June 13, 201511 yr I'll beg you to excuse the caps. Seems appropriate. In the middle of today's game versus the Texas Rangers, the Minnesota Twins announced that they are promoting Byron Buxton from AA-Chattanooga to join the team Sunday in Texas. They have not announced a corresponding move, but Buxton won’t be here as insurance or to sit on the bench. He will almost assuredly be handed a full time role, likely in center field, so the corresponding roster move will likely involve Aaron Hicks, who was a last minute scratch from the lineup before today’s game due to a sore elbow.Buxton was the consensus #1 rated prospect in all of baseball entering the 2014 season, but suffered wrist injuries and a concussion that cost him almost all of the 2014 season. Maybe more impressively, he was still ranked one of the top prospects in all of baseball entering the 2015 season. Even after the lost year, he’s just 21 years old. He started the season slowly at AA-Chattanooga; in his first 12 games he hit just .180 with 14 strikeouts. But since then, he has hit .313, got on base at a .380 clip and slugged .536(!). His speed is fast approaching the status of "legendary," fueled by videos like this, where he beat out an infield single on a routine, cleanly-fielded, ground ball last night. Click here to view the article
June 13, 201511 yr Author I'm really excited by this. But boy, the timing of this is weird. When was something like this announced during a game? Was it leaked and they needed to respond? First I saw of it was the Twins official announcement.
June 13, 201511 yr I think he is in a better place mentally, physically and mechanically than Hicks was when he made the jump from AA. I'm not worried about his transition. Now if we could just stop putting infielders in the outfield...
June 13, 201511 yr Author I wonder if this means Hicks is hurt bad enough to go on the DL. I also wonder if it means he got hurt sometime between last night's game and today's game. The Twins seemed surprised by the injury.
June 13, 201511 yr I'm really excited by this. But boy, the timing of this is weird. When was something like this announced during a game? Was it leaked and they needed to respond? First I saw of it was the Twins official announcement. I think it will be either Tonkin or Thompson. Duensing will still be the LOOOG (lefty only one out guy) or a guy to pitch in lost games like today's game.
June 13, 201511 yr Maybe they saw what I saw. By the 5th inning, Buxton in CF would have saved the team at least 2 runs, just with his defense. Add offense to that, and you might just have a playah!
June 13, 201511 yr After the past week it's nice to get some good news. Now if we can just get Sano and Kepler up here we might have a real line-up.
June 13, 201511 yr I'm really curious to find out the corresponding move ... Hicks to DL? A pitcher (Deunsing) gone? Robinson gone? Someone else gone?
June 13, 201511 yr My guess is that Hicks goes to the IR. It also avoids the awkwardness of Friday's game-deciding hit to CF, Buxton's promotion to starting CF, and the Twins' losing streak/probable collapse.
June 14, 201511 yr According to Phil Miller of the Trib, both Hicks and Hunter are out at least thru Sunday -Hicks with his elbow, meaning a likely DL and Hunter serving his suspension. Likely that was the final straw to promote Buxton. Despite the circumstances, Buxton is here and I really think others will follow when ready or needed. IMO things are a-changing. While somewhat surprised of call up now, like everyone else I'm excited.
June 14, 201511 yr I'm really curious to find out the corresponding move ... Hicks to DL? A pitcher (Deunsing) gone? Robinson gone? Someone else gone?I am with you. Will be very interesting to see what the Twins do. They will not only need to find space on the active roster, but will also have to add Buxton to the 40-man roster. I am guessing Hicks to DL and Schafer is DFA'd.
June 14, 201511 yr I'm not here to gloat that I totally called this... I'm just going to remind everyone that I like, TOTALLY called this.
June 14, 201511 yr I'm not here to gloat that I totally called this... I'm just going to remind everyone that I like, TOTALLY called this.I had no idea! You and 1000 others, wow. This should be fun to watch. He's liable to settle right in like Roserio and Polanco.
June 14, 201511 yr Much like with Santana last year, a bizarre set of circumstances forced this move (prematurely in the Twins' eyes)..... But I'll take it any way it can get Buck here.... now let's see what it's gonna take to get Sano next Meanwhile, still only a two man bench tomorrow, if Hicks goes to the DL and Hunter back, still only a 3 man bench for 2 games in St Louis.
June 14, 201511 yr I'm bummed out. Going up to Chattanooga to see Buxton next week and now he's gone. Our last game was rained out so looking forward to seeing him. Sigh, well, happy for him and the Twins Org and all you guys up north. Let's retire his jersey now.
June 14, 201511 yr Who?Seriously, I'm very interested to see the young man play. I don't think this move was made for the purpose of trying to get the Twins to the postseason this year; I think it's just to see what he can do.
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