CLEVELAND (AP) – For the Twins, Byron Buxton is once again in the middle of things.

The quick outfielder, who has missed the previous two weeks due to soreness in his right knee, was activated from the injured list and batted fifth for Minnesota against Cleveland on Saturday.

Minnesota’s previous 14 games were missed by Buxton.

This week, he participated in back-to-back games at Triple-A St. Paul without any issues, which is the last requirement to be cleared to play again for the Twins. Two days after his knee flared up during a game against the White Sox, Buxton was placed on the injured list (IL) on May 3.

According to Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, Buxton was supposed to start in the lineup for all three of this week’s games against left-handed pitchers.

Prior to Saturday’s match, Baldelli declared, “We’re going to run him out there.” “He won’t play a lot of games straight when he returns from his injury, but he will play a lot. He intends to engage in play. He intends to perform extensively.”

Buxton, 30, underwent knee surgery during the previous two postseasons.

Buxton will have as much freedom as he requires, but the Twins will keep a watchful eye on him. He is the best person to know his limitations, after all.

“I believe in him. In any given game, he is aware of his strengths and weaknesses, according to Baldelli.

“I trust him. He´s knows what he can do and what he can´t do in a particular situation in any given game,” Baldelli said. “His decision making and other people´s decision making is a little different. Other players, I tell them when to go and when not to go.

“There are moments when you have to give it to Bux so that he may decide how to keep himself active and in good health.”

It was Buxton at bat.Before having to shut down due to knee discomfort, he finished 28 games with 250, eight doubles, one home run, and eleven RBIs.

The Twins optioned utility player Austin Martin to St. Paul to free up space on the 26-man roster. In Friday’s 3-2 loss to the Guardians, Martin entered as a pinch runner in the eighth inning and stole a base in addition to scoring.