Twins ease Buxton into limited defensive role
DETROIT -- Byron Buxton still isn't ready to swing against live pitching, but since the center fielder is available to play defense and run the bases, the Twins plan to frequently get him involved in games where possible to help him adjust back to game speed after a month on the injured list with a left shoulder subluxation.
Buxton was activated off the 10-day injured list on Sunday and immediately entered to play center field as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning. That's something that could be a regular occurrence on this road trip since a rehab assignment is no longer an option for Buxton with the Minor League season coming to an end.
"The more he’s out there, the more comfortable he's going to get," manager Rocco Baldelli said. "Getting him out there sooner than later seemed like a good option for us."
According to Baldelli, the coaching staff had engaged Buxton in discussions over the last several days about the possibility of playing him in a limited capacity while they made sure that the 25-year-old was both physically and mentally ready for such a role.
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Of course, the Twins also have plenty to gain from the arrangement, as Buxton's 12 outs above average are tied for third among all Major League outfielders despite the fact that he has only appeared in 83 games this season.
"We have a guy who's basically the best defender in the world on our team," Baldelli said. "... We have him available to play defense for us in these games, the games we are winning, toward the end of the game. It just makes a lot of sense to get him out there."
Baldelli still did not have a concrete date as to when Buxton would begin swinging again. Buxton will continue to do work in the training room as the Twins wrap up this 10-game road trip in Boston in the coming days.
"All he wants to do is contribute and be part of what's going on and to play, obviously," Baldelli said. "He wants to be full strength and out there and doing his thing. But at this moment, it's not an option. I think he's excited about the opportunity to help us win games in other ways."