Byron Buxton has been the heartbeat of the Minnesota Twins' lineup this season, but the star center fielder has been sidelined for the last two games with a sore right hip flexor. For a player whose career has been defined by electrifying talent and frustrating injuries, any absence raises concerns. However, Twins manager Derek Shelton provided a reason for optimism on Friday, telling reporters that Buxton is "feeling better" and the team is "trending in the right direction." It appears to be a day-to-day situation.

Buxton's injury history is well-documented. After a promising start that saw him play a career-high 140 games in 2017—earning his first Gold Glove and MVP votes—he struggled to stay on the field, playing just 392 total games between 2018 and 2023. When healthy, he was elite, posting an .811 OPS and ranking among the best defensive outfielders in baseball, but his availability was a constant question mark.

That narrative shifted in 2024, when Buxton finally eclipsed the 100-game mark again. He followed it up with 126 games in 2025, marking the first time in his professional career he appeared in at least 100 games in consecutive seasons. And he made the most of it. Last season was arguably his best, earning him an All-Star nod, a Silver Slugger Award, and an 11th-place finish in AL MVP voting with an .878 OPS, 35 home runs, 83 RBIs, and 24 stolen bases.

This season, Buxton has been even better, posting an .899 OPS—which would be the second-best mark of his career. The Twins, currently sitting at 20-25, have leaned heavily on his production, and losing him for any extended stretch would be a significant blow. Shelton also provided updates on other injured players: Taj Bradley (pectoral) threw a successful 20-pitch bullpen, and Trevor Larnach (back) could be available off the bench. For now, Twins fans can breathe a little easier knowing their star center fielder is on the mend.