Byron Buxton had a magnetic resonance imaging exam on his right hip on Tuesday and was withheld from a 6:40 p.m. first pitch against the Kansas City Royals at Target Field.

Results weren’t available before the game.

Buxton pulled himself out of an 8-3 victory over the Royals because of tightness in his right hip after a fifth-inning at-bat on Monday, replaced in the lineup and center field by Manny Margot.

“Buck did get an MRI today. He’s going to sit with the doctors today as well, and talk through it,” manager Rocco Baldelli said before Tuesday night’s game. “I don’t have anything to announce. He is day-to-day right now. We’re going to see how he is later on this afternoon, how he is tomorrow, and just kind of go from there.”

After being limited to designated hitting in 2023, and still playing only 85 games because of rib, hamstring and, most important, knee injuries. He had surgery to remove the plica in his right knee in October and has played more than 60 games in center field this season.

“He normally doesn’t pull himself out of a game immediately, even when something is bothering him,” Baldelli said after Monday’s game.

The Twins will no doubt be cautious with their center fielder.

Buxton has a long injury history that limited him to well under 100 games in eight of his first nine seasons, and right hip issues have played a major role. In 2022, the all-star starter for the American League had an MRI on the hip, was placed on the 10-day injured list and didn’t play again that season.

It’s never a good time to lose Buxton, but the veteran has been hitting especially well since the calendar turned to July — .311 with 28 extra-base hits, 21 runs scored, 15 RBIs and a 1.081 OPS in 27 games.

Lee taking it slow

Infielder Brooks Lee began a strengthening program on his right shoulder on Tuesday, four days after being placed on the IL with right biceps tendinitis.

“We’re starting slow, just light,” he said.

The rookie had a cortisone shot in the shoulder late last week after playing through pain for several days. Lee won’t travel with the team for a four-game series starting Thursday in Texas, and said he has been doing aerobics and taking ground balls without throwing.

“I think we start strengthening the rotator cuff starting today and kind of going from there,” he said. “That’s kinda going to be the biggest thing.”

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