Buxton finally back in center field for Twins

Byron Buxton patrolled center field for the Minnesota Twins for the first time in 554 days.

Healthy after two consecutive seasons ended with knee surgeries, the 2022 All-star made his spring training debut at bat and, most importantly, in the field as the Twins tied the Philadelphia Phillies 3-3 Tuesday in Forth Myers, Fla.

Aside from a seven-inning appearance with Triple-a St. Paul on a rehabilitation assignment last summer, Buxton hadn’t played center field since injuring himself while diving for a ball on Aug. 22, 2022.

The 2017 Rawlings Platinum Glove winner — given to the best overall defender in each league — appeared in 85 games for the Twins in 2023, but only as a designated hitter because his right knee wasn’t healthy.

He didn’t make a catch on Tuesday, only fielding two balls hit in his direction, but that wasn’t the point.

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

Buxton, 30, has not appeared in 100 games since 2017, when he played in 140 games. The second overall pick in the 2012 amateur draft made his major league debut in 2015 and has not made it through a full season without landing on the injured list.

After batting .207 with 17 home runs, 42 RBIS and a .731 OPS in 304 plate appearances last season, Buxton said he’s 100 percent healthy.

CUBS MAKE ROOM FOR BELLINGER >>

The Chicago Cubs finalized Cody Bellinger’s $80 million, three-year contract after they traded left-hander Bailey Horn to the White Sox, clearing a spot on their 40-man roster.

Bellinger, who turns 29 in July, will make $27.5 million this year. He has a $27.5 million player option for 2025 with a $2.5 million buyout. There is a $25 million player option for 2026 with a $5 million buyout. He also gets a hotel suite on road trips.

Bellinger hit a career-best .307 with 26 homers, 97 RBIS and 20 steals in 130 games with the Cubs last season.

The Cubs sent Horn to the White Sox for minor league right-hander Matt Thompson.

The 26-year-old Horn, a fifthround pick by the White Sox in the 2020 amateur draft, went 7-3 with a 4.21 ERA in 45 appearances over two minor league stops last year. He finished the season with Triple-a Iowa.

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Nestor Cortes wasn’t exactly nasty in his first spring training appearance, but the New York Yankees left-handed emerged from Monday’s game against Minnesota feeling good.

After an injury-marred 2023, a start.

“Everything positive, pitches really crisp,” Cortes said after allowing two runs and seven hits with four strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. “And most important, got out of there healthy. So a big step forward.”

Cortes went 5-2 with a 4.97 ERA in 12 games last year and made just one start after May 30 while dealing with a rotator cuff injury.

Yankees third baseman DJ Lemahieu made his spring training debut and stayed in the game after taking a bad hop infield RBI single by Jair Camargo off the face in the third.

Lemahieu said he was fine after the ball hit his glasses near the top of his nose.

CARDS ADD VETERAN INFIELDER Brandon Crawford and St. Louis finalized a $2 million, one-year contract, giving the Cardinals an experienced backup for young shortstop Masyn Winn.

The 37-year-old Crawford spent his first 13 seasons with San Francisco. He won four Gold Gloves and two World Series championships with the Giants. it’s