Byron Buxton left Minnesota’s 6-1 win over the New York Yankees after reaggravating a hip injury early in the first inning, a scare that follows right hip issues that forced him to miss four games and set off new caution as he prepares for the AL All-Star star
NEW YORK — The first inning at Yankee Stadium started like a routine at-bat for Minnesota’s centre-fielder Byron Buxton, until his right hip turned the moment into something far more serious.
Buxton reached on an infield single to the third-base side of the mound. then was thrown out trying to steal second base on a headfirst slide during a full-count pitch that Kody Clemens struck out on. Earlier in the plate appearance, Buxton had also tried to steal second, but Clemens fouled off a pitch.
“He had to go hard on the ball that Weathers knocked down and then on the second one (steal attempt), it kind of grabbed at him a little bit,” Minnesota manager Derek Shelton said.
Buxton appeared to grimace as he was tagged out by New York shortstop Anthony Volpe and was replaced by rookie Kyler Fedko when the Twins took the field. It was Buxton’s first time caught stealing in 38 tries since May 1, 2024.
After Minnesota secured a 6-1 victory and won a series at Yankee Stadium for the first time since 2014, Buxton described how he felt when he left.
“A little sore, didn’t feel too hot,” Buxton said. “So being a little more smart than trying to fight through it.”
That decision comes with stakes of its own. Buxton was named Saturday as a starter for the AL All-Star team. and this season he is hitting .271 with 25 homers and 45 RBIs in 75 games. The 32-year-old has dealt with hip issues twice this season. He drove in two runs in Saturday’s 11-4 win after missing the previous four games with right hip impingement.
Now, he said he’s trying to avoid turning a manageable problem into something that costs even more time.
“It’s just one of those things where I don’t want to set myself back farther. just in case I was trying to push through it or whatever the situation was. ” Buxton said. “I don’t want to put the team in a bad spot by me trying to go out there and be Superman by trying to play one game and I end up missing a month.”.
Last season, Buxton appeared in 126 games — his most since playing 140 in 2017 — and batted .264 with career bests of 35 homers and 83 RBIs.
Sunday’s early exit against the Yankees leaves Minnesota to monitor the hip again, with All-Star week and the season’s grind close enough that one cautious decision can make a difference.
Byron Buxton Minnesota Twins New York Yankees hip injury AL All-Star Kyler Fedko Kody Clemens Anthony Volpe Derek Shelton baseball