Twins Injury Update: Ryan Jeffers takes big step, Bailey Ober continues rehab, Byron Buxton returns

Ryan Jeffers returns to catcher position during rehab assignment, homers

After going 2-for-4 with a pair of singles in the first game of his rehab assignment as Triple-A St. Paul's designated hitter on Friday, Jeffers returned to the catcher position on Saturday and immediately gave the Saints a 1-0 lead on a solo home run off former Twins right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson, who was recently outrighted to Triple-A Buffalo by the Toronto Blue Jays, in the bottom of the first inning.

Jeffers also hit a double on Saturday. When Jeffers is reinstated from the IL, Minnesota will likely designate catcher Alex Jackson for assignment to make room on the 26-man roster.

Bailey Ober makes Triple-A rehab start

With Jeffers behind the plate in St. Paul, Ober made his second rehab appearance on Saturday night. Over five innings in the outing, Ober allowed four earned runs on six hits and no walks with five strikeouts.

Ober made his first start of his rehab assignment with High-A Cedar Rapids last Sunday, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and no walks with just one strikeout over 3 1/3 innings.

When Ober is reinstated from the IL, right-hander Mike Paredes will likely be removed from the rotation. Minnesota can either option Paredes or move him to the bullpen.

Byron Buxton returns to lineup after four games off

After missing four games, Buxton returned to the lineup in the Twins' 11-4 win against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Buxton hit an RBI double off Yankees rookie right-hander Brendan Beck in the first inning and later collected a sacrifice fly and a walk.

Many Twins fans took a sigh of relief when they saw Buxton return to the lineup on Saturday, as the reason he missed the last four games was a right hip impingement, per The Athletic's Dan Hayes. Buxton's hip has been bothering him much of the season, so it's encouraging that he returned on Saturday. If he had missed much longer, then worries of him landing on the IL likely would've emerged among Twins fans.

After Minnesota's victory on Saturday, MLB announced the All-Star Game starters, with Buxton deservedly named one of the American League outfielders along with Mike Trout and Aaron Judge, who has been out since late May with a right rib fracture. It's a well-deserved honor for Buxton, who has slashed a remarkable .269/.326/.574 with 25 home runs over 74 games this season.

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