10 Years Ago: Drafting Byron Buxton

[Jeremy Nygaard]

It’s hard to believe we’re nearing the 10 year anniversary of the Twins selecting Byron Buxton with the #2 overall pick in the 2012 draft. But, at the same time, considering the journey of Buxton’s career and the crazy times we’ve lived through recently, it also seems like it was forever ago.

With the draft season just starting to get going, we’re going to take a week to look back to 2012 (and before) and pull back the covers on what all went into making Byron Buxton a Minnesota Twin. Twins Daily had a chance to talk recently with Jack Powell, the area scout responsible for signing Buxton. Powell gives us a front-row seat to everything that happened.

“I first saw Byron at East Cobb during the summer going into his junior year of high school and didn’t know who he was,” Powell explained. “But I noticed his body and the way he threw the ball in long toss. Then warming up and running sprints. The way he swung a bat and got out of the box. I knew this kid was going to be special.”

That first look put Buxton on the Twins' radar, but due to the lack of draftable talent in his area, Powell didn’t get to see Buxton at all during his junior baseball season. It was also known that Buxton was being recruited to play football and baseball at the University of Georgia and, at the time, it wasn't clear that Buxton would choose the diamond.

“Then I saw him again at East Cobb Pro with (Twins scout Tim) O’Neill going into his senior year. For as good as he looked the year before, this time he looked even better. Byron could just dial it up.”

“We went back to watch him play football that fall, and he switched between playing quarterback and wide receiver. I think his first three catches went for touchdowns,” Powell chuckled, “Who knows, he would probably have made the NFL if he wanted to.”

A contingent of Twins personnel, including Powell, O’Neill, and former scouting director Deron Johnson, met with Buxton and his parents and Powell left that meeting impressed.

“There was just something different about him. He had great parents, very supportive. He was so quiet and unassuming. It definitely took him a while to get to know people and open it. But I’ll never forget during that first meeting, I watched him out on the driveway playing pickup basketball with a big group of neighborhood kids. They were probably 8-12 years old. He was so great with them. He’d let them score and then tell them, ‘I’ll remember that.’ He made those kids feel great.”

Unlike the previous year, Powell spent “all spring” watching Buxton play.

“I’ll never forget at one of his games, I was taking video and Byron hit an absolute missile. I sent it to DJ and he called me right away and said, ‘Are you trying to kill me!?’ I didn’t know what he meant and he says, ‘I watched that video and almost wrecked.’”

The excitement of potentially adding Buxton had spread throughout the organization.

“We saw him at least a half dozen times. We were sold. (General Manager) Terry (Ryan) was sold.”

The last day of Buxton’s high school career came as a doubleheader in the state championship.

“Byron pitched the first game. He was 94-98 mph off the mound and am pretty sure he hit a home run. In the second game, he was in centerfield, catching everything and making highlight plays. He hit a line drive so hard past the second baseman, the kid didn’t even have time to put his glove up. He absolutely dominated that day.”

But there was still time to go before the draft and, of course, the Twins were drafting second and didn’t know if Buxton would still be available.

“We knew the Astros were considering Byron and Carlos Correa. We didn’t know who they would take. We knew that we would take Byron if he was available. We, the Twins, have a good working relationship with Byron’s agent, Al Goetz, and felt that we could get the deal done if he got to us. Al has been so great for Byron and his family.”

The Twins got their wish. The Astros took Correa.

“It’s been fun watching Byron now and seeing how much he’s improved his game. Injuries and luck are part of baseball and Byron hasn’t had great luck, but we’re going to see peak Byron Buxton this year. As guys mature they learn their limits. Rocco has done a great job helping Byron understand that he doesn’t always have to try to move the outfield wall. As Byron ages, his game may change, but he’s going to be better from this point forward.”

When asked about Buxton’s names being in trade rumors over the past year, Powell said, “I never had the first feeling we’d trade him…unless someone was offering the ‘27 Yankees. Everyone understands how impactful Byron is.”

And not only did the Twins hold onto Buxton, but they also wrapped him up for the next seven years with a $100 million contract. Buxton invited Powell to Target Field to celebrate that moment with him.

“I’m so grateful that Byron and Derek (Falvey) and Thad (Levine) made that happen. He’s come so far since being the best high school player I’ve scouted since Josh Hamilton.”

There were a few players that Powell mentioned as comparisons for the then-high school phenom: Eric Davis, Andruw Jones, and Hamilton.

“They were all players with phenomenal tools who could carry teams. Davis took the Reds to the World Series. We saw Hamilton do it in Texas and Cincinnati. And it’s a shame that Jones isn’t in the Hall of Fame.”

Speaking of Andruw Jones, Powell mentions his son, Druw as one of the “impactful players” that he hopes to see available when the Twins are on the clock, picking 8th in the 2022 draft. There are other prep players that he has seen in his area.

“Druw reminds me of Buxton. Elijah Green has a little more swing-and-miss in his game right now than Buxton did in high school. Termarr Johnson is another one. They’re all going to be impactful players.”

Like with Buxton, it’s going to be a wait-and-see when it comes to who’s available when the draft eventually happens.

“I’ll see a couple hundred games between March 1 and July 1. Practices. Workouts. I’m not sure any of those three (mentioned above) will be available, but anything can happen between now and the draft.”

And a lot of things will. For now, though, we’ll keep our fingers crossed that we get to see Byron Buxton patrolling Target Field again soon… and a lot over the next seven years.

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[Karbo]

Buck is truly a game changer, and probably a generational type of player. All he needs to prove that is health.

[mikelink45]

A couple thoughts come to mind - How many of the current players were drafted or signed by the old regime?

Second, I thought about this ten year journey and then about the other sports.  Drafted first overall, would an NBA or NFL team work with a player for ten years to get their potential?  It is such a different dynamic in baseball and perhaps a reason why a number of really good athletes gravitate to the sports where the jump to the pros happens so much quicker.

[Doctor Gast]

Truly a great player that hasn't had the best luck because of his all out efforts. He has matured and that should effect his on the field presence, apart from being beaned. Resigning Buxton is a no brainer, because of his talent and his desire to stay with the Twins. What I don't understand is why it took so long for the FO to OK such a team friendly offer?

Buxton is hitting his prime running. He has always been an impact player defensively and on the base path, but offensively he has really turned it up. It seemed like when I was on my way to visit Mom, through out the years, Buxton would hit a triple and I'd miss my exit because I was so excited. The 2021 high lite for me was when Buxton beat out an infield hit (which 99.999% MLB players couldn't have done), stole 2B, advanced to 3B on a fly ball and scored on a shallow fly. That gets me excited, not a 500ft. HR.

Buxton is a MVP type player and my wish is that he can do that this year. Happy Anniversary Buck! Wish you a very illustrous career!

[tony&rodney]

I'm pretty excited to see Buxton play this summer. I know a number of people are down on him because of all of the missed games and injuries but I'm very pro Buxton and think we will see him bust out for a prolonged number of games this year, hopefully 150.