Minnesota Twins Add Byron Buxton to ALDS Roster With Alex Kirilloff Injured

The Minnesota Twins have activated Byron Buxton as an injury substitution, the club announced Wednesday afternoon.

Buxton will be available for the remainder of the ALDS, starting with Game 4, which gets underway Wednesday night at 7:07 p.m. ET. The Twins currently trail the Houston Astros 2-1 in the series.

The reason Buxton is able to join as a late addition is because first baseman Alex Kirilloff was placed on the injured list. As a result, Kirilloff will not be available in the ALCS, should Minnesota make it that far.

We have made the following injury substitution: pic.twitter.com/aKYMPNjiW3
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) October 11, 2023

Buxton, meanwhile, is coming back from some injury troubles of his own.

The 29-year-old slugger first hit the injured list with a hamstring injury on Aug. 2. During his rehab assignment in the minors, Buxton suffered a knee injury that kept him sidelined for the remainder of the regular season, as well as the AL Wild Card round.

Injuries have long hampered Buxton, who earned a Gold Glove and AL MVP votes after playing 140 games in 2017. Since then, however, he has averaged just 65 appearances a year.

In 85 games this season, Buxton hit .207 with 17 home runs, 42 RBI, a .731 OPS and a 0.8 WAR. He was named an All-Star the year prior.

Kirilloff appeared in 88 games for the Twins in 2023, batting .270 with 11 home runs, 41 RBI, a .793 OPS and a 0.4 WAR. Kirilloff played in all five of Minnesota's playoff games before suffering his undisclosed injury, going 0-for-9 with two walks and four strikeouts.

Buxton is a center fielder and designated hitter, while Kirilloff was a first baseman who could also fill the corner outfield spots.

Manager Rocco Baldelli did not put Buxton in his starting lineup for Game 4. Edouard Julien and Michael A. Taylor will be Minnesota's starting designated hitter and center fielder, respectively. Donovan Solano is starting at first.

If the Twins can't hold off the Astros on Wednesday, their season will be over. A potential Game 5 would take place Friday at 4:07 p.m. ET.

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