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The Minnesota Twins’ center fielder thinks he could have made a play on at least one of two baseballs hit his direction during Tuesday’s exhibition contest against the Philadelphia Phillies if he were willing to sacrifice his body.

But Buxton, who played his first game in center in a Twins uniform in 554 days, wants to save the highlights for the regular season.

Buxton appeared in center field for the Twins for the first time since Aug. 22, 2022. Demonstrating his good health again only four months after his second knee surgery, Buxton, who played seven defensive innings at Triple A last summer, went 0-for-2 at the plate and in the field as the Twins tied the Phillies.

I have a chance at all of them, Buxton said. “I’m not going to dive in spring training. But yeah, that was fun. … Got a couple of balls. Didn’t catch none, but it was good. Fun to get back out there.”

Buxton’s return to the field is one of the more anticipated moments early this spring for the Twins. The 2017 Rawlings Platinum Glove Award winner didn’t feel good enough to play defense in 2023 after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in September 2022.

Instead, one of baseball’s top outfielders was restricted to being the Twins’ designated hitter, a limitation that severely reduced his overall value.

Experiencing pain akin to being stabbed in the knee with a knife, Buxton again underwent surgery last October. Doctors removed the plica from his knee and Buxton’s felt great ever since.

Whereas a year ago Buxton arrived at spring training behind schedule, this spring he’s outracing teammates during wind sprints, shagging fly balls and doing everything else a healthy player would.

“Great to see him flying around the field,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “He’s looked good all spring. … He looks strong and he looks explosive right now. Good day for him and a good day for all of us.

Buxton was trailed to center field by a team photographer after taking the field in the top of the first inning.

When he arrived at his position, Buxton picked up a batting practice baseball and briefly held it high in the air before bending down to say a prayer.

After that, Buxton threw the ball to right fielder Max Kepler and began to warm up his legs by high-stepping in position.