MINNEAPOLIS -- Byron Buxton made history in a couple of ways in the Twins’ 7-4 win against the Padres on Friday night.
With a steal of third base in the third inning of Minnesota’s game against the Padres, Buxton hit 20 stolen bases for the year, giving him the first 20-20 (homers and steals) season of his Major League career. He’s the first Twin to hit the mark since Brian Dozier in 2014. He added one more steal in the fourth for good measure.
It’s the eighth 20-20 season in franchise history, and Buxton is the seventh player to do it. Torii Hunter achieved the feat twice, in '02 and '04.
But that’s not all. It was the first time in Buxton's big league career that he had stolen third base in a game. Yes, you read that right. Buxton, who now has 114 steals in his career, had never stolen third before.
Now he has.
“It’s not something that he’s, I think, intentionally shied away from,” said manager Rocco Baldelli. “I think he probably thinks, ‘I can score on pretty much almost anything that’s put into play regardless.’ But I’m glad he did it. Just seeing the smile on his face after the game, there’s not too many things that he’s still doing for the first time. It’s Byron Buxton. But that, I think, he was waiting, that’s just one box I think he was waiting to check. And you know what? I wouldn’t be surprised if he took off again tomorrow and stole another one or a few more this year.”
As for the 20-20, it’s obviously an indicator of Buxton’s talent, but it’s also a marker of health. Friday marked his 101st game of the season, one shy of tying the second-highest total in his career. And so, naturally, milestones have followed as he has stayed on the field.
Buxton’s 27 homers are one short of tying his career high. His 105 hits are his second-highest total, and his 78 runs and 66 RBIs are both new career highs.
Oh, and by the way, he has yet to be caught his year. Only four other players in AL/NL history have 20-20 seasons without a caught stealing (Kevin McReynolds, Chase Utley, Trea Turner and Trevor Story).
“That guy is awesome,” said teammate Trevor Larnach. “You can’t say enough about him. The year he’s had, and he’s been [mostly] healthy thankfully, I think he’s the best center fielder in the game. Maybe biased, maybe not, I don’t care, I think he is.”
As for the rest of the year, well, there are 28 games left. No Twin has reached 30-30 in a season. It would be a stretch for Buxton to tally nine steals in 28 games, but not impossible.
“He could do it,” said third baseman Royce Lewis.