Twins outfield prospect Byron Buxton went 0-for-2 in his return for Class A Fort Myers on Sunday. Buxton, 20, had missed the past two months after reinjuring his wrist sliding into a base on May 8.
Twins notes: Prospect Buxton goes 0-for-2 in return
The outfielder was back with Class A Fort Myers after missing the past two months because of a wrist injury.
July 7, 2014 at 4:39AM
Buxton, rated as the top prospect in baseball by MLB.com, started in center field and hit leadoff. He didn't play the entire game, but General Manager Terry Ryan said the team won't take more precautions following the Buxton's second wrist injury this year.
"We handled it well the first time and unfortunately he just tweaked it," Ryan said. "That happens. He's ready to go."
May decision coming
Ryan said the team will make a decision within the next two days about whether righthanded prospect Trevor May will pitch in the Futures Game on Sunday.
May, 24, was placed on the Class AAA Rochester disabled list on June 28 because of a right calf strain. Ryan said he's getting worried because May has yet to throw a bullpen session.
"I don't want to do something that will set him back, I can tell you that," Ryan said.
May is 8-4 with a 2.94 ERA in 14 starts. He's one of three Twins selected to the Futures game, along with infielder Kennys Vargas and righthander pitcher Jose Berrios.
Deduno sharp in bullpen
Samuel Deduno pitched 4 ⅔ scoreless innings on Friday, stabilizing a game in which the Twins nearly erased a five-run deficit.
The righthander has pitched 9 ⅔ scoreless innings since moving to the bullpen following a June 14 start. As a starter, he's 2-4 with a 6.52 ERA. As a reliever, he's 0-1, 1.91 and has faced 24 batters since issuing his last walk.
That's a case for the Twins to try him again as a starter, but Ryan feels Deduno might be growing into a relief role.
"He's done a nice job in that role, that's for sure,'' Ryan said. "He's thrown a lot more strikes out of that role. Consequently, he's going to succeed because they don't hit him when he throws it over. So whatever the transition, all I know is that it's worked.''
Deduno might be on high alert this week because manager Ron Gardenhire expressed concern about recent short outings by the starters, including Ricky Nolasco's two-inning clunker on Sunday. And, if the Twins decide to have Nolasco pitch out of the bullpen, Deduno could end up back in the rotation.
After an incredible 25-year career that saw him become MLB's all-time stolen bases leader and the greatest leadoff hitter ever, Rickey Henderson died Friday at age 65.
