Twins CF Byron Buxton nearly taken out in Brewers’ sausage race

Brewers bratwurst, Byron Buxton nearly collide

Byron Buxton had a close call at the Minnesota Twins dugout in Milwaukee during the Brewers sausage races. Credit: Betsy Helfand/St. Paul Pioneer Press via Storyful

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The Minnesota Twins dropped to 2-2 on the season after losing 3-2 to the Milwaukee Brewers in the home opener Tuesday at Miller Park, and Byron Buxton got a good scare.

We can laugh about it now, but Buxton nearly got run over during a Brewers’ tradition. They hold sausage races before the bottom of the sixth inning at Miller Park. The Twins were trailing 3-1 at the time, and Buxton was ready to leave the dugout and head to his post in center field.

As he started to trot out, he nearly walked right into the end of the races. He froze before pivoting quickly back into the dugout. That's right, a Brewers' sausage nearly barreled over Byron Buxton. It would've been very Twins-like if there actually had been a collision. Buxton's injury history with the Twins is well-chronicled.

"Just like a normal inning, I get ready to turn around and it was like I'm going to have to take a charge if I can't get out the way," Buxton said after the game. "Luckily, he wasn't running as fast as I thought he was."

His teammates were joking about it after, despite the loss.

"We said Buck almost got Bratwursted," catcher Ryan Jeffers said.

The last thing the Twins need is a freak accident happening to their center fielder. Especially with Royce Lewis out at least a month after straining his right quad on Opening Day in Kansas City.

Buxton went 1-for-4 in the loss with a strikeout, and has four hits in 14 at-bats so far this season. The Twins managed just three hits on Tuesday.

Most importantly, he’s played in all four games and has been out in center field.