Buxton departs with 'non-COVID illness'

April 5th, 2021

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 , 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.