How fast is Buxton?

[gunnarthor]

OK, he's not quite Billy Hamilton fast but ... from McDaniel's fangraphs chat:

 

12:31 
Comment From Colby
in regards to Hamilton and the 90-95, are you saying that the scale goes to 100 or its just an extrapolation due to how fast he is?

12:34 
Kiley McDaniel: Extrapolation. The scale is 20-80 and 80 is a number (3.9 to first for a lefty hitter, 6.3 or so in the 60 yard dash) with standard gaps for each grade, so you can obviously figure out what a 90 would be. Buxton has given me a 85-90 run time in a game too. Also, when a hitter jailbreaks (out of the box quickly due to the swing), you’ll get a extra tenth or two off the run time. The Hamilton/Buxton times I’m quoting are normal full swings, because a 60 runner could give you an 80 time on the right play, but that doesn’t really mean anything in the scheme of things or change his run grade.

[Ben Noble]

I really like that McDaniel brings up Buxton unprompted in response to a question regarding speed grades...and arguably one of the fastest players ever. I didn't read the entire chat, so maybe Kiley's praise of Buxton in his response was in-context, but McDaniel tends to be pretty damn pessimistic when it comes to prospect ceilings...which I appreciate, btws. Good stuff, good question, great explanation by Kiley.

[John Kelsey]

 

I really like that McDaniel brings up Buxton unprompted in response to a question regarding speed grades...and arguably one of the fastest players ever. I didn't read the entire chat, so maybe Kiley's praise of Buxton in his response was in-context, but McDaniel tends to be pretty damn pessimistic when it comes to prospect ceilings...which I appreciate, btws. Good stuff, good question, great explanation by Kiley.

 

The same thing jumped out to me. Safe to say Buxton is the second fastest player in baseball?

[Ben Noble]

 

The same thing jumped out to me. Safe to say Buxton is the second fastest player in baseball?

I think it's safe to say that he's exceptionally fast. Game-changing fast, even. I'm not qualified to hand out silver and bronze medals, etc.

[Seth Stohs]

I've told this before, but when I went to the first Twins affiliate game in Cedar Rapids in 2013, I figured I'd be impressed by Buxton's athleticism, but he blew me away with his talent. In the three games I saw, I saw him beat out regular ground balls (not slow rollers, no bobbles, etc.) to shortstop, third base and second base. I also saw him hit about about 380 down the line for a long home run. He's unreal.

[ashbury]

I never miss an opportunity to share the photo my son took at the AFL.

 

[Seth Stohs]

Great photo.

[ashbury]

Great photo.

Needed a fast shutter.  

[nytwinsfan]

 

I really like that McDaniel brings up Buxton unprompted in response to a question regarding speed grades...and arguably one of the fastest players ever. I didn't read the entire chat, so maybe Kiley's praise of Buxton in his response was in-context, but McDaniel tends to be pretty damn pessimistic when it comes to prospect ceilings...which I appreciate, btws. Good stuff, good question, great explanation by Kiley.

Earlier in the chat he was asked who was faster Dee Gordon or Billy Hamilton, and he replied that Hamilton was the fastest runner of "his generation" or something like that, mentioning Hamilton's 90-95 speed. That is what promoted this follow-up question.

[gunnarthor]

I think Hamilton might be my favorite non-Twin right now.  He isn't a great player or anything but his speed is awesome.  He's hit 15 singles this year and has 13 stolen bases (caught once).  He's just exciting to watch.

[AlwaysinModeration]

The SI article about Buxton before the draft cited how Buxton would score from second tagging up on fly balls.

[AlwaysinModeration]

"It was earlier this month, the second round of Georgia's Class AA state playoffs. In the first inning of the Pirates' game against Coosa High, Buck walked and stole second. "He was on second base when our hitter hit a ball to fairly deep rightfield," said Pollack. "It wasn't like there was a bobble, the rightfielder fielded it pretty cleanly. But Buck tags up, and runs to third, then turns the corner, and runs home. And he scores. I didn't even know it was possible.'"

 

And that was the day Buck scored from second on a sacrifice fly."

[AlwaysinModeration]

Attribution: http://www.si.com/more-sports/2012/05/22/byron-buxton