Buxton departs with 'non-COVID illness'

MILWAUKEE -- It's always a matter for concern when a player is removed from a game without explanation -- and all the more so when it's Byron Buxton, whose extensive injury history needs no introduction.

Fortunately for Buxton and the Twins, his abrupt removal from the third inning of Sunday's 8-2 win over the Brewers at American Family Field had nothing to do with injury and instead involved a "non-COVID related illness," as later announced by the team.

The club will continue to monitor Buxton for his recovery from what they believe could be a bug on Sunday night and into Monday.

"At the moment, I didn't feel comfortable sending him back out onto the field before we were able to check him out and get a good look at him," Baldelli said. "We made the call to take him out of the game. I still think it was the right move no matter what."

It's particularly significant that the Twins appear to have avoided a major issue with Buxton considering Josh Donaldson is already on the 10-day injured list with a mild right hamstring strain. Buxton was also one of the Twins' best hitters during their opening series in Milwaukee, with two homers, two walks and one stolen base. He added a first-inning double on Sunday before he exited the game.

Buxton's power surge is a continuation of the surprising pop that he showed last season, when he finished tied for second on the team with 13 homers. Following an offseason of weightlifting, he launched a career-long 456-foot blast on Opening Day and broke up Corbin Burnes' no-hit bid on Saturday with an opposite-field homer in the seventh.