Twins' Byron Buxton is back after 2
CLEVELAND (AP) — Byron Buxton is back in the center of things for the Twins.
The speedy outfielder returned from the injured list and was in Minnesota’s lineup batting fifth against Cleveland on Saturday after being sidelined the past two weeks with inflammation in his right knee.
Buxton missed Minnesota’s past 14 games.
He played in back-to-back games this week at Triple-A St. Paul without any problems, the final step toward being cleared to rejoin the Twins. Buxton was placed on the IL on May 3, two days after his knee flared up in a game against the White Sox.
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said the short-term plan was to have Buxton in the lineup in three games against left-handed starters this week.
“We’re going to run him out there,” Baldelli said before Saturday’s game. “As he comes back from this IL stint, he’s not going to play a ton of games in a row, but he’s going to play a lot. He’s going to play. He’s going to play a whole bunch.”