Twins place All-Star Byron Buxton on IL with rib injury, muddying team's waters ahead of trade deadline
The Twins initially declined to place Buxton on the injured list Sunday as manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters that an MRI revealed 'a good outcome' and declared that Buxton would 'hopefully be back very soon.' But they announced his placement on the injured list prior to Tuesday's game against the Boston Red Sox.
[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]
The news is a blow to Minnesota's long-shot hopes of making it to the postseason. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Twins (51-55) were five games behind the Red Sox (57-51) in the race for the final wild-card berth in the American League with five teams (Rangers, Rays, Guardians, Royals, Angels) between them in the standings.
Buxton's injury further muddies Minnesota's status as buyers or sellers ahead of Thursday's MLB trade deadline as they remain within striking distance of the postseason but will play without their best offensive player for the foreseeable future.
Buxton, 31, is one of two Twins to make the All-Star Game this summer alongside pitcher Joe Ryan. He's slashing .282/.343/.561 with 23 home runs, 59 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 17 attempts. His home run tally is already the second-highest of his career (28 in 2022) and earned him a spot in the MLB Home Run Derby during the All-Star break.
Buxton left Saturday's game against the Washington Nationals with what the Twins called 'left side soreness.' He was initially listed as day-to-day before Sunday's MRI prompted Baldelli's optimistic assessment of his injury. It's not clear what changed between Sunday and Tuesday to prompt the Twins to place Buxton on the injured list.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
11 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Rodríguez and Naylor go deep early, Mariners hold off White Sox 8-6
SEATTLE (AP) — Julio Rodríguez hit a three-run homer during a five-run second inning for the Seattle Mariners as they beat the Chicago White Sox 8-6 on Wednesday night. Rodríguez — who on Sunday became the first player in major league history with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in each of his first four seasons — went deep on a hanging sweeper from starter Jonathan Cannon (4-9). Cal Raleigh drove in two runs with a single immediately before Rodríguez's homer. Seattle led 7-1 after two innings, thanks in part to Josh Naylor's two-run homer in the first. George Kirby (7-5) was effective for six innings, yielding two runs and five hits while striking out nine. Chicago made it competitive in the seventh after Kirby exited, scoring three runs off reliever Eduard Bazardo on homers from Mike Tauchman and Lenyn Sosa. Rodríguez scored on Eugenio Suárez's sacrifice fly in the bottom half to make it 8-5. All-Star closer Andrés Muñoz gave up a solo shot to Michael A. Taylor in the ninth before walking back-to-back batters. Muñoz settled in from there to lock down his 26th save. Key stat Naylor is the first player with three homers and eight steals in his first 12 games with a franchise since Bobby Brown for San Diego in 1983. Up next White Sox right-hander Shane Smith (3-7, 4.25 ERA) starts Thursday afternoon against right-hander Logan Gilbert (3-4, 3.45) in the series finale. ___
San Francisco Chronicle
41 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Valkyries slip in return to Chase as loss to Aces trims playoff lead to a half-game
Instead of a resurgent return to Chase Center and a vital victory over the Las Vegas Aces on Wednesday night, the Golden State Valkyries did just enough to imperil their place in the WNBA playoff picture. The Valkyries never led in the second half of a 78-72 loss, their second to the Aces in four days, as their hold on the eighth and final postseason berth was trimmed to a half-game over Los Angeles with 15 games to go. Golden State hosts the red-hot Sparks — winners of 8 of 10 — on Saturday. The Valkyries (14-15) had their third-worst 3-point showing of the season (4 of 22, 18.2%) in their first home game since July 25 after a 3-2 road trip. While never out of Wednesday's game, they rarely threatened the Aces late. Even with Tiffany Hayes and Cecilia Zandalasini back from injuries that cost them two games apiece, Golden State's nine assists were a season-low. Veronica Burton left the game after being called for a flagrant foul with 3:20 left in the third quarter and never returned, though she stayed on the bench. The Valkyries committed 16 turnovers in their fifth home defeat of the season. Aces (16-14) All-Star center A'ja Wilson scored a game-high 27 points on 8 of 11 floor shooting and 11-for-11 at the line. The Valkyries opened with a zone defense and held the Aces to 0-for-9 from 3-point range to start. That allowed them to go on a 14-0 run into the second quarter while the offense found its legs. The Aces went scoreless for more than six minutes between the end of the first quarter and the start of the second. The Aces rebounded to make 11 of 15 shots in the frame and lead 43-38 at the half. Vegas' lead ballooned to 10 while the Valkyries made avoidable mistakes, from a third-quarter Kate Martin whiffed layup to later a Carla Leite caused turnover-turned-giveaway. Golden State got back within three but never closer. Hayes led the Valkyries with 14 points. Janelle Salaün added 13, but fouled out near the end of the contest after she was ejected from Sunday's 24-point beating by the Aces. Jackie Young and Jewell Loyd each added 14 points for the Aces.
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
D'Angelo Russell throws major shade at Lakers' culture while praising Nets
It's hard to imagine the Nets doing something markedly better as an organization than the Lakers. D'Angelo Russell feels otherwise. The current Mavericks guard took a jab at the Lakers' culture during his early years with the team while praising how much his time in Brooklyn shaped him as a player whose maturity was questioned early in his career. Advertisement 3 Lakers guard D'Angelo Russell celebrates after hitting a 3-point shot during the second half of a game against the Nets on Tuesday, March 1, 2016. AP Russell spent two stints with the Lakers, the first after being drafted second overall by the team in 2015. He lasted just two years, in which Los Angeles went a combined 45-99 under coaches Byron Scott and Luke Walton, before being traded to the Nets for Kyle Kuzma and Brook Lopez. He appeared to blame his lack of success during those seasons on the Lakers not teaching him what it meant to be a pro. Advertisement 'The organization of Brooklyn is different,' Russell said while speaking with Dwyane Wade on the Wy Network on Tuesday. 'It's unlike any other. The performance, team, coach — everything about Brooklyn is different than what you would expect. And I've been around the league, where I came from the Lakers, where the structure is not the same.' 3 D'Angelo Russell speaks with Dwyane Wade. @wynetwork/X The former Montverde star admitted that he used to approach the game — when he was 19 and 20 years old — in a way that was nonchalant. That changed when he got to the Nets, playing two seasons under coach Kenny Atkinson. Advertisement Russell made his lone All-Star team in Brooklyn during the 2018-19 season as he averaged 21.1 points and seven assists. The Nets went 42-40 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2014-15. 'Then I got to Brooklyn, where it's all structure, and it taught me how to be a professional,' Russell said, stressing the word professional. 'I always approached the game to where I was nonchalant, and I felt like I could just wing it. They taught me how to be a professional, how to sleep, how to eat, how to recover.' 3 Nets guard D'Angelo Russell reacts after he sinks a game-winning 3-pointer during a 2018 game. Anthony J Causi He is about to start his 11th season in the league, which includes second stints with the Nets and Lakers. Advertisement Russell signed a two-year, $11.6 million contract with the Mavericks in the offseason and joins a team that has Anthony Davis and No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg. 'That's why I'm still playing to this day,' he said of his time with the Nets. 'I'm not a guy that's athletic, I had to take care of my body, I had to recover, I had to eat the best way. I couldn't just show up. And that's what Brooklyn really taught me.'
