Twins’ Byron Buxton has a three-word message; fans will love it… 

Twins’ Byron Buxton is gearing up for a return to center field in the upcoming 2024 season, alleviating concerns among fans and team officials. After a challenging 2023 campaign marred by knee issues, the 30-year-old outfielder spent the entire season as a designated hitter due to his physical limitations, culminating in knee surgery in October.

The persistent injury woes not only hindered Buxton’s defensive contributions but also took a toll on his offensive performance last season. Across 347 plate appearances, he posted a modest .207/.294/.438 slash line, a far cry from his more robust .258/.316/.558 slash line from 2019 to 2022. This decline, reflected in the league-average wRC+, marked a departure from his previous four-year stretch when Buxton’s combination of offensive prowess, elite defense, and quality baserunning made him one of the league’s most valuable players on a rate basis.

Buxton’s immense potential, however, has been consistently hampered by frequent struggles with injuries throughout his nine-season career. He has only played in 100 games once, back in 2017, and has averaged just 65 games per season since then, never exceeding 92 games in a single campaign. In an attempt to address this issue, the Twins experimented with making Buxton a full-time designated hitter in 2022, hoping to increase his availability, but the strategy did not yield the desired results.

With the off-season reports indicating a successful recovery from the knee surgery and a resumption of daily baseball activities, Buxton is on track to reclaim his role as the everyday center fielder for the Twins in 2024. This development is a welcome relief for the team, as it allows them to avoid seeking a replacement for center fielder Michael A. Taylor, who stepped in during Buxton’s absence. Internal options like Austin Martin, Nick Gordon, and Willi Castro could serve as backups for Buxton in center.

Betsy Helfand reports that Buxton is not the only Twins player on the road to recovery. First baseman Alex Kirilloff and outfielder Jose Miranda, who both underwent surgery in October, are progressing well ahead of spring training. Miranda had a promising start to his big league career in 2022, but injuries and ineffectiveness limited him to just 40 games in his sophomore season. On the other hand, Kirilloff experienced a breakout season in 2023, slashing.270/.348/.445 in 88 games while sharing time at first base with Donovan Solano and Joey Gallo.

As the trio of Buxton, Kirilloff, and Miranda works towards full recovery, the Twins are optimistic about their readiness for the upcoming season. The return of these key players to their respective positions bodes well for the team’s prospects in 2024, with the hope that they can collectively contribute to a successful campaign.