The Twins are a step closer to seeing one of their All-Stars return, while another is still taking things day to day on the injury front.
On Friday, Twins GM Jeremy Zoll shared that the team is assessing center fielder Byron Buxton’s right hip discomfort in a "truly day-to-day" fashion, while Joe Ryan is trending toward beginning a rehab assignment early next week.
“We're going to see if we can get [Buxton] through this next stretch and back on the field one more time,” said Zoll. “But really just day to day at this point and need to see how he continues to progress."
“I think Nick [Paparesta] and his group wanted to get a look at him today and see where he was at," said Twins manager Derek Shelton. "But I think it’s one of those things that we will be day to day on until we have a very clear path of what we should be."
Buxton was receiving treatment in the training room pregame Friday. All options are being weighed as he’s on a day-to-day basis, including the possibility of an injured list stint as well as the possibility of surgery if he and the Twins choose to go down that road.
“Yeah, a surgical option is definitely a potential option as we sort through everything," said Zoll. "It would be some type of hip procedure, but [we’re] not at that point right now. It's not a situation where we needed an updated MRI and just need to see how these symptoms progress over this next stretch, and then we'll continue to assess options."
Ryan (left glute strain), on the other hand, said he’s been feeling good since his live batting practice Wednesday afternoon at CHS Field in St. Paul. He had previously thrown a couple of bullpens, both at Target Field and CHS Field, but facing hitters gave him a true evaluation of where he’s at recovering.
“I think just facing hitters was the biggest one, right?” said Ryan. “It’s just, I haven’t done that in a second, and then I haven’t really done that feeling like I have control over my body and not compensating for a couple, a little bit longer than that. So good to just get out there and feel a little bit more free.”
The Twins have Ryan scheduled to throw another bullpen Sunday, and if all goes well, Zoll expects him to go on a rehab assignment, likely with Triple-A St. Paul, early next week.
Rojas likely to return before the end of the season
Zoll shared encouraging news Friday about Kendry Rojas. Rojas had suffered a mild right oblique strain last Friday in a start with the Saints. Rojas left the game in the second inning, but with the MRI showing the strain only as mild, he is expected to throw a bullpen as early as next week with a hopeful return by mid-September as a reliever only, according to Zoll.
“Where we're at calendar-wise, not expecting to be able to stretch him back out at this point," Zoll said. "If he does get back into game action, it'll probably be a two-inning outing for his first go, and we'll go from there."
Rojas has a 3.34 ERA, 22 walks and 34 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings across 12 outings (4 starts) with the Twins this season. If he can progress quickly, it will provide the Twins with much needed bullpen depth going into the playoff push.
In other injury news, Austin Martin is continuing to progress from a left hamstring strain he suffered Aug. 16 against the Phillies. He has started a running progression and is expected to have a rehab assignment next weekend.
Mike Paredes, Mick Abel and Pablo López have all started throwing programs as they recover from their respective injuries. López is still throwing from just 45 feet, while Paredes and Abel are throwing from 60 feet. Zoll said that while it is a long shot, there is still a sliver of hope the team could see Paredes return in the final weeks of the season if all continues to go well with his recovery.