Nice article on Buck’s homecoming for the AS game from Matthew Leach, Twins MLB beat writer -
MINNEAPOLIS -- As far as the Twins are concerned, every time
Byron Buxton steps on a baseball field, he’s an All-Star.
Sunday’s announcement just made it official.
For the second time in his career, Minnesota's sensational center fielder is headed to the All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, voted in by the players. Buxton will be the team’s only representative at Truist Park next week, pending late substitutions.
Making it extra special is that Buxton hails from Baxley, Ga., about 190 miles southeast of Atlanta, where the All-Star Game will be played. He’ll likely have plenty of family and friends in attendance, starting with his wife
Lindsey and sons
Brix,
Blaze and
Baire -- the latter of whom wasn’t yet born the last time Buxton was an All-Star (2022).
“It means a lot,” Buxton said. “The biggest thing for me is [that] last time I went to the game, as far as my family, it was four of us. We then added a kid. So being able to make it back with my whole family this time is very special. And to do it back home with this Twins uniform on, it’s a blessing. Everybody doesn’t get to play as many years as I do, and to be able to do it with the Twins and know I’m going to do it with the Twins every year I make it, that’s something special to me and my family.”
Buxton is enjoying one of the best years of his career at age 31, with a .270/.334/.544 line, 20 home runs and 16 stolen bases without being caught once. He’s been easily the Twins’ best position player, carrying an offense that has done without multiple key players at various times and serving as a catalyst with his speed as well as his hitting.
Most important, Sunday marked his 73rd game, as Buxton has remained mostly healthy, allowing him to showcase his prodigious ability.
“It’s a monumental return for this guy,” said manager
Rocco Baldelli. “He’s been one of the top players in all of baseball. … To be able to get prime Buxton basically every day, you’re getting it every day, that’s a whole different deal. I think in his mind, this was always coming; and in my mind, it was coming. But when you actually see it and you actually get it and it’s in front of you every day, it’s a beautiful thing.”
Buxton’s previous All-Star appearance came when he
started in center field for the American League at Dodger Stadium three years ago. This time he will come off the bench, but it’s no less meaningful to him or the organization.
“I think he’s going to be extremely excited to be playing in front of so many friends and family,” said Baldelli. “I mean, how many times is the All-Star Game played in your hometown and you’re having just a splendid season and you get a chance to go? That will never happen for most guys.”
Buxton leads qualified AL center fielders in OPS (.878), and he remains one of the most electrifying defensive players in baseball. Tied for sixth in the AL in home runs, Buxton will represent his home state in the
T-Mobile Home Run Derby on Monday.
The Twins believed they had two other viable candidates in starting pitcher
Joe Ryan and reliever
Jhoan Duran, and
Ryan was named an All-Star replacement for the Astros' Hunter Brown on Wednesday. It is possible that Duran could be added over the coming days as more pitchers elect not to pitch due either to health or workload concerns or because they start on Sunday.
www.startribune.com
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