Byron Buxton is heading into a crucial year for the Minnesota Twins, but on Monday night it appeared his 2020 campaign has already hit a snag after being carted off the field with a foot injury during the team’s intrasquad scrimmage according to The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman.
Per Gleeman via Twitter, Buxton was injured tracking a fly ball off the bat of Nelson Cruz in center field. After getting his cleat twisted in the Target Field turf, Buxton went down grabbing his leg and ankle for several minutes before being carted off.
MLB.com’s Do-Hyoung Park also reported that the Twins will know more about the extent of the injury on Thursday.
Buxton was one of the key figures for the Twins in last year’s hot start, hitting .262 with 10 home runs, 46 RBI, and 14 stolen bases in 87 games, but his season came to an end after tearing his rotator cuff after crashing into a fence in Miami last July.
When on the field, Buxton is one of the most electric players in baseball and the Twins have benefitted, going 62-25 when he played last season. But the problem has been staying on it as the second overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft has battled through injuries throughout his career.
The COVID-19 outbreak helped Buxton recover from his most recent injury as he was set to return at the start of a shortened 60-game season, but Monday’s news throws another wrench into Buxton’s potential comeback.
