Twins’ Byron Buxton exits Athletics game with apparent injury

Credit: Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images

Twins’ Byron Buxton exits Athletics game with apparent injury

Originally posted on MLB on ClutchPoints
By Jedd Pagaduan, ClutchPoints | Last updated Aug 26, 2026 12:03 AM ET

Things have gone from bad to worse for the Minnesota Twins during their Tuesday night clash against the Athletics. They may have cut into the four-run deficit they faced earlier in the game, as they only trail by two runs, 4-2, with the game headed to the bottom of the eighth at the time of writing. However, they lost star outfielder Byron Buxton to an injury in the bottom of the seventh.

With Taj Bradley, he of the immaculate inning earlier in the contest, still on the mound, Athletics center fielder Henry Bolte hit a line drive towards right-center field — towards Buxton territory. Buxton had to hunch over a bit to try and field the ball and prevent it from going all the way towards the wall. However, just as he was making a play for the ball, he seemed to tweak something in his back.

Byron Buxton was removed from the game with an injury after reaching down for a ball in the outfield pic.twitter.com/rVZiRD71d4

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) August 26, 2026

Buxton immediately had to leave the game with a trainer, as Trevor Larnach came in to replace him, necessitating some defensive shuffling in the outfield for Minnesota.

Considering Buxton’s history with injuries, this is a worrying sign for a Twins team that’s looking to keep in step in the postseason hunt. Games against the 51-81 Athletics are ones the Twins should be taking care of handily, and having Buxton around for the night would have given them a better chance at completing the comeback.

Buxton hasn’t had the best outing on Tuesday. He went down on strikes in all three of his at-bats, and this injury is the final nail in the coffin of what has been a dreadful night for the Twins star.

This season, Buxton has suited up in 93 out of a potential 133 games for the Twins thus far this year. A clear diagnosis for Buxton’s injury should come out once tonight’s game has concluded.

This article first appeared on MLB on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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