The Minnesota Twins head to Dyersville, Iowa, on Thursday for their highly anticipated game against the Philadelphia Phillies at the new Field of Dreams stadium. And there's a real chance all-star center fielder Byron Buxton will be in the lineup.
Buxton hasn't played since July 28 due to a right hip impingement, but after running and completing pregame baseball activities the past two days at Target Field, he appears close to returning. Twins manager Derek Shelton didn't rule out his star player taking the field in Iowa.
“Tomorrow is a possibility,” Shelton said before Wednesday's series finale against the Orioles. “I don't want to say tomorrow is 'the day,' but we continue to add volume, and Monday was the big day of adding a ton of volume. We'll see how he is tomorrow.”
What does the Field of Dreams game mean for the Twins?
The Twins are flying to Dubuque before bussing to the new stadium in Dyersville, which seats 8,000 for professional events. Both the Twins and Phillies are fighting for playoff positioning, adding extra weight to the contest.
“I think the excitement of the day and what you're doing and where you're at is something that is really important,” Shelton said. “Now, the preparation portion of being in a race is something that we just have to get ahead of, as do the Phillies. They're in a race, also. It's not just unique to one team.”
How has the team performed without Buxton?
The Twins have hovered near first-place Chicago in the American League Central and remain in contention for the third AL wild card spot. But they've struggled lately, going 3-5 since the Aug. 3 trade deadline brought in three veteran pitchers: starter Dean Kremer and relievers Jeff Hoffman and A.J. Minter.
Getting Buxton back would provide a significant boost. Despite missing 28 games through Wednesday, he still leads the team with 25 home runs and posts an .864 OPS, second only to Ryan Jeffers. Without him, the Twins are 5-8 and averaging 3.8 runs per game, nearly a full run below their season average of 4.72.
“When you start to build a lineup, when you put (Buxton) in it, it lengthens it,” Shelton said. “You think about where Jeffers goes, where Kody (Clemens) goes, where Royce (Lewis) goes, where Josh (Bell) goes. All of a sudden, guys that are hitting 2-3-4 are now hitting sixth. It lengthens it out, which is extremely helpful.”
Why is Buxton's defense so valuable?
Shelton emphasized that Buxton's impact goes beyond his bat. His elite center field play changes the game in ways that don't always show up in the box score.
“He changes the game defensively,” Shelton said. “Take away the offensive component to him being healthy, and you're talking about a premier defender that can change the game, and I think change the game in ways that we don't even realize when we see balls that are not caught or plays that are not made (without him).”
Shelton noted that while replacements like Ryan Kreidler, Luke Keaschall, and Kody Clemens have filled in admirably, Buxton is a different caliber of defender.
“It's nothing disparaging toward (Ryan) Kreidler, (Luke) Keaschall or Kody who are out there, but we're talking about a guy that has a Platinum Glove and covers ground at a different pace,” Shelton said. “I think that's where it (most) comes into play.”
Will Buxton play center field or DH if he returns?
If Buxton is healthy enough to play, Shelton made it clear he won't be limited to designated hitter duties.
“I think if he's coming back, he's going to play the field,” Shelton said.
The Field of Dreams game is set for Thursday afternoon in Dyersville, with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m. CT. Fans across Iowa will be watching to see if one of baseball's most dynamic players makes his return in the cornfields of eastern Iowa.