Twins Tidbit: Byron Buxton is Outperforming ... Byron Buxton

[TwinsData]

Turns out staying (relatively) healthy leads to increased production. Who knew?

 

You know that Byron Buxton is having a great season. Do you know he’s having his (so far) greatest season? 

As you can see from the chart above:
- The 28-year-old has more home runs through 48 games than any of his previous seasons.
- His home run binge began in 2020 and has continued through 2021 and 2022.
- He has already played in more games in 2022 than in 3 of his previous 7 seasons.

There may be lots of room for debate in how his health and playing time is being handled. For instance, maybe trying a different path would work just as well or even better? But his performance this year, at least according to the early returns, is setting him up for a career year.

[Knocking on wood furiously]

 

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[Puckettsprintstofirst]

Master of the obvious, but quite the bargain at 14 million if he can stay healthy.  

[TwinsAce]

I agree - crazy to see how he is doing by keeping "healthy" and really excited to see how this ends.

A few stats stuck out to me below.  You really can tell that his knee has been bothering him with that XBT%.  He really hasn't been pushing the extra bases like in years past. That BAbip also seems really low.  We saw that the last few weeks when he was in the "slump" but had some really good ABs and contact.  The Fly ball rate is a lot higher this year though, so in that sense, it makes sense the BAbip is lower.  Maybe that also impacts his XBT% since less slow grounders making it it to the OF to make into a double?

His WAR is a lot lower, partially because of playing so much DH instead of CF.  Weird to see his dWAR at -0.1.

And surprisingly, his HR% is still behind 2020.  And 2021 his WAR sticks out in just 61 games at 4.5.  The last three years have been great for Buxton, but they been unique in how he shows that greatness.

[BH67]

I'm sure Randy Bush is delighted.  He wouldn't bequeath his number to just anyone.

Seriously, if Buxton stays healthy I envision a summer of him and Aaron Judge that could echo faintly that of McGwire and Sosa in 1998.

[bean5302]

Buxton is performing right where I'd expect him to perform. 5-6 WAR across a full season. Right now, Buxton has played in 46 of 63 games placing him at about a 120 game pace this year. More than I would have expected, but I'll happily take it!

[stringer bell]

In 61 games last season, Buck had 4.5 WAR. He isn’t outperforming that this year, although if he does get into 120 games, he’ll easily eclipse that 4.5 aggregate WAR total. 
 

Since the start of 2021, his HR frequency is on top of the charts, but the OBP and slugging are down from last season. He’s been basically an “all or nothing at all” hitter this year. 
 

To me, he’s only using a fraction of his skills and yet he’s a very good baseball player. I want to add that load management and injury are why  he’s only using a fraction of his skills, not lack of effort or anything else. 

[VivaBomboRivera!]

14 hours ago, BH67 said:

Seriously, if Buxton stays healthy I envision a summer of him and Aaron Judge that could echo faintly that of McGwire and Sosa in 1998.

Substance free summer.  BOO-YAH!

[Karbo]

It just doesn't seem to me that he looks like he's really completely got his legs healthy yet. He seems to be hesitant to turn on the jets like we have seen in the past. Anyone else notice this? I haven't heard if he is still having "lower body" issues, or have I missed it?

[ashbury]

5 hours ago, Karbo said:

It just doesn't seem to me that he looks like he's really completely got his legs healthy yet. He seems to be hesitant to turn on the jets like we have seen in the past. Anyone else notice this? I haven't heard if he is still having "lower body" issues, or have I missed it?

I think it's pretty much a given.