FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Twins center fielder Byron Buxton was a late scratch from Wednesday's lineup against the Red Sox, as he had flu-like symptoms before the game.
Buxton was able to participate in pregame warmups and was slated to start in center field and bat ninth, but he felt sick in the clubhouse roughly two hours before the game and was scratched in favor of Darin Mastroianni.
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Buxton, ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect by MLBPipeline.com, is hitting .200 with two doubles and two RBIs in eight games this spring. He's expected to be the club's Opening Day center fielder, but is competing for the role with Danny Santana, who is coincidentally also out of action.
Santana has been out with a sore left wrist since Saturday, but is getting closer to making his return. He took some swings in the cage before Wednesday's game and is expected to see live pitching on Thursday before likely returning to action this weekend.
"Santana is still making progress," Twins GM Terry Ryan said. "He's day to day now. It looks like he can move forward. He's swinging the bat now. I don't know when he'll be in the lineup, but it's getting close."
Worth noting
• Ryan said he's not worried about the performances of right-handers Ervin Santana and Jose Berrios, despite their struggles while pitching in Minor League games during Minnesota's off-day on Tuesday. Santana gave up four runs on nine hits over four innings, while Berrios surrendered five runs on two hits, two hit batters and a walk.
"They got their work in," Ryan said. "That happens often. You send a couple guys over to get their innings and the Minor League players are very anxious to face Major League guys. They cherish that opportunity to face big leaguers. So I'm not going to make much of it."
• Ryan had the chance to watch No. 4 prospectTyler Jay pitch in a Minor League game before Wednesday's night game against the Red Sox. Jay, ranked as the No. 60 overall prospect by MLBPipeline.com, impressed Ryan with his repertoire. Jay, 21, was the No. 6 overall pick in last year's Draft and is being stretched out to be a starter.
"I think the one thing that's apparent is his stuff," Ryan said. "Now it's just a matter of experience and making the transition to the starting role."