s real third strike came when he argued how the at-bat had been umpired as he was leaving the batter’s box and was promptly tossed from the game. 

Buxton has been working his way back since suffering a hip injury back in mid-August, the timing of which couldn't be worse. Minnesota is just a handful of games out of first place in the AL Central but aren't exactly taking advantage of the Guardians and Royals opening up a lane for them to surge ahead.

Kansas City has lost seven straight games and fallen firmly back into third place, while the Guardians haven't yet run away with the division title. Minnesota has two more series against both teams this month, incluing a weekend series against the Royals in which they can put their rivals down for good.

Getting Buxton back will be a key piece of the puzzle, because the Twins' offense looks lost without him. Over the course of their last two series, the team has barely managed to score any runs and had an awful implosion against the Rays on Wednesday.

Buxton's fire sure seems to be back, at least, which is going to be something Minnesota will need if the plan is to close the gap on Cleveland in the 11th hour of the season.

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