Minnesota Twins All-Star outfielder Byron Buxton has escaped an injury and is on track to return after being hit by a pitch.

The Minnesota Twins held All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton out of the starting lineup on Thursday because of a bruised left hand that is not expected to affect his availability for long.

The Twins almost certainly aren't trading Byron Buxton. The only way it could theoretically happen is if they get a massive offer and Buxton is willing to waive his no-trade clause.

When the Twins selected Byron Buxton with the second overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, they envisioned a game-changing athlete: a lightning-fast center fielder who could wreak havoc on the basepaths, chase down fly balls few others could, and slap line drives from foul line to foul line. Power was more of a footnote in the scouting report.

Byron Buxton was held out of Thursday afternoon’s game against the Cubs, a day after he suffered a left hand contusion when he was hit by a pitch. The club remains hopeful that Buxton will not miss an extended period of time,

Buxton is slashing .270/.334/.544 with 20 home runs and 53 RBIs, and his power numbers have earned him an invitation to his first Home Run Derby next Monday in Cumberland, Ga. On Monday, Buxton offered Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press an adorable account of his son Brixton's plans for the event.

But the Phillies are well positioned if the Twins decide to trade Byron Buxton, writes ESPN. The trade proposal would send Andrew Painter, a top-25 prospect in all of baseball as a right-handed pitcher, and Justin Crawford, an outfielder and the son of Tampa Bay great Carl Crawford.