ARLINGTON, TX – The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have returned outfielder Byron Buxton from his rehab assignment and reinstated him from the 10-day Injured List.
Buxton has missed the last 40 games with a right hip strain, after going on the Injured List on May 7. He played in three games on rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul, going 5-for-9 (.556) with one double, one triple, two home runs, seven RBI, four runs scored and a 2.139 OPS. The American League Player of the Month for April appeared in 24 games for the Twins this season prior to his IL stint, hitting .370 (34-for-92) with 10 doubles, nine home runs, 17 RBI, 19 runs scored, a .408 on-base percentage and a 1.180 OPS. At the time of his injury, he led baseball in slugging percentage and ranked second in both batting average and OPS. Buxton is currently tied for second among all centerfielders with six defensive runs saved, and ranks third on the Twins in doubles, tied for fourth in home runs, seventh in runs scored and tied for seventh in RBI.
To make room on the 26-man roster, the Twins have optioned catcher/infielder Willians Astudillo to Triple-A St. Paul. Astudillo has played in 41 games for the Twins this season, batting .254 (31-for-122) with four doubles, four home runs, 12 RBI, 10 runs scored, two walks and a .661 OPS.
