At this writing, Byron Buxton just had two multi-hit games that raised his batting average to .209. His on-base percentage is .283 and his slugging percentage is .303. He has 27 runs, five home runs, and 15 RBI on 80 games and 271 plate appearances. His Offensive WAR (Wins Above Replacement) is 0.0, tied for seventh-worst in the American League.
Yet he may be the most entertaining player on the Minnesota Twins. His defense in center field is a huge reason why. As I wrote before, he is the best defensive player at any position in the league. He still leads the American League with 1.8 Defensive WAR, just a hair above shortstop Andrelton Simmons of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Anyone who watches a Twins game will see why. Barely a game passes without a miraculous, eye-popping catch by Buxton.
Buxton’s great defense is due in large part to his incredible speed. According to Statcast, he is the second-fastest player in the major leagues, just a tenth of a second slower than Billy Hamilton of the Cincinnati Reds. Byron Buxton is among the precious few major-leaguers that are so fast that you’d pay just to watch them run.
So far, that speed is translating well to one of baseball’s most entertaining plays: the stolen base. Though Buxton rarely gets in base, he has 16 stolen bases, fifth in the American League, with only one time caught stealing.
Moreover, Byron Buxton always runs like he could stretch every single into a double and every double into a triple. Every routine groundout seems like an opportunity for an infield hit. But Buxton’s basepath dominance does not come with an overabundance of cool or swagger. Quite the opposite: When he rounds bases and when he stops, Buxton swings his arms around maniacally like a toddler trying not to fall. For lack of a better word, it’s adorable.
It fits with Buxton’s general demeanor. He seems like a genuinely humble, good-hearted, slightly goofy kid. After every win, he makes sure to have a group hug or other celebration with his fellow outfielders as they leave the field, all sporting big, infectious grins. Fans report that he is very approachable and friendly.
For the most part, Twins fans have remained patient with Buxton’s struggles at the plate. He is in his third season in the majors but is still only 23 years old, with only a little more than a full season’s worth of at-bats under his belt (671 to be exact). And everyone knows about his potential; he was drafted second overall in 2012 and was the second-highest rated prospect in baseball in 2015. Until he realizes all that potential, Byron Buxton will keep being fun to watch.
Eddie Daniels is a Staff Writer for Outside Pitch MLB covering the Minnesota Twins. He is the author of “The Baseball Hall of Fame Corrected,” available on Amazon. You can contact and follow Eddie on Twitter.
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