Byron Buxton is out of the Minnesota Twins’ starting lineup for a fifth consecutive game Monday night against the Houston Astros, as the center fielder continues nursing a sore right hip flexor.
The Twins are optimistic Buxton can avoid a trip to the injured list. He participated in pregame workouts Saturday and Sunday, but the club wants to see more improvement before slotting him back into the starting nine. For a player whose career has been defined as much by resilience as by raw talent, every absence carries extra weight.
How Did Byron Buxton Get Here?
Buxton’s hip issue has been a gradual build rather than a single traumatic moment. The Twins scratched him from the lineup earlier in the week, and he has not started since. The pattern is familiar for Minnesota fans. Buxton has played 150 or more games in a season only once in his career — back in 2017 — and has spent significant time on the injured list in multiple seasons due to various ailments. The hip flexor strain is the latest entry in a long ledger of setbacks for one of baseball’s most electrifying athletes.
Before the hip issue surfaced, Buxton showed flashes of his peak form. He belted two home runs in a recent game, reminding everyone what he looks like when his body cooperates. That power surge came during a stretch where Buxton appeared to be finding his rhythm at the plate, making the timing of this injury particularly frustrating for the Twins’ coaching staff.
What the Twins Are Saying About Buxton’s Status
Minnesota’s front office and medical staff are taking a cautious approach. The team has not placed Buxton on the 10-day injured list, which suggests the internal assessment views this as a short-term issue rather than something structural. According to CBS Sports, the Twins remain hopeful that continued pregame work will get Buxton back into action without a formal IL designation.
The decision to hold him out rather than push through reflects a broader organizational philosophy. Minnesota has learned the hard way that rushing Buxton back from soft-tissue injuries often leads to compensatory problems elsewhere. A hip flexor strain, if aggravated, can alter a player’s swing mechanics and running gait — two things Buxton cannot afford to compromise given how much of his value comes from elite speed and defensive range in center field.
Key Developments
- Buxton participated in pregame workouts on both Saturday and Sunday, signaling progress in his recovery timeline.
- The Twins have now held Buxton out of the starting lineup for five straight games dating back to the initial scratch earlier in the week.
- Before the injury, Buxton launched two home runs in a single game, showcasing the offensive upside that makes his absences so costly.
- Minnesota has not committed to an IL stint, indicating the medical staff views the hip flexor issue as manageable with rest and treatment.
What This Means for Minnesota’s Lineup
The Twins’ outfield depth gets tested every time Buxton goes down, and this stretch is no different. Without their best defensive center fielder, Minnesota must rely on a patchwork arrangement that sacrifices range and upside. The ripple effect extends to the batting order, where Buxton’s combination of power and speed creates matchup problems for opposing pitchers.
From a fantasy baseball perspective, Buxton’s absence is a headache for managers who roster him. His injury history is well-documented, but when healthy, he delivers elite-category production in home runs and stolen bases. The current hip flexor issue is worth monitoring daily — if Buxton returns to the lineup this week, his playing time should ramp up quickly given his participation in recent workouts.
The bigger question is whether this is truly a minor setback or the start of another prolonged absence. Based on available data, the Twins’ optimism seems grounded in the fact that Buxton is actively working out and not shut down entirely. But with his track record, cautious skepticism is warranted until he is back in the lineup for consecutive games.
Why is Byron Buxton not playing for the Twins?
Byron Buxton is out of the Twins’ lineup due to a sore right hip flexor. He has not started for five straight games as of Monday, May 19, 2026, though he has participated in pregame workouts over the weekend.
Will Byron Buxton go on the injured list?
The Twins are optimistic that Buxton can avoid a trip to the 10-day injured list. The team wants to see more improvement in the hip flexor before activating him, but the fact that he has not been placed on the IL suggests Minnesota views this as a short-term issue.
How did Byron Buxton perform before the injury?
Before the hip issue sidelined him, Buxton showed significant offensive power by hitting two home runs in a single game. The performance was a reminder of his elite upside when healthy.
What is a hip flexor strain and how does it affect baseball players?
A hip flexor strain involves inflammation or tearing of the muscles that help lift the knee and drive the leg forward. For a player like Buxton, whose value depends on elite speed and explosive movements in center field, a compromised hip flexor can reduce running ability and alter swing mechanics, making it risky to play through without proper recovery.