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Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton Takes First Step Forward After Hip Surgery
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- Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton Takes First Step Forward After Hip Surgery
(Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images)
The Minnesota Twins are hoping that Byron Buxton spends the offseason getting healthy without any setbacks.
The 32-year-old center fielder underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right hip September 18th, and all signs point toward him being ready for the start of the 2027 season .
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Buxton's stitches were removed at his 10-day appointment, and his rehabilitation program is already underway, according to Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll . The plan calls for Buxton to rehab his hip until Christmas before beginning to ramp up his preparation for next season, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic .
Buxton was productive last year with the hip injury being the only thing disrupting his momentum. He played 93 games and hit .254 with 25 home runs, 46 RBIs, seven stolen bases and an .830 OPS. He also earned his third All-Star selection. He did not start for the American League though, missing the festivities because he was on the injured list.
His availability was the biggest problem for the Twins in the second half and was a major reason they missed out on postseason play.
Buxton appeared in only 20 of Minnesota's final 77 games and made three trips to the injured list because of right hip issues. His final game came August 25th against the Athletics before the Twins shut him down entirely.
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The hip issues have followed Buxton for years. He dealt with a right hip strain as far back as 2021, though the problem did not hamper him in 2024 or 2025, when he played 126 games and hit .264 with 35 home runs, 83 RBIs and an .878 OPS. This year it became clear surgery was the only path forward.
The surgery involved a labral repair, decompression and cam resection. Buxton began physical therapy the day after the procedure and progressed to stationary bike work during recovery.
The Twins finished 77-85 and third in the AL Central, eight games behind the Cleveland Guardians. Minnesota has a young core though that likely will be more competitive in 2027. With Buxton at full strength around them, there is a chance this Twins team could find themselves back on top in the division if everything goes right.
If the rehab goes as planned, the Twins could enter 2027 with one of their most dangerous hitters back in center field and healthy for a full season for the first time in years.
