Buxton (wrist) sits, available to pinch-run, play D
MINNEAPOLIS -- Manager Rocco Baldelli said Saturday that all of the testing on Byron Buxton's bruised right wrist came back fine, and Buxton should be available to pinch-run and play defense if needed. The lingering soreness could prevent Buxton from swinging a bat for the time being, though the Twins should have better information in the coming days.
The center fielder was not in the starting lineup for Saturday night's game against the Royals.
Buxton was hit on the wrist by a 92-mph fastball from Brad Keller in the sixth inning of Friday night's win over the Royals. He initially stayed in the game to run the bases and play defense, but he was lifted for a pinch-hitter before his subsequent at-bat.
"He's going to get a lot of treatment done," Baldelli said. "I'm sure we'll have a better answer for that later on tonight, and probably tomorrow and the next day."
Twins host Pitch, Hit & Run competition
Prior to Saturday's game, the Twins celebrated eight young ballplayers that won their respective divisions as part of Major League Baseball's annual Pitch, Hit & Run competition at Target Field.
Pitch, Hit & Run serves as the league's official youth skills competition. The top 12 baseball and top 12 softball qualifiers from Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa and Manitoba competed at Target Field, with the champions advancing to the National Finals in Cleveland during the 2019 Major League Baseball All-Star Week.
The winners were:
The 7- and 8-year-old Softball Division: Tenley Anderson from Sioux Falls, S.D.
The 7- and 8-year-old Baseball Division: Caleb Koenen from Montevideo, Minn.
The 9- and 10-year-old Softball Division: Isabelle Eide from Centerville, S.D.
The 9- and 10-year-old Baseball Division: Bishop Froehle from Minneapolis
The 11- and 12-year-old Softball Division: Anya Anderson from Bloomington, Minn.
The 11- and 12-year-old Baseball Division: Reggie Bruner from Drake, N.D.
The 13- and 14-year-old Softball Division: Raquel Wilson from Lakeville, Minn.
The 13- and 14-year-old Baseball Division: Ethan Manock from Wahpeton, N.D.
Twins reportedly agree to terms with three more top selections
The Twins have reportedly signed both fourth-round Draft pick Seth Gray and sixth-round selection Sawyer Gipson-Long, according to MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis. MLB Pipeline's Jonathan Mayo also reports that the Twins have signed seventh-rounder Anthony Prato.
According to Callis, Gray, an infielder from Wright State University, signed for his full slot value of $483,000, while Gipson-Long signed for an under-slot $215,000 (compared to the slot value of $274,800). Mayo reported that Prato signed for an over-slot $274,800 (compared to the value of $214,900 for pick 209).