Hit by pitch, Buxton bruises left hand and leaves game

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton has a bruised left hand that forced him out of the game Thursday after getting hit by a pitch.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton has a bruised left hand that forced him out of the game Thursday after getting hit by a pitch.

Buxton was plunked by Chicago White Sox starter Mat Latos in the bottom of the third inning. Buxton stayed in the game after being examined by head athletic trainer Dave Pruemer and manager Paul Molitor and proceeded to steal second base, but Molitor sent Max Kepler to center field for the top of the fourth after the soreness increased while Buxton was running.

''The worst feeling is definitely getting put out of the game for an injury like that,'' said Buxton, who is batting .167 with 13 strikeouts in 24 at-bats. ''I wanted to stay in there and try to do what I could to help us win.''

The Twins said X-rays on Buxton's hand were negative. His status was announced as day to day. After a series of fluke injuries kept him out for most of the 2014 season in the minors, the prized prospect missed time last summer with a sprained left thumb.

''I got hit with the injury bug the last two years, so this is the last thing that I wanted to happen,'' Buxton said. ''But it's all in baseball.''