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When the Twins drafted Byron Buxton, many expected him to develop into the face of the franchise. He quickly vaulted to the top of national prospect lists and showcased his five-tool talent. However, he came through the minors with a group of prospects who were supposed to join him in defining a generation. As with any group, there are highs and lows on the way to sustained success at the big-league level. Now, Buxton is the last piece of the 2010s core.
“I mean, in a lot of ways it makes sense that he's the last, last guy here. You know, he's what? He's roughly the same age as those guys, maybe a year younger than those guys.” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “They were all … very important members of the organization. But no, it's with Buck's ability and his age and what he's still doing on the field. It's not surprising to me that he's still a Twin, and hopefully still a Twin for a long time.”
As Buxton leads the new Twins core, let’s look back at the generation that developed around him. It’s worth asking: Was 2019 the high point for that group? Or did the 2023 playoff breakthrough serve as their defining moment? The answer might reveal something about the staying power of the new generation of which Buxton is now also a part.
The Last of the 2010s Core
The group that Buxton represents came together in the mid-2010s, a blend of highly-touted draft picks and international signings. The likes of Miguel Sanó, Max Kepler, Jorge Polanco, José Berríos, and Eddie Rosario formed the backbone of a Twins team that, at its peak, looked like a perennial playoff contender. While Berríos and Rosario played key roles in the early success, Buxton always had the talent to separate himself from the others.
Buxton was ranked first or second on the top three national lists from 2014 through 2016. Sanó peaked at sixth overall entering the 2014 season, while Kepler, Polanco, and Berríos were top-100 prospects in 2016. Rosario was considered a top-100 prospect in 2012 and 2014. With high expectations for this group, there are two clear seasons for when this group may have peaked as a team.
2019 vs. 2023: Which Was the High Point?
In some ways, 2019 was the culmination of their potential. That season, Minnesota’s “Bomba Squad” shattered MLB home run records on the way to 101 wins and an AL Central title. Sanó, Kepler, and Rosario all hit 30 or more home runs that season. Berríos led the pitching staff with over 200 innings pitched and a 123 ERA+. But as exhilarating as that season was, the abrupt three-game sweep at the hands of the Yankees reinforced an all-too-familiar narrative: The Twins simply couldn’t get it done in October.
If 2019 represented the peak of that group’s offensive firepower, 2023 was something different. While the likes of Sanó and Rosario were gone, holdovers like Buxton, Polanco, and Kepler remained. But the key difference? A new generation had begun to take over. Minnesota rode a trio of star rookies (Royce Lewis, Edouard Julien, and Matt Wallner) to late-season success. Other homegrown talent (like Ryan Jeffers, Bailey Ober, and Jhoan Durán) were also key pieces in Minnesota’s first playoff series victory in over two decades.
In many ways, the 2023 season was more similar to 2006 than 2019. That 2006 Twins squad still had remnants of the Tom Kelly era, with players like Torii Hunter, Brad Radke, and Johan Santana, but had fully embraced a new core of Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Francisco Liriano. Likewise, the 2023 Twins featured the last pieces of the 2019 Bomba Squad, but were clearly shifting toward a future built around younger talent.
Buxton’s Place in History
Buxton’s career has been a rollercoaster of breathtaking highlights and frustrating injuries. In many ways, he is the ultimate symbol of what could have been for his generation. Due to his health, his MVP-caliber talent has never fully materialized over a sustained stretch. And now, entering 2025, the Twins hope he can build off his first healthy offseason in over half a decade.
Regardless of how the next few seasons unfold, Buxton remains the bridge between two Twins eras. When his time with the franchise eventually ends, it will officially close the book on the group that delivered the Bomba Squad’s record-breaking power but fell short of true postseason glory. The new generation, led by Lewis and a deep pitching core, is poised to write its own chapter—one that Twins fans hope includes more than just regular-season dominance.
So, was 2019 the high point of the last generation? Or was it 2023, with the long-awaited playoff breakthrough? The answer depends on how you define success. But one thing is certain: Byron Buxton, the last of his generation, is now playing for a team that belongs to the next.
Which season was the high point of the previous generation? Leave a comment and start the discussion.
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