The Top 5 Home Runs of Byron Buxton’s Career

Ted Schwerzler · April 26, 2022

The Minnesota Twins were down to their final out against division rival Chicago on Sunday. With runners on second and third, Byron Buxton stepped in and delivered in a big way. A walk-off home run, the second of his career, was a massive blast. Where does that fall over the course of his career?

Across 503 games spread over eight seasons, Byron Buxton has hit 76 home runs. In 2022, his six homers lead all of Major League Baseball. Buxton is a menace at the plate, settling in as a true MVP-caliber talent for the Twins. Although not your prototypical slugger, Buxton has put plenty of baseballs in the seats in dramatic moments as a Major Leaguer. Looking at each of them through the lens of Win Probability Added (WPA), here are the top five home runs of his career:

April 21, 2021, 10th inning off Athletics Lou Trivino
0.404 WPA

Tied 10-10 in the top half of the 10th inning, Buxton launched a 423-foot shot off the Athletics reliever. It was hit 111 mph off the bat and drove in Travis Blankenhorn. Despite Minnesota being up 12-10, they, unfortunately, gave up the lead in the bottom half and were walked off, losing by a score of 13-12.

June 12, 2019, 9th inning off Mariners Anthony Bass
0.450 WPA

Down 6-4 in the bottom of the 9th inning, Buxton stepped in against Seattle reliever Anthony Bass. Miguel Sano was on base, and Buxton lifted a dinger 432 feet to left-center, allowing Minnesota to tie things up. The 108 mph exit velocity got the baseball out in a hurry. After going to extras, the Twins gave up three runs to Seattle in the top of the 10th inning and ultimately lost 9-6.

April 24, 2022, 10th inning off White Sox Liam Hendriks
0.455 WPA

After failing to capitalize in the 9th inning, Minnesota was down by a run in the 10th inning against one of baseball’s best relievers. With Jose Godoy and Nick Gordon on 2nd and 3rd, Liam Hendriks offered to Buxton, and Byron planted the baseball in the upper deck for his second dinger of the day. The 469-foot blast was a mammoth blast and put a stamp on a series sweep.

April 9, 2022, 8th inning off Mariners Andres Munoz
0.462 WPA

Following a torrid Spring Training, Byron Buxton wanted to carry his production over to the regular season. Minnesota trailed 2-1 in the 8th inning, and Seattle had hard-throwing reliever Andres Munoz on the bump. Buxton turned around a 100 mph fastball and sent it 436 feet with a 112 mph exit velocity. Nick Gordon scored, and the Twins took a late lead. It didn’t hold up, but Buck’s blast was an excellent start to his 2022.

September 14, 2017 off Blue Jays Luis Santos
0.463 WPA

Looking to make the postseason, the Twins needed every win they could get. Tied 2-2 in the 10th inning, Buxton faced Toronto reliever Luis Santos and crushed a 405-foot bomb for the first walk-off home run of his career. Single-handedly ending the game, this homer's 0.463 WPA remains the most impactful blast of his career.