Byron Buxton heads to the injured list with a right hip strain, will miss the All-Star Game

Byron Buxton’s summer run is hitting a pause. The Minnesota Twins placed the newly elected American League All-Star on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a right hip strain, a development reported by after Buxton aggravated the issue last week. Buxton’s IL placement means he will not play in the 2026 All-Star Game, and it also puts his availability in question beyond the event week.

The setback comes after a stretch of instability caused by the same hip. Buxton missed four straight games earlier in the week with a right hip impingement, then returned to the lineup on Saturday. In the meantime, Minnesota has kept an eye on how the hip responded to game action, particularly during baserunning and the high-intensity movements required for center field.

Sunday’s game provided the clearest indication that the injury was not settling. Buxton exited after the first inning of Minnesota’s 6-1 win over the New York Yankees, and the episode carried a specific baserunning moment that underscored the problem. In his first at-bat, Buxton beat out an infield single on a ground ball deflecting off the glove of Yankees pitcher Ryan Weathers, advancing a runner. Later, when he tried to steal second base on a full-count pitch to No. 3 hitter Kody Clemens, Buxton reported feeling discomfort “in between” running and sliding into the bag.

Buxton was caught stealing to complete a double play, and that marked a rare run of bad timing. According to the account published by, it was the first time Buxton had been caught stealing since May 1, 2024. The detail matters because it connects the decision-making of game speed to the physical constraint of the injury, not just the usual soreness or a vague limitation.

Minnesota’s roster response has been direct. The Twins recalled outfielder Alan Roden in a corresponding move to fill Buxton’s spot while he is sidelined. For a Twins lineup built around athleticism and extra-base threat in the outfield, the immediate replacement question is not only who starts in center, but who can cover ground and maintain defensive stability as the club navigates the span leading up to the All-Star break.

Buxton’s All-Star status added urgency to the timing. He earned a starting nod after receiving 20 percent of the fan vote in Phase 2 of balloting, according to ’s report, and it would have been his third career appearance in the Midsummer Classic at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on July 14. Instead, the hip strain prevents him from reaching the event week as planned.

The Twins now face a two-part test: how quickly they can settle their outfield roles in Buxton’s absence, and how the club’s production shifts when a player of Buxton’s impact is removed from both everyday lineup and baserunning pressure. Buxton’s recent season has been a meaningful one, with listing a.271/.328/.575 slash line and 25 home runs through 75 games at the time of the report, giving Minnesota a clear sense of what the team is trying to replace, at least temporarily.