Article: Byron Buxton Recalled

[John Bonnes]

The Minnesota Twins announced that they have recalled Byron Buxton from AAA-Rochester this afternoon to replace centerfielder Danny Santana, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a hamstring injury. Buxton is the reigning International League Player Of The Week and was hitting .333/.402/.60 with six home runs.It will be Buxton's fourth time on the Twins 25-man roster. He was recalled last June straight from AA-Chattanooga after 268 plate appearances but was injured less than two weeks later. He returned in August. Then he was named the starting centerfielder this April after Aaron Hicks was traded in the offseason, but was demoted to AAA before the end of April.

 

So far, in his time in the majors, he has looked lost offensively. He has accumulated 68 strikeouts in his 187 plate appearances while drawing only eight walks. He hit just .156 this year before being sent down for his first extended time at AAA. There, he bounced back after a rough first week and has looked stronger as the season has progressed, thought he still has only 114 AB at that level. He reportedly has added a leg kick to his swing when he bats with less than two strikes, and has had more success hitting the ball to the opposite field, a skill he failed to demonstrate in the majors.

 

Regardless of his offensive contributions, he bring an immediate upgrade defensively to the Twins lineup, as his play and range in center field was solid even during his offensive struggles. But both the team and fans will be watching to see if the (limited) time in AAA has better prepared him for the challenges of major league pitching.

 

Click here to view the article

[tobi0040]

It looks like the Twins, in a season that is over once again let an injury determine the timeline of their best prospect.

 

I get that he had great numbers, but a demotion after striking out half the time should come along with specific things to work on. I don't think he has had enough time to work on them.

[theBOMisthebomb]

He can't be worse than he was in April and appears to have done the work in AAA. We might have to be patient, this guy is supposedly the future.

 

[Comrade Bork]

I'm dying to see this kid succeed. Here's hoping for a hot start.

[nater79a]

Bruno to Buck the first time he goes 0 for 4 with 3 K's: "Son, what's with this leg kick thing you're doing. We need to fix that".

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

I hope that they play him every day and bat him at the top of the order to insure that he get an extra at bat a game to help him get in a rhythm and develop. I do believe this helped him in AAA and should be continued in the majors. Batting him 9th will hinder his development and have him missing the tired out starter the last time through likely. 

[TheLeviathan]

Well said tobi, Buxton should stay where it's best for him - injuries on the big club be damned.

[dgwills]

The right move here was to leave Buxton in AAA and work out his issues while gaining a year of team control. This is another stupid decision. Sure it's possible it doesn't completely blow up in their faces, but why take the risk?

[Linus]

After all the screwing around the Twins finally have a chance to get it right with BB and they let an injury in a lost season determine his fate. I've been a patient fan but the Twins just lost me on this one.

[tobi0040]

Linus,

 

I have been patient too. As the admirable Vince Vaughn said. Love

Is blind.

 

I should have reached this conclusion a long time ago. But these guys have no clue what they are doing. That is the only thing that can explain these things

[ashbury]

Batting him 9th will hinder his development and have him missing the tired out starter the last time through likely. 

The leadoff batter comes right after #9, once the game is underway. If the leadoff guy sees the tired out starter, so does #9.

[Badsmerf]

The only way he learns to hit mlb pitching is in the mlb. I don't think they were ready to call him up either, but injuries happen. Who do you all suppose was going to play cf? This is a no brainer.

 

The kid is talented. You send him down looking for a response, and he hits like a machine. You can't have it both ways, either you are for young guys playing through struggles or you're not. If he is over matched again they can send him down.

 

I'm just hoping he rides this hot streak into Minneapolis. Let the haters hate and show um up!

Edited May 31, 2016 by Badsmerf

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

 

The leadoff batter comes right after #9, once the game is underway. If the leadoff guy sees the tired out starter, so does #9.

Sure, but the leadoff would be seeing that starter for one extra more at bat than the #9 batter getting a better read on him. So, not only will the #9 usually get one less at bat a game, but also a higher percentage of fresh hard throwing receivers. 

 

You have to put your top prospects and players in the best position to succeed. So, even if this sound trivial to some- it matters. Bat leadoff or #2, and let him get in a groove even if he struggles at first. having more at bats is wha this kid needs, and I think that showed in AAA. Especially considering that this is not a lineup that is going to turnover as much as other high scoring teams.

 

[tobi0040]

I don't think they were ready to call him up either, but injuries happen. Who do you all suppose was going to play cf? This is a no brainer.

 

It comes down to what is important. Right now, Buxton's development trumps who plays CF on a 50 win team every time.

 

In finance they say keep a rainy day fund in cash because you should not have to tap your 401k and sell stocks the day your roof is leaking. In this case, don't tap your assets because Danny Santana got hurt.

[ashbury]

Sure, but the leadoff would be seeing that starter for one extra more at bat than the #9 batter

Yeah. Leadoff sees the starter that one extra time, at his freshest. After that it's as close to a wash as can be.

 

Not that I really get your original point about it being particularly valuable to face the tired out starter. Just that #9 and #1 are more or less the same in that regard, so it's moot.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Meh. This move seems reactionary and we're well past the point where the Twins should care about being reactionary.

 

I hope Buxton succeeds but it's hard to imagine he has learned enough to adjust in one month of play in Rochester.

[Riverbrian]

Leg Kick... Ok Fine. 

 

In my opinion... I'll be watching the swing. If he levels it out... I believe he will look real good real quick.

 

If he's still upper cutting he will be striking out too much again and be heading back to Rochester amongst much hand wringing from us on TD. 

 

Level it out... Keep the bat in the zone longer and once his contact rate goes up as a result... His feet and talent will do the rest.

 

In my opinion of course... I think Buxton is an easier fix than Dozier is. 

 

 

[Kwak]

D. Santana has a convenient injury. So well-timed with Buxton's hot streak in Rochester too!

Edited May 31, 2016 by Kwak

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

 

Yeah. Leadoff sees the starter that one extra time, at his freshest. After that it's as close to a wash as can be.

 

Not that I really get your original point about it being particularly valuable to face the tired out starter. Just that #9 and #1 are more or less the same in that regard, so it's moot.

Let's just say that I personally feel that it would be more beneficial to get 4-5 AB's/game than 3-4 AB's/game. And, that I feel getting to see a starter for 3rd or 4th time is a good thing..its not about that first at bat, but the last one vs him. Especially, considering that it gives him one more opportunity to see that particular pitchers breaking ball, and not constantly seeing a different pitcher with different stuff.

 

 

Edited May 31, 2016 by ShouldaCouldaWoulda

[ashbury]

Let's just say that I personally feel that it would be more beneficial to get 4-5 AB's/game than 3-4 AB's/game. And, that I feel getting to see a starter for 3rd or 4th time is a good thing..its not about that first at bat, but the last one vs him. Especially, considering that it gives him one more opportunity to see that particular pitchers breaking ball, and not constantly seeing a different pitcher with different stuff.

This point of view makes more sense than the "missing the tired out starter the last time through" version. Thanks for clarifying.

[DJSim22]

I'm hopeful, but I don't see a month in Rochester changing a whole lot.  At least he should have gained some confidence crushing AAA pitching.  Leg kick?  I'm skeptical, that might help him stay in balance, but I'm not sure that was the issue.  He needs to hit the ball on the ground more and bunt on occasion.  He needs to use all his skill set.

 

Also, Bonnes thanks for throwing out the first pitch at the Hawks game. 

Edited May 31, 2016 by DJSim22

[Shane Wahl]

This better be for good. If they yank him around again, I don't know what insanity will take over me.

[old nurse]

Hmmm, If Buxton is kept down too long the wolves say the team is  retarding his development. If he is down too short  of time,  the team is rushing and ruining him.  The wolves have stinky breath because there really is no way to know beforehand.

[Reider]

I recall a player by the name of Ben Revere who got sent back down to AAA a few times, then one day he was recalled by the Twins and he never looked back.

 

 

Patience.

[stringer bell]

I think everyone agrees that doing what is best for Buxton long-term is what is best for the Twins. There is no need to rush him back. However, there is no agreement on what is best for their top prospect. I was in the camp that believed he could have benefited from starting the season in AAA, but he was basically handed the starting job in Spring Training.

 

Without a doubt, Buxton was thriving at Rochester, hitting for extra bases, reducing his strikeouts and playing every day. Should he have stayed in upstate New York with a lesser talent promoted? No one really knows for sure. I hope he starts almost every day for the Twins and thrives. I don't have a problem with Buxton getting an occasional day off, but wherever he's playing, he should be the principle center fielder. As for hitting him ninth, I don't think such baby steps are an issue. Batting at the top of the order adds just a bit of pressure IMHO and there is no need to subject Buck to that.

 

It is also interesting that the Twins didn't recall Eddie Rosario. After a slow start in Rochester, he's been hitting better than Buxton. Interestingly, when Buxton left the Rochester game early yesterday (presumably to catch a plane to the west coast), Rosario moved from left to right field while Max Kepler took over center. Do the Twins not consider Rosario a center fielder at all?

[diehardtwinsfan]

I think he should have spent the remainder of the season in Rochester (or close to it), but if this is just the 15 day type callup, I'm not seeing the issue.  That's what the 40 man is for and Buxton is on it.  No harm in assessing him for 2 weeks to see what improvements have been made and where he still needs work.

[tobi0040]

I think he should have spent the remainder of the season in Rochester (or close to it), but if this is just the 15 day type callup, I'm not seeing the issue. That's what the 40 man is for and Buxton is on it. No harm in assessing him for 2 weeks to see what improvements have been made and where he still needs work.

If it was a two week check in, that is not the end of the world. But this is a team that had both Gomez and Hicks, guys the franchise desperately wanted to succeed up here for a year or two when they weren't ready. This looks more like history repeating

[HitInAPinch]

 

This better be for good. If they yank him around again, I don't know what insanity will take over me.

If Buxton hits, it's all a non-issue, correct?   Between the injuries and non-hitting, I don't fault management a lot. 

[alarp33]

I would've probably kept him in Rochester for another 2-3 weeks, but I'm not going to lose sleep over the fact they did it now.  

 

The positive about this timing, is Danny Santana isn't available to Molitor to mess with Buxton's playing time.  He should be starting every single day, not getting jerked around like he was the 1st 3 weeks in April

[HitInAPinch]

 

Leg Kick... Ok Fine. 

 

In my opinion... I'll be watching the swing. If he levels it out... I believe he will look real good real quick.

 

If he's still upper cutting he will be striking out too much again and be heading back to Rochester amongst much hand wringing from us on TD. 

 

Level it out... Keep the bat in the zone longer and once his contact rate goes up as a result... His feet and talent will do the rest.

 

In my opinion of course... I think Buxton is an easier fix than Dozier is. 

 

I think people are over-estimating the whole leg-kick thing.  It isn't much more than a timing mechanism.  The light-switch for Puckett turned on when he started using one.  Maybe it's changing Buxton's perchance to lunge at low and away pitches?

 

And, of course, this doesn't work for everyone.  Sano has a big ( HUGE ) upper cut and has had a horrible start.  After he worked with Bruno and Hernandez,  the change made was the opposite of the leg-kick:  They worked to quiet down his movement in the batters box and, well he's on a tear.

 

Dozier:  looks like a brain transplant is necessary.  With leg-kick