Minnesota Twins centerfielder Byron Buxton is lucky he's not dead meat.
OK, that's an exaggeration — but Buxton was almost flattened by a big hunk of meat. Or more specifically, someone dressed up in a sausage costume.
The incident happened at the Twins' game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field, home of the in-between-inning sausage mascot race. It was actually the Brewers' home opener.
Anyway, while the sausage race was taking place, Bruxton was making his way to his spot in the outfield. Clearly, he had no idea that people in sausage costumes were barrelling toward him.
Nor did the sausages seem to notice Buxton.
The end result was almost bad news for Buxton, and if not Buxton, then for somebody.
Luckily for all involved, he's a professional athlete with fairly quick reflexes. All of those skills were on display at this very moment, as Buxton looked up, saw the sausage, then backed back into the dugout. (Though it also appeared he had some help.)
byron buxton almost got bratwursted pic.twitter.com/bTFWLR6Rmd
— Cut4 (@Cut4) April 2, 2024
As the caption above the post on X read, Buxton "almost got bratwursted."
Added Matt Reigle of Outkick: "Unfortunately, for the bratwurst that near run-in completely tanked its first race of the season. That's okay, by my count, there are 80 races left this season, plenty of time for the bratwurst to get its 2024 back on track."
Mascot racing can indeed be a dangerous game, but that doesn't keep MLB teams from doing it and fans from eating it up. Perhaps nothing is better than the racing presidents that run the field at Washington Nationals games.
That said, the presidents tend to be more diplomatic when it comes to nearly taking out the competition. As for the sausages, well, they just might cook you if you get in the way.
Buxton certainly knows that now.
By the way, the Brewers and their brats won the game, 3-2. But hey, it could've been a lot worse for the Twins.
