Twins outfielder Buxton has knee surgery

*Photo from Bleacher Report*

   Another surgery is needed for this star player. Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton underwent arthroscopic surgery in his right knee on Friday, according to Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey.

   In September of 2022, Buxton underwent an arthroscopic cleanup procedure on his right knee. That procedure left his status for opening day in question and didn't go well enough for Buxton to return to playing center field. He was limited to DH in 2023, but the procedure he had on Friday has a shorter recovery time, which is good news for Buxton and the Twins.

   This season, Buxton was severely limited by patellar tendinitis, forcing him to solely play DH. The goal is to get Buxton back to playing center field fully healthy, which he couldn't do at all in 2023. He played less than 100 games for the 8th time in his career.

   Falvey said of getting Buxton in the outfield that "Our hope and our expectation and our goal is to get him ready to play center field. That’s his focus. That’s what he wants, and that’s what we all want. So that’ll be our mission through the offseason, to get him there."

   In 2022, Buxton dealt with different issues in his right knee, playing through swelling and pain from spring training through the season. He had to have his knee drained multiple times, but it didn't stop him from hitting a career high 28 homers and being the starting center fielder in the All Star Game. His season ended in September of that year when he underwent the cleanup surgery.

   Last season was a struggle physically for Buxton, playing less than 100 games for the 8th time in 9 seasons. He posted a .207/.294/.438 slash line for a .731 OPS, hitting 17 home runs and 17 doubles while driving in 42 runs in 85 games.

   Buxton was left off the Twins initial wild card and ALDS rosters this postseason but was added to the ALDS roster after Alex Kirilloff got injured. Buxton made one appearance in the series. Kirilloff will undergo surgery on the labrum in his shoulder later in October.

   The Twins had Michael A Taylor as their primary center fielder with Buxton down, as Taylor started 126 games in center field. Willi Castro was the secondary center fielder for the Twins, who won the AL Central title.