Byron Buxton was ruled out of Saturday’s game with a strained right knee and was not in the Twins’ lineup on Sunday. While Buxton’s health history makes any injury seem like a red flag, manager Rocco Baldelli didn’t think the problem was particularly serious and thought Buxton’s knee might just be sore from the last few games.
“It just happens that there have been so many plays that he’s had to go on in such a short amount of time. It kind of came on, I think, because of all the running,” Baldelli told MLB.com’s Do-Hyoung Park and other reporters.
Buxton underwent arthroscopic surgery on the same right knee back in September, and as part of the Twins’ desire to keep their star healthy, Buxton has pitched exclusively as a designated hitter this season. While keeping a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder in the DH role may seem like a waste of resources, it’s hard to argue with the results, as Buxton is hitting well (.235/.344/.484 with nine home runs in 180 plate appearances) and so far. avoided the injured list.
Ironically, Buxton has been a source of stability in a Twins team plagued by several other injuries, and his bat has been a bright spot in an inconsistent lineup.
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- Sticking with the Twins, Jorge Alcala was placed on the 15-day injured list earlier this week, and manager Nick Paparesta gave Park and company more information on the right-hander’s status. Alcala has a stress fracture of the radius bone in his right forearm, which Paparesta described as “more of a chronic, ongoing condition and again unrelated to the previous elbow surgery.” Due to the rather unique nature of the injury, it’s not known exactly how long Alcala could be out, and the Twins will reevaluate him after a 10-14 day layoff. Elbow issues and arthroscopic removal surgery limited Alcala to just 2 1/3 innings in 2022, and he posted just a 6.46 ERA in 15 1/3 innings out of the Minnesota bullpen this season.
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Hanser Alberto left Sunday’s game with what the White Sox described as left shoulder soreness. After throwing a sacrifice bunt, Alberto appeared to injure his shoulder, making the “safe” sign at first base after a very close play. Alberto is day-to-day with the injury, coach Pedro Grifol said James Fegan of The Athletic and other reporters that the infielder could avoid the 10-day injured list. There isn’t much time for Alberto to rest or for the Sox to play with an underdeveloped roster as the White Sox are on a six-game 19-game stretch in 19 days.
- The Guardian will call up Hunter Gaddis for Monday’s start, according to Zach Meisel of The Athletic (via Twitter) Peyton Battenfield was placed on the 15-day IL on Friday in need of a new starter, so the Guard will look to Gaddis for at least one outing, though an off-day on Thursday could allow them to rebuild the rotation. Gaddis made his MLB debut last season and has made four starts this season while Triston McKenzie has been sidelined with an injury, but the results have yet to be at the big league level. The 25-year-old righty has a 6.86 ERA over 19 2/3 innings this season with a paltry 14.6% strikeout rate.