Twins Stars Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton Exit Game After Concerning Collision
Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton suffer scary collision in outfield, both sent into concussion protocol during Thursday's game.
The Minnesota Twins' promising surge in the American League Central suffered a setback on Thursday during their matchup against the Baltimore Orioles. Riding high on a 10-game winning streak, the Twins entered the night with a 24-20 record—an impressive feat, though only enough for fourth place in the highly competitive division.
Minnesota appeared to be in control in Baltimore, holding a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. However, a collision in shallow center field quickly turned the mood somber. Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins hit a blooper, prompting both shortstop Carlos Correa and center fielder Byron Buxton to sprint into the outfield. The two All-Stars converged at full speed, leading to a jarring mid-air collision as each went for the catch.
Both players remained on the grass for several minutes as trainers and teammates attended to them. Ultimately, Correa was forced to exit the game immediately, while Buxton managed to stay in for one more inning before also leaving. The Twins organization later announced that both stars had entered concussion protocol.
Injury troubles are nothing new for either player:
- Carlos Correa has surpassed 140 games played in a season just twice in his MLB career—and not since 2021, having appeared in only 86 games last year.
- Byron Buxton, similarly, has played more than 100 games just once since 2018, that coming with 102 appearances last season. His continued struggles with injuries have led the Twins to frequently use him as a designated hitter instead of in the field.
Before the collision, Buxton had contributed offensively, hitting back-to-back home runs with teammate DaShawn Keirsey Jr., further fueling the Twins’ attack.
On the mound, Chris Paddack delivered a stellar performance, throwing 11 scoreless innings to help secure Minnesota’s 11th consecutive victory—the fourth-longest winning streak in franchise history. This sweep gave the Twins a 6-0 advantage over the Orioles for the season, a dramatic turnaround from being swept by Baltimore last year.
Despite the elation of the ongoing win streak, concern now centers on the health of Correa and Buxton. Their absence could weigh heavily on Minnesota’s hopes in the tightly contested AL Central race as the team awaits updates.