Once healthy, Buxton likely to begin in extended spring

MINNNEAPOLIS -- Top prospect Byron Buxton, who sprained his left wrist in a Minor League Spring Training game on March 16, is likely out until late April and is expected to start the season in extended spring camp before heading to Double-A New Britain.

Buxton, ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect by MLB.com, still has not been cleared to swing a bat yet, but he is expected to start baseball activities by early next week at the club's Spring Training complex in Fort Myers, Fla. He originally injured his wrist trying to make a diving catch in the outfield.

The Twins are being cautious with Buxton, as they don't want the injury to linger throughout the season. So it remains unlikely he'll be ready to play at New Britain before May 1.

"He'll be able to start doing some stuff later this week or early next week, but it'll take some time," Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony said. "They're not going to push him. We know that. So there's no set timetable. A lot of it will be how he feels and reacts once we ease back into things."