The Minnesota Twins are struggling.
They have lost or been swept in every series since Pablo López went down with a shoulder injury earlier this month. However, Byron Buxton’s otherworldly play is a light at the end of the tunnel.
No matter how much this team has struggled this season, he has shown that he will still do whatever it takes to be there for his team. For example, this play Monday night against the Seattle Mariners:
Since returning from a concussion on May 30, Buxton’s numbers in June include a slash line of .317/.429/.714, seven homers, 17 RBIs, ten runs scored, 12 strikeouts, 12 walks, and four stolen bases (he’s 13 for 13 on the season).
During that same timeframe, the Twins have gone 6-15 and are 3-12 in their last 15 games.
Buxton’s success at the plate can potentially spur Minnesota’s offense, especially with his leadoff home runs.
Of his 17 homers on the season, he’s hit six during his first at-bat of the game, four of which were as the leadoff hitter.
Buxton asked to hit leadoff when the Twins struggled at the plate earlier this season. Rocco Baldelli’s decision to move him up in the order paid off when they needed Buxton the most. While Buxton’s success at the plate has yet to trickle down to the rest of the team, Brooks Lee and Willi Castro have followed his lead.
In his first full season with the Twins, Lee has had a hit in 20 of the last 21 games going into the four-game set against the Mariners, including a 19-game hit streak.
Castro is having the best season of his career, with a slash line of .280/.362/.456. He’s on track to improve his batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS during seasons in which he has played more than 50 games.
While there’s a lot more season to be played, one can’t help but wonder if Buxton’s confidence at the plate is rubbing off on a few of his teammates.
It’s not just his bat that has helped the team stay competitive.
Buxton’s speed on the base paths and in the field has been vital for a struggling ball club.
He already has more stolen bases than he has in the last five seasons, and this is his first time swiping over ten in that same time frame.
Buxton’s speed and aggressive play have made him one of the game’s top center fielders. His ability to track down baseballs leave his feet to make a play can hardly be matched. Buxton records four more outs above the league average at his position.
He reminds people of a young Torii Hunter and his defensive abilities.
Buxton’s speed and playmaking ability were missing from Minnesota’s team during prior seasons when Buxton was dealing with consistent lower-body injuries.
After spending the 2023 season as a designated hitter and not playing in center before going back on the IL, Buxton returned to play center last season. He played in his first 100-game season since 2017, when he played 140.
At 31, he’s at the tail end of his prime and playing like the player Twins fans have been waiting to see since he broke into the league in 2015.
Hopefully, Buxton can stay healthy and show players like Lewis, who’s on the IL, that they can return to form after injuries. A healthy Byron Buxton has proven to be the light at the end of the team’s dark tunnel. He’s the biggest source of hope for the Twins.
