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Twins relieved Buxton only has concussion

By WTOP Staff

DAVE CAMPBELL
AP Sports Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins and their frustrated fans have stopped holding their breath. Future center fielder Byron Buxton was only left with a concussion from a scary collision with a minor league teammate.

Yes, head injuries can have long-lasting effects. Buxton must pass the standard Major League Baseball concussion protocols before being cleared to return to action, and general manager Terry Ryan said on Thursday afternoon that Buxton will be out “for a while.”

But considering the way Buxton laid crumpled and unconscious in the grass on Wednesday night after running into right fielder Mike Kvasnicka at full speed in New Britain, Connecticut, this was about the best-case scenario for him and the Twins.

“Under the circumstances we’re very fortunate,” Ryan said. “It turned out about as good as you could ever hope with that kind of collision.”

Buxton used hashtags “thankful” and “doingokay” on Twitter on Thursday morning to describe his mood and outlook.

“I greatly appreciate all the support and prayers! I’m very blessed! Please keep Mike Kvasnicka and I in your prayers!” Buxton tweeted.

Buxton and Kvasnicka each sprinted for a fly ball in the fifth inning when they rammed into each other nearly parallel to the ground during the Double-A Eastern League game between New Britain and Bowie. Ryan, who happened to be there on a scouting trip, said Kvasnicka, who managed to make the catch, had a bruised hip and soreness in his abdominal area.

Both players were taken to a hospital for evaluation. Kvasnicka was on track to return to the field in a few days, Ryan said, but Buxton was actually knocked out for about 10 minutes before regaining consciousness as he was being put in an ambulance. The game was delayed for about a half-hour and resumed with an eerie quiet, but tests on the 20-year-old Buxton showed no broken bones or damage beyond the concussion.

Once Ryan visited him in the hospital, Buxton was alert and doing fine without a neck brace.

“I’m glad I was here,” Ryan said in a phone interview from New Britain.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Buxton was selected by the Twins with the second pick in the 2012 draft out of Appling County High School in Baxley, Georgia. Widely considered the top prospect in baseball, Buxton split time last season with Cedar Rapids in low Class A and Fort Myers in high Class A and, combined, batted .334 with 49 extra-base hits, 77 RBIs and 55 steals in 125 games.

For a franchise that has lost at least 96 games in each of the last three years and has fallen again out of postseason contention this summer, Buxton has given Twins fans some excitement for the future along with another highly regarded minor leaguer, third baseman Miguel Sano. Sano has been out all year following right elbow surgery, however, and Buxton has had a trying season.

He sprained his left wrist diving for a ball in spring training and aggravated the injury after starting to play again. In 30 games for Fort Myers, Buxton hit only .240 with 10 extra-base hits, 19 RBIs and six steals. Nonetheless he was promoted this week to New Britain, where his latest setback came in his very first game there.

The concussion has likely eliminated the possibility of a late-season call-up to the Twins.

“He’s had one of those years. I can’t believe it. It’s unfortunate. He’s a good worker and a good kid and good teammate, everything, but he’s had a difficult time getting away from these injuries,” Ryan said.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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