The Minnesota Twins have placed outfielder Michael A. Taylor on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain and have activated utility man Willi Castro prior to Sunday’s game against the Texas Rangers.
Taylor sat out a few games early in the week after injuring his hamstring but was able to play through it until he aggravated the issue in the Twins win over Texas on Saturday night.
Taylor has been a pleasant surprise this season, hitting .229/.281/.456 with 20 home runs, 47 RBI and 13 stolen bases this season as the everyday center fielder but his injury further depletes the team’s options at the position going forward.
Byron Buxton played center field for the first time in over a year during his rehab assignment with the St. Paul Saints on Wednesday night but was pulled after feeling soreness in his right knee on Friday and is day-to-day.
The Twins called up outfielder Andrew Stevenson on Friday after he hit 317/.394/.522 with 16 homers and 44 stolen bases at Triple-A St. Paul this season but he has gone just 1-for-6 with two stolen bases in his first two games.
The good news is that Castro has played 31 games (16 starts) in center field this season but he doesn’t have the power that Taylor has displayed this year, hitting .241/.322/.371 with five home runs and 29 stolen bases.
Things could get really dicey for the Twins if they sustain another injury as well with prospects DaShawn Keisey Jr. and Austin Martin the next man up in that scenario.
For now, the Twins will have to hold the fort while Taylor’s hamstring calms down as they wrap up their series with Texas and enter a crucial three-game series with the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night.
