MILWAUKEE – Twins manager Rocco Baldelli was plainspoken, with no real note of optimism in his voice, when he spoke about injured outfielder Byron Buxton prior to Saturday’s game, saying that like all players dealing with a potential concussion, they were taking things slowly, deliberately.
Before batting practice had ended at American Family Field, any lingering optimism had been replaced by the harsh reality of the current Twins injury report, to which Buxton was officially added on Saturday afternoon. After colliding with infielder Carlos Correa during a win in Baltimore last week, Buxton has now been added to the seven-day injury list. Correa went on that same list a day earlier.
As is the nature of dealing with concussions – which can impact a player for a number of days to a number of years, depending on the severity – Baldelli said the team is taking its time and doing things by the book.
“You’ve just got to be very thoughtful and aware and there’s a reason why this is the type of injury that we have these types of protocols for, and many, many steps and clearances that you have to go through,” he said. “’Cause there’s not an easy way to either diagnose and treat and monitor. You have to be thoughtful.”
Concussions are not a new thing for Buxton, 31, who has dealt with injuries throughout his career. He had appeared in all but three of Minnesota’s 2025 games prior to the collision with Correa, batting .261 with 10 home runs, 27 RBI and eight stolen bases.
With the Twins winning, despite the injuries, other players have talked about the roster being filled with players willing to do whatever is needed in desperate times.
“I think for us, it’s cliché as it sounds like, it’s just next man up,” said infielder Ty France, who missed a game last week after fouling a ball off his foot. “Losing those key pieces to your team, it hurts, but every single guy in here prepares as if they’re the main guy on this team. So they fill right in.”
France noted the Friday night major league debut of 30-year-old infielder Ryan Fitzgerald, who made the five-hour drive to Milwaukee from Des Moines, where he had been playing with the St. Paul Saints, to fill in at second base after the injuries to Correa and Willi Castro.
“Fitzy makes his debut and looks like he’s been here forever, so that’s one good thing about this group,” France said. “This clubhouse, you know, we’re here for each other, we’re here to pick each other up, and we’ve done a great job of that.”
Castro taking some time
Castro initially stayed in the game to play left field, after he fouled a ball hard off his right knee in the first inning on Friday. But he left the lineup shortly thereafter, allowing Fitzgerald to play in The Show for the first time.
In the clubhouse before Saturday’s game, Castro said the pain was intense immediately.
“I felt in the moment when I got I hit. I was very painful for a couple seconds,” he said. “But I got back up and was feeling fine. Then when I went back to play defense, that’s when it started getting tight and getting swollen. When I got back to the dugout, that’s when it started feeling a little funky and that’s when they decided to take me out.”
Taking Saturday’s game off, both Castro and Baldelli said they do not expect the injury to keep him out of the lineup for too long, and he could be available on an emergency basis if the Twins were to deal with additional injuries.
“I don’t think he’s going to be out there running around if someone got hurt in the second inning. I don’t think Willi is going into the game to finish the game,” Baldelli said. “But if other things happen in the game and he’s forced into being on his feet, that might have to be an option. We’re already short a player.”
Castro is batting .235 with two home runs and six RBI in 98 at-bats this season.
Related Articles
A dozen, the hard way, as Twins blank Brewers
Carlos Correa placed on 7-day injured list following collision
Twins extend winning streak to 11 by finishing another sweep of Orioles
Twins stars Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton collide, in concussion protocol
Twins sweep Baltimore, running winning streak to 10
Leave a Reply