Byron Buxton was placed on the injured list Sunday for the third time in the past two months with the same right hip injury that's bothered him, off and on, since May. Twins officials insist Buxton still has a chance to play again this season, but general manager Jeremy Zoll also revealed offseason surgery may be needed.
"(Surgery's) definitely a potential option as we sort through everything," Zoll said. "It would be some type of hip procedure, but we're not at that point right now."
Buxton aggravated the hip injury at least a half-dozen times this season. Early on, he avoided the IL and returned to the lineup after a handful of days off, but that's become increasingly untenable and it's obvious Buxton is dealing with something more significant than a typical strain. He's also had hip issues in previous years.
Buxton was rarely at full strength in the first half, but he still managed to play 75 games and hit .271/.328/.575 with 25 homers to get voted in as an All-Star starter for the first time. However, the injury caused him to miss the All-Star Game, and he's played just 18 of 42 post-break games while hitting .172 with no homers.
Buxton aggravated his season-long hip injury on August 25 and hasn't played since.
It took Buxton being shut down for the Twins to call up Walker Jenkins, who has taken over as the starting center fielder and enabled Luke Keaschall to shift back to right field. Jenkins' ability to handle center field also figures to be key for 2027, especially if a Buxton surgery puts his status for Opening Day in any question.
Twins fans searching for some reason to be optimistic about Buxton's admittedly worrisome situation should think back to 2023, when he was strictly a designated hitter because of a right knee injury. He mostly struggled before being shut down in August and later underwent surgery to remove the plica/membrane flap.
There was tons of uncertainty surrounding Buxton then, with some concern that he wouldn't be able to return to center field. But the surgery fixed the years-long problem, alleviating pain and enabling Buxton to resume playing center field. And the 2.5 seasons that followed are arguably the best, healthiest time of his career.
Buxton, who turns 33 in December, has two more years left on his contract, with matching $15 million salaries for 2027 and 2028. It's worth noting $15 million is no longer one of MLB's highest 100 salaries and Buxton's production this season (3.3 bWAR, 2.6 fWAR) exceeded $15 million in value despite playing just 93 games.
2027 outfield mix
Next season's outfield plan could be very interesting. Keaschall still needs to find a long-term fit defensively, but he's batted .301/.401/.442 in 99 games since May 1 and looks like an ideal leadoff hitter. Jenkins is presumably in the majors to stay, with everyday playing time being logical for an elite prospect.
Fellow league-wide top-100 prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez will be out of minor-league options despite having yet to reach the majors, so he would need to be on the Opening Day roster to stay in the organization. Trevor Larnach will again be a non-tender candidate with a raise to around $8 million due via arbitration.
Alan Roden will also be in the outfield mix unless the Twins have already soured on the 26-year-old acquired in last deadline's Louis Varland trade. It sure seems like they've soured on 28-year-old Matt Wallner, who never got another chance following a May demotion to Triple-A. He's likely to play elsewhere in 2027.