UPDATE: It’s official. Buxton is on his way back to the Twins.
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As if getting swept in a three-game series at Yankee Stadium wasn’t bad enough, now the Twins have placed center fielder Aaron Hicks on the disabled list with a hamstring injury suffered during today’s game.
It’s a shame, because after struggling in both 2013 and 2014 the former top prospect has finally found his footing in the majors by hitting .272 with eight homers and a .738 OPS in 69 games.
No official announcement has been made yet, but every indication is that the Twins will call up stud prospect Byron Buxton from Triple-A to replace Hicks on the roster and in center field. It was Buxton’s thumb injury after just 11 games with the Twins in June that re-opened the door for Hicks to get another extended chance in Minnesota.
Buxton was demoted to Triple-A once he got healthy, but he’s gotten in a hit in all 13 games there and is batting over .400 for Rochester. It’s unfortunate that it may take a Hicks injury for Buxton to rejoin the Twins, but he absolutely deserves another chance to live up to the hype at age 21.