Each and every time Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton isn’t in the lineup, people immediately get scared and the alarms are off.
Yes, he is a major injury risk, that’s for sure: but not every absence from the lineup is injury-related.
In fact, in Buxton’s case, it may be designed to help his long-term health.
On Tuesday, the star of the team isn’t in the lineup, and a Twins writer was a little playful while announcing it.
“Sound the hot take alarms again, I guess. Byron Buxton is … gasp! … getting another day off,” Aaron Gleeman tweeted.
Sound the hot take alarms again, I guess. Byron Buxton is … gasp! … getting another day off. https://t.co/AqoHxPcyC3
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) May 17, 2022
A few days ago, it had been reported that Buxton was playing through a knee issue, and the team would be careful with his usage until it’s fully healed.
But the injury itself is not something that would require an extended absence: otherwise, the team would have announced it by now.
Everybody Freaks Out And Fears A Buxton Injury
Everybody seems to overreact when Buxton’s name isn’t in the lineup, which is understandable to some degree.
But right now, the Twins are just being cautious with their dynamic leadoff hitter.
In fact, another Twins reporter, Dan Hayes, replied to a tweet and explained Buxton’s current situation.
“You see his performance, right? This is a planned day off. This isn’t because he woke up feeling bad. They’re not at the park for two more hours. They want to use the day to rest and treat and keep him on the right track,” he said.
You see his performance, right? This is a planned day off. This isn’t because he woke up feeling bad. They’re not at the park for two more hours. They want to use the day to rest and treat and keep him on the right track.
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) May 17, 2022
As Hayes states, performance isn’t in question here: Buxton already has 11 homers and the highest slugging percentage of his career, at .678.
But if Minnesota feels a day off here or there will help him be 100 percent, they should embrace the idea.
NEXT: Byron Buxton Has A Goal In Mind For A Complete Season