The Minnesota Twins have already made their one move of note after the trade deadline, bringing up top shortstop prospect Kaelen Culpepper. If they want any more help, it’s going to have to come from inside the building. And right now, the biggest internal boost they can get is Byron Buxton.
Buxton has been out since July 28 after re-aggravating a lingering hip injury for the second time in July. The setback came at the worst possible time for Minnesota, and his recovery has taken longer than the club hoped. He even needed an unknown injection last week in an effort to speed things along.
There is at least a real sign of progress now. According to LaVelle E.
Neal of the Star Tribune, Buxton was hitting in the cage on Monday before the Twins’ home game against the Baltimore Orioles. That matters because it means he is back doing baseball activities, which is a step the Twins have been waiting for.
The pregame work at Target Field drew attention for another reason as well. A clip showed Buxton taking batting practice, and Derek Shelton was the man throwing to him. Chris Long noted that Shelton said it was the first time in seven years he had thrown a BP session.
For Minnesota, the timing could not be better. Buxton has been the team’s most productive player this season, sitting at 2.6 fWAR after reaching 3.0 before his latest trip to the injured list. He was also supposed to start in the All-Star Game before that injury interrupted things.
Even with the missed time, Buxton has put together a strong season at the plate. He is hitting .263 with an .864 OPS and has already launched 25 home runs, putting him on pace to sail past the 35 he hit last year. That kind of production is exactly what the Twins have been missing.
The rest of the outfield situation has not helped. Austin Martin and Alan Roden have both struggled recently, while Luke Keaschall and Ryan Kreidler have been pushed into uncomfortable center field duties. Outside of calling up Walker Jenkins, Minnesota does not have a clean answer there.
A short rehab assignment could still be part of the process, but the larger picture is simple: the Twins need Buxton back in the lineup. If he returns soon, Minnesota gives itself a much better chance to close the gap in the AL Central.
In Other News...
Twins Trade With Rays Suddenly Looks Even Better For Minnesota
The trade that sent Taj Bradley to Minnesota and Griffin Jax to Tampa Bay was already looking like the kind of deal that can age well for the Twins, and now it has another twist. Bradley has given Minnesota a strong return and brings control through 2029, which makes the front office look pretty savvy in the short and long term, especially in the context of the other recent Twins-Rays swaps.
Jax, meanwhile, had settled into a starting role with the Rays and was performing well after the switch, so his progress had become part of the appeal on Tampa Bays side. The next step is less clear now, and it is another reminder that even trades that seem balanced in the moment can tilt quickly once health enters the picture. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Return In Jorge Polanco Deal Looks Worse After Latest Setback
Justin Topas season took another turn when the Royals cut ties with the right-hander after signing him to a minor-league deal in July, continuing a frustrating stretch for a pitcher whose year has bounced from organization to organization. Topa had already been designated for assignment and released by the Twins after struggling, then spent time on a minor-league deal with the Blue Jays before Toronto let him go in early July.
For Minnesota, it is another unwelcome reminder of how the return from the Jorge Polanco trade with Seattle has aged. Topa came to the Twins in that offseason deal and was expected to be part of the pitch mix, but his performance never stabilized enough to make the move look like much of a win. The latest release does not close the book on his career, but it does add another dent to the value Minnesota was hoping to extract from that transaction. [Read more 🡒]
Luke Keaschalls Bat Looks Ready But Twins Still Face One Problem
Luke Keaschall has given the Twins plenty to like with the bat, and for a young player trying to carve out a long-term role, that counts for a lot. But Minnesota has spent much of the 2026 season sorting through a tougher question around him: where exactly does he fit on the field? He opened at second base, only to run into defensive trouble that forced the club to rethink the plan and look at other spots.
The move to the outfield has not solved the issue so far, which leaves the Twins still weighing how to balance Keaschalls offensive upside against the defensive growing pains. For a team trying to build around young talent, the appeal is obvious, but so is the need for a cleaner answer before his role becomes set in stone. Until then, the bat looks ready, even if the glove keeps the conversation going. [Read more 🡒]