Twins: Byron Buxton might not return to roster until September

Minnesota right fielder Torii Hunter and center fielder Byron Buxton run to the dugout after the top of the fourth inning at Target Field on Thursday, June 18, 2015. (Pioneer Press: Holly Peterson)Byron Buxton will take batting practice on the field before Thursday night's game against the Seattle Mariners at Target Field, but baseball's top prospect isn't close to returning to the Twins' lineup. In fact, it's looking more as if the center fielder is on pace to be a call-up when the rosters are expanded on Sept. 1.

If he's healthy.

"This isn't a week down the road," general manager Terry Ryan said Wednesday. "This is some time down the road."

Out since spraining his left thumb on a head-first…