Though there was renewed optimism following Byron Buxton's impressive spring training and strong early-season performance, that hope was dashed once again on Wednesday in Chicago, in a painfully familiar fashion.

In the Twins' final game of the series against the White Sox, Buxton left the field cautiously in the second inning, following what appeared to be a limping injury sustained during a stolen base attempt. The Twins later reported that he exited the game due to discomfort in his right knee.

Despite Buxton's setback, the Twins continued their hot streak, capitalizing on a shaky White Sox bullpen, an error by Chicago shortstop Paul DeJong in the sixth inning, and a three-hit performance from Jose Miranda to secure a 10-5 victory. This win extended their winning streak to 10 games, the longest in the Majors this season and Minnesota's longest since 2008.

The Twins now have eight double-digit win streaks in their history, the first of which began on April 22, 2024, against the White Sox. The franchise record of 15 consecutive victories was set by the World Series-winning 1991 team.

As the Twins aim to etch their name further into the history books, Buxton's status remains uncertain. His right knee, which has undergone two previous surgeries, may have been aggravated by the demands of base running. In September 2022, Buxton had an arthroscopic cleanup to address knee issues, but it was insufficient to return him to the outfield. An October 2023 plica excision seemed to improve his condition this spring and allowed him to move past his DH-only role from the previous season.

If Buxton needs time off, Willi Castro and Austin Martin could step up in his absence. Castro, who had a three-hit game on Wednesday, has raised his season OPS to .789 while consistently filling in at shortstop for Carlos Correa.

Even with key players sidelined, the Twins are hopeful that their current momentum will carry them through to more victories.