Byron Buxton Will Participate in the Home Run Derby in Atlanta

[Matthew Trueblood]

Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

In addition to being named an All-Star reserve outfielder Sunday, Byron Buxton received an invitation from the league to participate in next week's Home Run Derby at Truist Park in the suburbs outside Atlanta. For Buxton, the second-time All-Star who will be playing before a home crowd in his native state, that was too good a chance to miss.

"When you're healthy, and you have the opportunity come across to be able to do things like this, you don't pass them up," Buxton told reporters in a conference call Sunday. "And just having conversations with everybody that needed to know and that was important to me, it was something that I wanted to do, and they supported me plenty."

Few players who receive the honor of an All-Star selection are less likely to take it for granted than Buxton. Despite his status as a former No. 2 overall pick and one of the top prospects in the game before his debut, he's intimately familiar with the ways the game can dangle your talent before you, holding it just out of reach. He's the kind of player who could make the trip to the annual exhibition almost every year, but injuries stunted his development at several points and have stopped him from showcasing his talent for much of his decade-long career.

 

To overcome that in a season that offers the chance to play in a national event before his local people is especially exciting for Buxton, whose family has grown since he was last given this chance—and who will be able to enjoy a break back home even while embracing the hoopla of All-Star Week.

"It means a lot. I think the biggest thing for me is, the last time I went to the game, as far as family-wise, there were four of us, and we didn't have any kids," he reflected. "So being able to make it back, with my whole family this time, is very special—and to do it back home, with this Twins uniform on, it's a blessing. Everybody doesn't get to play as many years as I did, and to be able to do it with the Twins and know I'm gonna do it with the Twins every year I make it, is something special to me and my family."

The tenacious pride he takes in representing his team should seize the attention of fans, as much as his affable attempts to deflect attention from himself. If there were any lingering questions about whether he would accept a trade to any other team this summer, comments like the above should put them to rest. Buxton has made a true home in the Twin Cities, too. That he has put down such meaningful roots in Minnesota, in a way, compounds the special feeling of returning to his roots in the South for this occasion.

"Going back home to do something like this, it's a once-in-a-lifetime thing," he said. "I know I'm not gonna play 30 more years for it to come back to Atlanta, so it's that once-in-a-lifetime kind of opportunity. I talked about it with some close people, some guys on the team, some friends, family, everybody got excited. It's one of those things where, they didn't want me to pass up this opportunity."

With the combination of an unbroken body and an unbroken string of everyday at-bats, Buxton has steadily worked his way into greater consistency and power production over the last two seasons. This year, he's slugging .544, and his 20 home runs put him easily on pace to best his career high of 28. Better yet, he's done it largely while tamping down the massive strikeout rate that came with his previous high in 2022. He's a more well-rounded slugger than ever. Rocco Baldelli said the change to his overall offensive game has been real and tangible this year, and perhaps is a product of simply being able to get into a daily routine.

"It is true. You're not gonna be able to put in as much work if you're battling things," Baldelli said, at the end of the team's last homestand. "He's been able to get a full day's work pregame, and then play in the game, pretty much every day this year. I think that definitely can take your game to different places."

That's included more walks, more stolen bases, and a greater usage of the opposite field. It's also meant hitting the ball hard more often, even with a slightly more compact swing than he's used in the past. He'll get to put all of that on full display next week. His ability to hit genuine moonshots has never been in doubt, and he's displayed it more often than ever this year.

 

His children are especially excited. Buxton is not one to clamor for (or, sometimes, even to accept) the spotlight, but his family's exhortations and the chance to embrace both his family's home and his adopted one at once will make next week unique and wonderful for him. For Twins fans, amid a season of aggravation and with the trade deadline hanging over everything like a dark cloud, Buxton—loudly asserting that his place is this one, playing the best baseball of his illustrious career, and getting to show off what he can do on ESPN—remains the warm ray of sunlight.

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[1985Fan]

Not worth the risk. Hope it doesn’t mess up his swing for the rest of the regular season. Morneau said it took weeks to get his regular swing back after he won the HR derby. 

[AceWrigley]

This is not a good idea. What 1985Fan said.

Send Wallner.

[Hrbeks Divot]

When I heard the news the first thing I thought of (as a typical MN sports fan) was a potential injury or that the derby will mess up Buck’s swing. But I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed watching him this year. He’s having so much fun with the game and it’s great to see. I’m happy for him and glad that he’s taking the opportunity while it’s there. He’s peak Buck right now and we haven’t been able to enjoy him this much for a while. I’ll cheer for him on Monday and hope he does the Twins proud. And if he injures himself? We were trending towards selling at the deadline anyway. 😏

[chpettit19]

Good for Buck. Back in his home state and gets to put on a show for his family and friends. Like he said, once in a lifetime opportunity. Glad to hear he's taking advantage of it. Hope he puts on a memorable performance. 

[Gamblerssoftball]

I disagree with both of you. This is a wonderful opportunity for Byron, and we all should be very happy for him. His dedication to this team only underscores his desire to see the Twins have success. He deserves this as much as anyone does.

[Linus]

I’m really happy for Buck. I will also be on pins and needles during the home run derby (hoping he doesn’t get hurt). 

[Fire Dan Gladden]

Put me in the corner of "not worth the risk". I am less worried about injury than I am about it messing up his swing after the break.

[RpR]

8 minutes ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

Put me in the corner of "not worth the risk". I am less worried about injury than I am about it messing up his swing after the break.

I am more concerned about not doing well messing up his head.

[Doctor Gast]

I wasn't happy about him participating, but if it makes him happy, he deserves that. 

[Blyleven2011]

Buck deserves the Allstars game , hitting in the homerun derby is his choice ...

I sure hope he comes back the same way he went ... 

[Western SD Fan]

If you believe that the Twins are eventually going to be sellers, what does Buxton or the Twins have left to lose?  He's having one of if not the best year of his career.  He gets to participate in front of his family and friends in Atlanta.  His son is excited for him.  Byron calls it a once in a lifetime opportunity.  Maybe he will get a chance to show a national audience what could have been had he been able to stay healthy throughout his career.  He deserves this opportunity and I'm not going to complain about him taking it.

[JD-TWINS]

I’m not at all concerned with it messing up his swing ……. I understand the emotional pull for him to do this in Georgia! Great opportunity. That said, the entire coaching staff & FO will be on sedatives and holding rosaries throughout the contest - he’s been a walking injury for 7 straight years and doing this, to me, doesn’t fit with Team sport ideology from the Player.

[The Great Hambino]

I'm happy for Buxton, his family, and the Twins for getting the closest thing they're going to get to a national stage this year (I'm pretending the Sunday Night Massacre in Detroit didn't happen).

For what it's worth, 5 of the 8 participants in last year's derby had a higher OPS after the all-star break than before.