Byron Buxton has setback on rehab assignment; Twins put Max Kepler on injured list

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. – The Twins have lost seven of their last 11 games, and they took a couple more injury hits Thursday when Byron Buxton’s imminent return to the roster was derailed by more hip soreness and Max Kepler was placed on the 10-day injured list with left patellar tendinitis.

Buxton, on the 10-day IL with right hip inflammation, experienced more hip pain Wednesday before a third-inning ejection from a Class AAA rehab game after arguing a pitch clock violation called on him.

He will be re-evaluated to determine the severity of the injury, but it’s at least a short-term setback. Buxton was likely one healthy day from being activated from the IL and rejoining the Twins for their upcoming road series against the Kansas City Royals.

“[Buxton] didn’t feel the way that he needed to feel in the game in order for him to come back and return right now,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “We’ll see how he’s doing over the next 24, 48 [hours] and then we’ll have more to talk about.”

The Twins have three weeks remaining in their regular season. Could Buxton’s hip pain jeopardize his ability to return this year?

“There is no way for me to really say anything because I really don’t know what is to come,” Baldelli said. “We have to see what we’re even dealing with. Before we know what we’re dealing with, it’s going to be hard for anyone to really comment on it.”

Kepler missed six of the Twins’ previous 10 games because of left knee pain. His IL stint is retroactive to Monday when he was a pregame scratch from the lineup.

“We tried to work through it, but he wasn’t able to come back and be able to run or swing,” Baldelli said. “He just can’t do it right now, so we have no real choice but to put him on the IL. Obviously challenging when we have a few guys out already and then we lose Kep. We lose another one, but it’s our reality at the moment so we have to have guys step up.”

The Twins promoted centerfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr., who made his MLB debut as a defensive replacement in Thursday’s 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Keirsey, a 27-year-old lefthanded hitter from San Diego, was batting .292 with 14 homers, 20 doubles, 75 RBI, 69 runs and 36 stolen bases in 103 games at St. Paul.

“It’s been hard to process,” Keirsey said. “It still hasn’t fully hit me, I don’t think. … I haven’t really had a moment to just sit back and take it in yet, but I’m sure it’ll come soon.”

Keirsey might be the best defensive center fielder on the roster with Buxton sidelined. He went unpicked in the Rule 5 Draft last winter when the Twins didn’t add him to their 40-man roster, and he’s responded with his best offensive season.

“He’s done his part and stayed out there, stayed productive and made us make a decision,” Baldelli said. “Being in Triple-A, being a productive, good player is not always the easiest thing because you’re hoping and waiting for your opportunities to come and the players don’t have full control over when that is.”

Carlos Santana was in pain after the final out Thursday, tagging Rays outfielder Jose Siri with his glove at first base when he caught a throw from shortstop Brooks Lee that took him off the bag.

Santana dropped to a squat as teammates and a trainer checked on him before joining the rest of the team for their postgame celebration.

“Everything is fine,” said Santana, adding he didn’t need an X-ray afterward. “The staff, they gave me some medicine. The doctor said there’s a little bit of inflammation, but everything’s fine.”

* The Twins transferred lefty reliever Kody Funderburk to the 60-day injured list to make room for Keirsey on the 40-man roster.

* Pablo López threw three fastballs above 98 mph Thursday, the fastest pitches of his career. “It’s definitely a wonderful feeling to see how the stuff is this late into the season, later into my career,” he said. “I have so many people to thank on the Twins’ staff, from pitching coaches to athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, nutritionists, sleep doctors.”

* Anthony Prato’s walk-off single gave the St. Paul Saints a 7-6 victory over the Iowa Cubs at CHS Field. Prato had entered the game in the eighth inning as a pinch-runner.