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Pipeline preview: Buxton ready to return to form

Top prospect back in action with Class A Advanced Fort Myers after left wrist injury

Byron Buxton, baseball's No. 1 prospect, made his much-anticipated return from the disabled list on Sunday. After missing nearly two months due to a left wrist injury, he played three innings in center field and went hitless in two at-bats with Class A Advanced Fort Myers.

After an off-day on Monday, Buxton and Fort Myers will hope for better results on Tuesday as the Miracle travel to Palm Beach to begin a three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. ET.

Buxton's injury trouble this season began in Spring Training, when he sprained his left wrist diving for a ball in the outfield. He opened the season on the disabled list and didn't make his debut until May 4. Buxton's return was short-lived, however, as he reinjured his wrist sliding into second base later that week. That injury kept him sidelined until Sunday.

When Buxton is healthy, he is the most dynamic player in the Minor Leagues. The Twins selected him second overall in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, and he wowed scouts as a 19-year-old during his first full professional season. Between Class A Cedar Rapids and Fort Myers, Buxton hit .334/.424/.520 with 12 home runs and 55 stolen bases in 125 games last year.

Once Buxton gets back into game shape, he could earn a promotion to Double-A New Hampshire. But first, he and his teammates will face the Cardinals this week.

Palm Beach is led by outfielder Charlie Tilson, the Cardinals' No. 10 prospect. He is hitting .317/.368/.415 with five home runs and nine stolen bases in 77 games this season. Tilson ranks seventh in the Florida State League in hitting.

In addition to Buxton, Tuesday's Minor League schedule is highlighted by several scheduled starting pitchers who are ranked on MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 Prospects list. The list of pitchers includes Alex Meyer (No. 24), Allen Webster (No. 38), Braden Shipley (No. 60), Daniel Norris (No. 94) and Sean Manaea (No. 96). Fans can watch Meyer, Webster and Norris on MiLB.TV when they take the mound at 7:05 p.m.

Meyer, the Twins' No. 3 prospect, and Triple-A Rochester will host Buffalo. It will be his final start before he heads to Target Field for the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game on Sunday. Meyer was named to the team on Monday to replace right-hander Trevor May, who is on the disabled list due to a right calf injury. Meyer is 5-4 with a 3.46 ERA, and he leads the International League with 93 strikeouts in 83 1/3 innings this season.

Top prospect probables
Chris Anderson (Dodgers' No. 5), Rancho Cucamonga vs. Lake Elsinore
Paul Blackburn (Cubs' No. 15), Kane County at Quad Cities
Austin Brice (Marlins' No. 17), Jupiter at Charlotte
Mike Clevinger (Angels' No. 9), Inland Empire at Lancaster
Alex Colome (Rays' No. 5), Durham at Norfolk
Adam Conley (Marlins' No. 4), New Orleans at Oklahoma City
Michael Fulmer (Mets' No. 14), St. Lucie at Bradenton
Luiz Gohara (Mariners' No. 5), Everett vs. Vancouver
Stephen Gonsalves (Twins' No. 16), Elizabethton at Johnson City
Jake Johansen (Nationals' No. 12), Hagerstown vs. Lakewood
Taylor Jungmann (Brewers' No. 8), Nashville at Memphis
Cody Kukuk (Red Sox's No. 16), Salem vs. Frederick
Jairo Labourt (Blue Jays' No. 11), Vancouver at Everett
Ben Lively (Reds' No. 12), Pensacola at Mobile
Jorge Lopez (Brewers' No. 19), Brevard County at Lakeland
Sean Manaea (Royals' No. 4), Wilmington at Potomac
Alex Meyer (Twins' No. 3), Rochester vs. Buffalo
Daniel Norris (Blue Jays' No. 4), New Hampshire vs. New Britain
Braden Shipley (D-backs' No. 2), Visalia vs. High Desert
Scott Snodgrass (White Sox No. 19), Birmingham vs. Tennessee
Lewis Thorpe (Twins' No. 6), Cedar Rapids vs. Wisconsin
Nick Travieso (Reds' No. 7), Dayton vs. South Bend
Jose Urena (Marlins' No. 7), Jacksonville vs. Chattanooga
Logan Verrett (Mets' No. 20), Las Vegas at Reno
Allen Webster (Red Sox's No. 2), Pawtucket at Columbus
Tyler Wilson (Orioles' No. 19), Norfolk vs. Durham
Kevin Ziomek (Tigers' No. 13), West Michigan at Bowling Green

Teddy Cahill is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @tedcahill.
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