Put Byron Buxton in the Home Run Derby

[Peter Labuza]

Image courtesy of © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Whether Byron Buxton should be an All-Star should not be up for debate. He leads American League center fielders in home runs, RBIs, OPS, wRC+, fWAR, and slugging average. He would lead most of those stats for all AL outfielders, if not for Aaron Judge. He’s had numerous defensive plays that have awed us, only to (improbably) match that awesomeness with his bat. After years of remaining careful on the bases, he’s become a flawless stolen base machine, leading the Twins. It feels cliché, but we’re seeing a star reaching his top potential.

Buxton held a 2.6 fWAR when he was sent to Los Angeles for the All-Star Game in 2022. He currently sits at 2.9 fWAR. 

That Buxton is flailing in the voting—only 13th among outfielders—is a case of unfortunate circumstance: coastal bias, a somewhat disengaged fanbase not interested in voting, and other shiny objects who get more national coverage. Voting can, of course, change, but it feels cruel when someone as deserving as Buxton can’t find his way into fans’ hearts given his numerous show-stopping moments. 

But this All-Star Game can be extra special for Buxton, a Georgia native with a chance to play in Atlanta suburban Cobb Country. And that means that Buxton, who sits at 15 dingers on the year, should be given more than a chance for a couple plate appearances.

Put Byron Buxton in the Home Run Derby.

It’s no secret that the Home Run Derby has become the event of All-Star Week. The game itself has had its moments, but most players are doing their best to not hurt themselves. The best moment, if I can recall any in recent years, was Nestor Cortes Jr. and Jose Trevino chatting on the broadcast while discussing their pitch selection (and that game included a Buxton home run off Dodgers pitcher Tony Gonsolin). And while sickos enjoy the Futures Game, most are barely aware of their existence.

Meanwhile, the Derby has been where stars are made. It introduced Julio Rodriguez outside the Pacific Northwest. It helped put Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the cover of MLB: The Show. Teoscar Hernández scored a bobblehead out of it. Buxton has been around for years in the league, but it could redefine how fans across MLB see him.

Buxton’s reputation remains defined by the injury issues that plagued his early years. If they had any sense that Buxton played over 100 games—in Center Field!—last year, or even putting up those numbers this year, they would be excited. Given the voting, they clearly are ignoring what's happening out in Target Field. 

That said, Buxton’s home runs have been amazing, and not just because of the quantity of them. He’s hit the second-farthest home run of the year, only behind Mike Trout, besting Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. He has genuinely fearsome power. Compare Tuesday’s home run that came in almost the exact same position that he stole one back from Will Benson. Benson hit the ball over 5 MPH harder than Buxton, but Buxton’s bat speed tracked over 80 MPH and he hit his lower, which allowed it to track just over another six feet and over everyone, onto the green space of the batter's eye. 

Of course, the chatter class and commenters will scream that the team needs to keep Buxton healthy at all costs. It’s not entirely without cause—Luis Robert. Jr suffered an injury at the derby in 2023. But that being said, this is what it’s all about. Seeing Buxton in Georgia, every light and camera on him, doing a skill that it wasn’t even clear he would ever do in his career. That's what baseball is all about. Do you really want to play injury noticer, or do you wanna see him sock a few dingers?

No Twin has even participated in the Derby in almost a decade. It only makes sense that Buxton, the heart and soul of this team who has carried the torch since those two, make that return.

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[Doctor Wu]

Good post! Sure, it would be fun, and appropriate, to have Buxton in the home run derby at this particular All-Star game. And based on his performance this season, he would be a force to be reckoned with. Sure there is an injury risk, and with Buxton, that can be a concern, but I think the risk is minimal in this case. But that leads me to another question: who decides which players can participate in this activity? Is it the manager of each All-Star team, or someone else?

[William K Johnson]

Worse idea of the day.   If it was my option, all Twin players would take the break and come back refreshed on Friday ready to make a serious charge in the second half.

[Old Crow]

Nothing like the homerun derby to get the old pull swing back in focus.

[Eris]

“No Twin has even participated in the Derby since Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau.”

Miguel Sano was runner up in the 2017 HR Derby. He hit a ball 491 ft early in the derby. Participating in the HR derby might have ruined his career. Before the Derby he was a good hitter. After….well you know the rest of the story as he tried to hit every ball 490 ft. 
 

Edited to add that Brian Dozier participated in the HR derby in 2014. 

[AceWrigley]

No no no no no.

[Parfigliano]

HR Derby Day seems like an excellent day for one of those Buxton scheduled off days I keep hearing about.

[LambchoP]

If Buxton doesn't make the all star team that is just sad. The all stars aren't even picked for being the best players of the current year anymore but basically picked by popularity meaning large market teams will get way more influence than small to mid market clubs. Typical baseball though....

[Twins GFP]

I can appreciate the view that it might raise Buxton's national visibility and it might be a "reward" for a strong first half, but...

It feels like almost a yearly thing where a participant comes out of the derby in a dreadful slump, where they blame the derby for messing up their swing. The Twins margin for success is so tiny right now, having your best offensive player run that risk doesn't seem worth it. Add in the injury prone piece, and it looks even worse.

[Doctor Gast]

I feel sorry for Buxton because he is very deserving of being an all-star this year. But because Twins fans are so indifferent to the team, many don't bother to vote. 

I'm don't care about HR derby, I don't care who's in it or wins. I do care that it often screws up our hitters after they're in it. So I'm against Buxton or any other Twin in the contest. 

[Schmoeman5]

Do fans really watch games? Or do they just go online and see what players are doing? It doesn't matter if Buxton is 3rd or 13th in all-star voting. He WILL be selected by the AL to represent them. Stop worrying and talking about bias. He is a native Georgian and Byron will decide whether he wants that 5 day rest or play. As far as the homerun derby goes, who cares who wins or even participates? Is that even a slight if he's not asked?

[Linus]

Please no. 

[USAFChief]

Is this godawful piece of writing intended to be sarcasm? Bad sarcasm, but sarcasm? I cant tell.

"he’s become a flawless stolen base machine,"

"the chatter class and commenters will scream"

"Seeing Buxton in Georgia, every light and camera on him, doing a skill that it wasn’t even clear he would ever do in his career. That's what baseball is all about"

"No Twin has even participated in the Derby since Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau"

 

Forget how terrible the idea of putting Buxton in the HR Derby is, in and of itself.

This artice is possibly the worst piece of writing in the history of TD. Condescending, not funny, and in case its intended to be real...flat wrong in many details.

 

[mikelink45]

WHY???? 

Or who cares?

[alexlegge]

The fan anxiety surrounding this is totally understandable and predictable. I just don't think it's grounded in much logic.

Consider:

• Byron Buxton is 31 years old and a consummate professional. He and the Twins have learned how to mitigate injury risk better and better. They've improved at it over time, and Buck's knee surgery has paid dividends.
• Last time I checked, the Home Run Derby featured no running, sliding, diving, crashing into walls, collisions, concussions, or even hit-by-pitches.
• From a physical preparation standpoint, there's nothing about the Home Run Derby that's challenging to anticipate.

 

Has Byron ever injured himself merely from swinging hard (something he does with great regularity and great success)?

 

Sure, there are legitimate reasons to be cautious about physical exertion during the event. But for us fans to be so worried about it defeats the entire purpose of having a Home Run Derby. Byron and the Twins have earned a skosh of credibility here. If Buck gets the invitation, I hope he and the Twins figure out an optimal strategy for him to participate. If not, whatever.