Byron Buxton, off concussion list, rejoins Twins; Matt Wallner nears return
Byron Buxton is back with the Minnesota Twins. Matt Wallner is likely to join them as soon as Saturday.
Before starting a three-game series at Seattle on Friday, the Twins activated Buxton, their star center fielder, following a two-week stay on the concussion list.
Buxton, who is batting .261/.312/.522 with 18 extra-base hits, including 10 homers, last played May 15 when he collided with Carlos Correa in a victory at Baltimore.
Advertisement
Correa returned May 23 after missing five games with a concussion. The symptoms experienced by Buxton, who previously suffered two concussions, were said to be more serious than Correa's. Buxton took batting practice with teammates before Wednesday's game in Tampa, Fla., and the Twins optioned Carson McCusker to Triple A after the contest.
Though they've remained afloat without him, the Twins will be thrilled to insert Buxton back into the lineup. Buxton batted .309/.372/.603 with five homers in 78 plate appearances from April 25 to May 15, with the Twins winning 14 of 18 in those games. He is tied for second on the team with 1.8 WAR, according to Baseball Reference.
With Royce Lewis slumping, and without Buxton and Harrison Bader, who hasn't batted since Sunday because of a sore right index finger, the Twins offense has cooled off against good pitching staffs. Over their past eight games, the Twins scored only 22 runs and the team went 4-4.
Adding Buxton should provide a spark. The Twins hope Wallner can make a similar impact when he returns from a Grade 2 hamstring strain that has sidelined him since April 16.
Wallner was starting to come around when he sustained a moderate hamstring strain legging out an infield single. He produced an .847 OPS in 67 plate appearances before the injury.
Despite the lengthy layoff, Wallner picked up where he left off this week during a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul. Wallner went 8-for-25 with five home runs and a double for the Saints and was expected to arrive in Seattle on Friday from Omaha, Neb., where the Saints are playing. If he's cleared by the Twins training staff, Wallner could be activated on Saturday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
33 minutes ago
- Fox News
Cowboys great, Super Bowl champion Tom Rafferty dead at 70
Former NFL star Tom Rafferty died in Colorado Thursday, The Dallas Morning News confirmed. The 1978 Super Bowl champion was 70. Rafferty recently had a stroke, and the former offensive lineman had been hospitalized since early May. He played guard and center during his standout career with the Dallas Cowboys. Rafferty played for the Cowboys from 1976-89. During that span, he was a key part of an offensive line that helped protect Hall of Fame quarterbacks Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman. Before he became a fourth-round draft pick, Rafferty played for the Penn State Nittany Lions. Rafferty earned a Super Bowl ring when the Cowboys defeated the Denver Broncos in the 1978 Super Bowl. He played in another Super Bowl after the 1978 season, albeit in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Perhaps Rafferty's most memorable career moment happened in January 1983 when he delivered the key block to help spring Tony Dorsett's record-setting 99-yard touchdown run in a game against the Minnesota Vikings. After his playing days, Rafferty spent time working in sports equipment sales. He is survived by his wife, their two children and grandchildren. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Associated Press
33 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Yankees' Anthony Volpe hit on elbow by pitch and undergoes tests
NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe left Friday night's game against the Boston Red Sox in the fourth inning with a bruised left elbow, two innings after he was hit by an 88.2 mph Walker Buehler pitch. New York said Volpe was undergoing an X-ray and a CT scan. Volpe winced in pain but remained in the game after he was hit by the pitch, which forced in a run. The 24-year-old Gold Glove winner played the field in the third inning, then was replaced by Oswald Peraza at the start of the fourth. Volpe hit a two-run homer in a five-run first inning. He is batting .241 with eight homers and 37 RBIs. ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Yankees Star Aaron Judge Catches Attention for His Nike Air Jordans
The first Subway Series of the 2025 MLB season is quickly approaching on Friday as the New York Mets visit the New York Yankees for a three-game series in the Bronx. Before one of the most highly anticipated matchups of the season, Judge and the Yankees beat the Mariners 3-2 on Wednesday to take the three-game series in Seattle. The 2024 MVP went 2-for-4 while hitting his MLB-leading 15th home run of the season. Advertisement He also caught some attention for the custom all-pink "Double Gum" Nike Air Jordan cleats he wore. MLB's official X account showcased them (and his matching batting gloves and protective guards) front and center on Thursday. New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) runs toward first base after hitting a Edmondson-Imagn Images Fans were loving what they saw as well. "Legends do what legends do," a fan wrote on X. "He's not playing baseball he's chewing scenery 😭" another added. "Absolute flames 💪" someone said. "If they made these in regular kicks, I think people would go nuts for them @Jumpman23," a fan suggested. Judge continues to be baseball's most dangerous hitter, now nearly two full months into the season. Through 43 games, the six-time All-Star is batting .412 with a 1.279 OPS, 15 home runs, 41 RBIs, 40 runs scored and a 3.6 WAR. Advertisement Related: Aaron Judge's New Nickname Catches Attention Before Yankees-Mets Related: 3 Air Jordan Shoes You Can Buy From Nike for Under $100
