Byron Buxton has more problems than people realize, according to Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli.
Buxton winced in pain after fouling a pitch in the fifth inning of Minnesota’s 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers on Monday night. He stayed in the game, but was later removed with a hip injury that Baldelli said Buxton had been dealing with in secret.
“I don’t know exactly when he twisted his hip, but there were some things today that I know he’s really feeling,” Baldelli said after the Twins’ three-game losing streak. , we know he was in a situation where he was almost unable to get out or swing or run or anything like that, but he kept posting and running I don’t know his percentage, but it’s not a high percentage of what he’s normally able to do physically.”
Buxton famously played with knee problems for most of the season after catching into the centerfield wall at Target Field in April. He announced that he was dealing with “more discomfort” in his knee, but the hip issue is news to the outside world.
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“He couldn’t get through what happened there. We call it hip pain. We don’t know what it is. He is going to have an MRI and is currently doing it. I am,” Baldelli said in a post-match interview.
According to Baldelli, Buxton has battled hip problems for “a good portion of the season.”
“This is what he always deals with. He’s a warrior. He goes out and plays things that are unimaginable for both other players and people watching,” Baldelli continued. “What he’s achieved at this point in the year is pretty amazing given the physical challenges he’s had.”
Baldelli said Buxton is likely to miss Tuesday’s game and “could be more than just an everyday problem.”
“We have not yet discussed most of what he has dealt with. That being said, I will wait until we have more details before I speak any further,” Baldelli said.