Byron Buxton’s 2026 season has looked like the kind of run Minnesota has been waiting on for years. Now the Twins have to navigate it without him for at least a little while.
The club placed Buxton on the 10-day injured list on July 7, retroactive to July 6, because of a right hip strain. That’s the same area that has cost him time before, which is why this one carries more weight than a routine short-term absence.
Before the injury, Buxton had been putting together one of the strongest stretches of his career. In 75 games, he was hitting .271/.328/.575 with two home runs, 45 RBI and a .903 OPS. Over his last 30 games, he had gone .284/.339/.569 with nine home runs in 116 at-bats.
That production stands out even more when stacked against what he did in 2025, when he played 126 games, hit 35 home runs, drove in 83 and posted an .878 OPS. It also looks even better when measured against his career line of .250/.310/.495. This wasn’t a player simply stumbling into a hot streak; it was a 32-year-old with a long injury history finding a level well above his usual baseline.
The Twins have known Buxton’s upside for a long time. They selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in 2012, and he reached the majors three years later. Since then, he has been a constant presence in Minnesota, even if the health has not always cooperated.
There is at least a chance the absence won’t last long. If the hip issue is minor and he just needs rest, Buxton could be back July 17 on the road against the Chicago Cubs.
That would be a welcome outcome for Minnesota, especially with the club sitting at 48-49 and three games out in the American League Central. One team has not run away with the division, so the Twins still have room to make a move in the second half.
The timing of the injury was frustrating, but it could have been worse. Buxton made the American League All-Star roster and still got to be part of that honor despite missing only a small chunk of time. If he comes back healthy, Minnesota gets its All-Star center fielder back just as the stretch run begins.
And that matters. Buxton has long been a difference-maker in center field, but this year he was doing damage at the plate, too. For the Twins, the hope now is simple: the hip settles down, the IL stay is brief, and Buxton picks up right where he left off.
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Twins Fans Wont Like Where This Trade Buzz Just Went
With the trade deadline closing in, the Phillies recent surge under Don Mattingly has only sharpened the focus on what they still need, especially on the pitching side and in the outfield. That kind of roster pressure tends to create noise, and this time it has reached a player the Twins have spent years building around in Byron Buxton, whose mix of power and athleticism naturally makes him the sort of name that gets tossed into every big-market conversation.
For Minnesota, the bigger issue is not just the speculation itself but how quickly it can gather steam when a club like Philadelphia is looking for impact help. Buxton is under contract for two more years at a little over $15.1 million per season, and he has been productive enough this year to keep his profile high, which only adds to the outside chatter. Still, the Twins have made it clear internally that moving him is not on the table, and the situation is further complicated by the fact that he holds the leverage to control where this story goes next. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Deadline Focus Just Shifted To Three Realistic Fixes
The Twins deadline conversation has settled into a familiar place: pitching first, bullpen help especially, and a search for players who can fit without forcing the front office into a long-term gamble. Minnesotas playoff push has made relief depth a priority, and the latest thinking around the market points to a few realistic paths rather than one splashy swing. Veteran arms Jake McGee and Trevor May are among the names being floated, with both offering the kind of experience contenders tend to value when the games tighten in August and September.
Jo Adell also enters the discussion as a different kind of fit, one that would address the lineup more than the mound. The idea is straightforward enough for a Twins club trying to stay in the race: add a bat with some upside while still keeping the bullpen search front and center. For now, though, the bigger question is which of these directions Minnesota is most willing to pursue, and how aggressive it plans to be before the deadline starts to close in. [Read more 🡒]