For the past seven seasons, Minnesota Twins fans have been eagerly awaiting the official arrival of Byron Buxton. Rest easy, Twins fans. Through the first eight games of the 2021 campaign, it appears that moment has finally arrived.
Buxton has been the best player in baseball through the first week of action, scorching opponents with his blazing speed and newfound power at the plate. The seven-year veteran leads the MLB with five home runs in addition to a staggering .481/.548/1.185 hitting line. He’s slugging 1.185 – an unheard-of number.
The offensive onslaught continued yesterday against the Seattle Mariners when Buxton went 3-for-4 with four RBI and another long ball.
Byron Buxton now has FIVE home runs this year.
— MLB (@MLB) April 11, 2021
And he's a triple shy of the cycle today. 👀 pic.twitter.com/4pINyHgjkf
Byron Buxton shows impressive start; headed for breakout year with Minnesota Twins
Minnesota drafted Buxton second overall in the 2012 MLB June Amateur Draft. The promise and talent were all there. He scouted as a true five-tool player with scouts most impressed by his speed and ability to track down fly balls in the outfield.
Over the past seven years since Buxton’s debut in 2015, fans have witnessed glimpses of this potential. He’s always been a threat on the basepaths including the 2017 campaign in which he stole 29 bases. Buxton also scored 69 runs and hit 16 home runs that season, all career-high marks.
Unfortunately for Buxton, injuries have played a major narrative throughout his early career. In seven seasons, Buxton has seen multiple trips to the 10-day IL and one trip to the 60-day IL after undergoing shoulder labrum surgery in 2019.
Prior to that injury, the highly-touted prospect showed another glimpse of his power with 10 home runs and 46 RBI through 87 games.
But, the early start to the 2021 season has been different. Buxton appears to be putting together all of the pieces of his five-tool chest. The power, the average, the defense, the speed, and the arm strength. Currently, Buxton leads all of baseball with a 1.2 WAR. While that number ebbs and flows based on performance, he’s already reached his mark from last year – something he accomplished in 39 games.
Some of these numbers are likely to come back down to earth, but let’s just sit back and enjoy the blazing hot start for Buxton in 2021. He’s well on his way to a breakout campaign.