This story was excerpted from Matthew Leach’s Twins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
MINNEAPOLIS -- Plenty of people around the Twins would love to see Joe Ryan or Jhoan Duran or Willi Castro receive an invitation to play in next month’s All-Star Game in Atlanta.
But for Byron Buxton to be selected would be extra special. Not just for Buxton himself, but for the entire organization. The longest-tenured Twin by far, Buxton has remarkably only been an All-Star one previous time, when he started in center field for the American League at Dodger Stadium in 2022.
That’s despite an 11-year career that has seen him establish himself as one of the finest and most popular players in Twins history. Of course, injuries are a significant part of Buxton’s story, and a significant part of why he hasn’t made more Midsummer Classics. Still, it’s a bit hard to believe that if he’s selected this year, it will only be his second trip to the All-Star Game.
And so for him to be recognized this year would be a big deal.
“Everyone pulls for him,” said manager Rocco Baldelli. “Everyone likes seeing him do well for the team, but also they appreciate what he does for the rest of the group, the way he conducts himself on and off the field. Everyone has a tremendous amount of respect for him because he’s a team-first player in every way. Guys don’t think about everyone like that. That’s not the truth of the matter. He’s a special teammate to a lot of people.”
As of the most recent round of voting, Buxton had climbed from 13th to 10th among American League outfielders. He needs help if he’s going to be elected by fans, but given his numbers, it’s hard to imagine Buxton won’t be selected to the roster.
“A lot of guys are having great years, but definitely he’s the one that’s been at the forefront of it, and I think definitely deserves it,” said Carlos Correa, a three-time All-Star. “You can make an argument for Duran, and Joe, and all that, so many players around the league; the picking process can always be tough for the Commissioner and the league, but definitely Buck should be in there.”
And if he is in the game? It’s safe to assume he’ll make it more entertaining.
“When you see guys who work their butts off and it’s always something, there’s always a speed bump, there’s always an extra obstacle that they have to jump over or maneuver around, [it’s extra meaningful],” said Twins TV analyst and former pitcher LaTroy Hawkins. “But seeing him out there every day in center field, it’s fun for me. I told him, ‘I enjoy watching our games when you’re in the lineup. I don’t care if you strike out four times. Just you being in the lineup changes everything.'”