Byron Buxton Sits Out Fourth Straight Game Amid Hip Concerns

Byron Buxton, the Minnesota Twins’ dynamic leadoff outfielder, sat on the bench for the fourth consecutive contest on Sunday, May 17, as the club faced the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field, extending his hip-related absence during a critical juncture of the season. The 27-year-old’s lingering discomfort has forced the Twins to reshuffle the top of the order and consider a short-term injured list move, with the clock ticking on a pivotal division race.

Selected second overall in the 2012 MLB Draft out of Apopka High School in Florida, Buxton has long been regarded as one of the most athletically gifted players in baseball—a five-tool talent whose combination of elite speed, plus power, and Gold Glove-caliber defense made him the cornerstone of Minnesota’s outfield for nearly a decade. However, his career has been punctuated by injury setbacks, including a torn ACL in 2017 that cost him most of that season and a concussion-plagued 2019 campaign that limited him to just 87 games. The current hip issue represents yet another chapter in a frustrating narrative for a player whose ceiling has never been fully realized due to physical limitations.

Buxton’s hip trouble began in early May, and despite a spectacular two-homer burst on May 12 against the Chicago White Sox at Target Field—the same opponent the Twins are battling for AL Central supremacy—the team kept him out of the lineup to protect his long-term health. That performance, which included a 441-foot solo shot to the upper deck in right field, served as a painful reminder of what Minnesota loses when their leadoff man is unavailable.

“We’ve got to make sure we’re doing everything we can to get him right, not just for the next week but for the long haul,” Manager Rocco Baldelli emphasized to reporters, underscoring the club’s cautious approach. “We need consistent production from the bench while the star recovers, and we need guys to step up in his absence.”

The numbers paint a stark picture of Buxton’s irreplaceable value. When Byron Buxton plays, Minnesota averages 4.9 runs per game—a figure that ranks among the top third of American League lineups. Without him, the squad has managed just 3.3 runs in the three games he missed, a drop-off that amounts to roughly 1.5 runs per contest and represents a significant blow to a team that relies heavily on manufactured offense and situational hitting.

How did the Twins adjust after Buxton’s benching?

When Byron Buxton vanished from the lineup, Minnesota turned to veteran contact hitter Max Kepler to fill the leadoff slot—a move that sacrificed speed for a steadier bat and more reliable contact rates. Kepler, who signed a five-year, $35 million extension in 2022, brings a disciplined approach and solid on-base percentage but lacks the game-changing burst that Buxton provides on the basepaths. The change has been palpable; in the past week, the Twins have recorded only one extra-base hit compared with the three they produced with Buxton in the lineup.

Center-field duties shifted to outfielder Ryan Jeffers, whose defensive range does not match Buxton’s elite coverage—a significant downgrade for a team that ranked third in the AL in outfield assists last season. Jeffers, acquired from the Seattle Mariners in the 2021 trade deadline deal for reliever Caleb Smith, has shown promise with the glove but lacks the supernatural first step and closing speed that made Buxton one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball.

According to MLB.com, the club’s analytics staff noted a dip in weighted runs created (wRC+) from 127 with Byron Buxton to 105 without him during the same span—a drop of 22 points that represents roughly half a run per game in expected production. That decline underscores why the front office brass is uneasy about lingering without a clear timeline for his return.

The Twins’ coaching staff has implemented subtle tactical adjustments to compensate. With Buxton out, the team has moved a deeper outfielder into left field to compensate for lost range, and pitchers have been asked to attack more ground balls to limit extra-base opportunities. This strategic tweak, which mirrors the approach teams take when replacing elite defensive center fielders, has been noted by the Twins’ coaching staff as a way to mitigate the defensive gap left by Buxton’s absence.

What does the injury timeline look like?

Team physicians have placed Buxton on a “questionable” list twice since May 5 before moving him to the “out” slot, indicating escalating concern within the medical staff. While no official 15-day IL designation has been filed, the Twins retain flexibility for a short-term rehab assignment if his hip responds to targeted therapy—a route the team has taken with success in previous seasons, most notably with starting pitcher Kenta Maeda in 2023.

Buxton’s own cadence in rehab drills suggests progress, yet the club remains cautious given his injury history. A statement from the Twins’ medical director, released to ESPN, noted that the player is “making steady gains but will not rush back until functional testing clears him for full-speed play.” The functional testing, which includes sprinting, lateral movement drills, and live batting practice, will serve as the final arbiter of his return timeline.

Historical precedent offers both hope and caution. In 2021, Buxton missed six weeks with a hamstring strain and returned to post a .342/.409/.639 slash line in August, suggesting he can regain form quickly once healthy. However, his 2022 campaign was derailed by a fractured hip that required offseason surgery, making the current hip issue particularly concerning for a player whose previous hip injury required a more invasive intervention.

What’s next for Minnesota’s playoff push?

The Twins now face a crucial series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, a gauntlet that will test their lineup depth without their most dynamic player. The Yankees, who currently sit 2.5 games ahead of Minnesota in the wild card standings, present a formidable challenge for a team missing its table-setter and defensive anchor.

If Byron Buxton remains sidelined, the team risks falling further behind the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central race—a division that remains remarkably competitive with just three games separating first from fourth place. The White Sox, who added veteran starting pitcher Dylan Cease to their rotation via trade this winter, have surged to a 41-33 record, while Cleveland’s young core continues to mature behind MVP candidate José Ramírez.

An early IL move could free a roster spot for a fresh arm, potentially bolstering the bullpen as the schedule tightens. Minnesota’s front office brass has been quietly monitoring trade rumors involving a veteran left-handed reliever, with sources close to the club indicating a deal could be pulled off before the July trade deadline if a roster spot opens. The Twins’ bullpen, which posted a 4.12 ERA entering play on May 17, ranks 11th in the AL and could benefit from a veteran presence to stabilize late-inning situations.

In the broader picture, the Twins’ win-loss record sits at 39-35, just two games above .500—a position that feels precarious given the competitive nature of the division. The front office must decide whether to gamble on Buxton’s quick return or lock in a replacement who can sustain offensive production while the star heals.

The decision carries significant implications for Minnesota’s postseason aspirations. Since making the playoffs in 2023 for the first time since 2010, the Twins have invested heavily in their roster, signing starting pitcher Pablo López to a long-term extension and acquiring outfielder Manuel Margot to provide depth. Without Buxton, however, those investments may not yield the desired return.

Key Developments

• Buxton missed the May 15 game against the Detroit Tigers, marking his third consecutive benching.
• The Twins have not placed him on the 15-day injured list, keeping roster flexibility for a possible short-term rehab assignment.
• Despite the absence, Buxton logged two home runs in the May 12 victory over the Chicago White Sox, showing his power remains intact.
• Buxton’s career OPS+ of 115 means he creates 15% more offensive value than an average player, a key factor in Minnesota’s run production when he is healthy.
• As of May 17, 2026, Buxton has missed eight games this season, with four consecutive absences stemming from the current hip issue.

Byron Buxton‘s hip injury has also prompted a subtle shift in the Twins’ defensive alignment. With Buxton out, the team has moved a deeper outfielder into left field to compensate for lost range, and pitchers have been asked to attack more ground balls to limit extra-base opportunities. This tactical tweak has been noted by the Twins’ coaching staff as a way to mitigate the defensive gap left by Buxton’s absence.

Minnesota’s front office brass has been quietly monitoring trade rumors involving a veteran left-handed reliever. Sources close to the club say a deal could be pulled off before the July trade deadline if the roster spot opens, giving the Twins a chance to shore up a bullpen that has struggled without Buxton’s leadoff spark.