Minnesota Twins head coach Rocco Baldelli has said three key players would miss the upcoming game due to injuries.
He played two games in a row at Triple-A St. Paul this week without incident, marking the penultimate step toward getting cleared to rejoin the Twins. Buxton was placed on the injured list on May 3, two days after his knee flared up during a game against the White Sox.
According to Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, the short-term objective is to have Buxton start three games against left-handed pitchers this week.
“We’re going to run him out there,” Baldelli stated before Saturday’s game. “When he returns from his IL spell, he won’t play many games in a row, but he will play a lot. He is going to play. “He’s going to play a lot.”
Buxton, 30, has undergone knee surgery in each of the last two postseasons.
The Twins will keep a tight eye on Buxton while allowing him as much latitude as he needs. After all, he understands his own limitations better than anyone.
“I trust him. “He knows what he can and cannot do in a specific situation in any given game,” Baldelli added. “His decision-making process differs slightly from that of others. I notify the other players when they may and cannot go.
“There are times where you have to leave it in Bux hands where he can make that decision – to keep himself out there and keep himself feeling good.”
Buxton was batting.250 with eight doubles, one home run, and 11 RBIs in 28 games before retiring due to a sore knee.
To clear a spot on the 26-man roster, the Twins optioned utility player Austin Martin to St. Paul. Martin stole a base and scored after pinch running in the eighth inning of Friday’s 3-2 defeat to the Guardians.
