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Twins Announce Byron Buxton News After Leaving Nationals Game
Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily News/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Minnesota Twins are still in the AL Wild Card race, but they might have been in the dumps this season without veteran outfielder Byron Buxton. Coming into Saturday's bout with the Washington Nationals, the 31-year-old led the team with a .285 batting average, 23 homers, 59 RBI, a .346 on-base percentage, and 92 hits over 84 games.

Buxton topped the squad in all those categories despite missing nine contests, and he also ranked eighth in baseball with a .913 OPS. Minnesota entered Saturday's game four games behind the Boston Red Sox for the AL's third Wild Card spot, so it has needed every bit of the 6-foot-2-inch, 190-pounder's offensive prowess to stay in the picture.

However, Buxton left Saturday's matchup with an injury, via The Athletic's Aaron Gleeman.

"Twins announced Byron Buxton was removed from the game with left side soreness. He's considered day-to-day," he reported.

Buxton was 0-for-3 before getting subbed out for fellow outfielder Trevor Larnach, who usually starts in left field. Backups Harrison Bader and/or Willi Castro could fill in for Buxton if he misses time moving forward.

Buxton came into Saturday with a career slash line of .249/.309/.486 with 156 homers and 412 RBI over 856 games. The Twins selected him No. 2 overall in the 2012 MLB Draft, and he made the All-Star team in 2022 and 2025. He also won Gold and Platinum Glove Awards in 2017.

Minnesota has one more game against Washington on Sunday before hosting the Boston Red Sox.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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