Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa came to the defense of teammate Byron Buxton, who’s receiving criticism from fans.
Buxton has a laundry list of an injury history, so it’s no surprise to those who know the team best that he’s receiving some days off early in the season. The star outfield’s health could determine the Twins’ long-term outlook this year.
However, that hasn’t stopped some fans and pundits from criticizing the team and Buxton for taking days off. Minnesota has tried to give Buxton one out of every three games off to keep him healthy.
Might that be excessive for now? Sure. But the Twins would rather be safe than sorry, as any ailment to Buxton would severely impact their chances at winning the AL Central.
Twins: Carlos Correa understands Byron Buxton’s workload
“He’s a guy that wants to be out there every day. When he’s on the field, he’s been performing at the highest of levels. He has 11 homers already, he’s one of the leaders of the league. When you look at Byron and his knees this early in the year, that’s something you’ve got to be careful with as a team. And you’ve got to take the necessary precautions in order for him to stay on the field. I’d rather have him for 120 of a full season than have him for 50 because he’s trying to do too much,” Correa said, per The Athletic.
When asked about some fans who don’t understand why the team is being so cautious with their star, Correa stated plainly that they probably don’t know the sport.
Correa is correct in that aspect, as the Twins will play 162 games this season. If they can have Buxton healthy for even 100 of those, it could be enough to earn them a playoff spot. Once October comes around, expect Buxton’s workload to increase.
But for now, it’s only May, people.