Why Byron Buxton will save the Minnesota Twins

[Trautmann13]

Yes, we all know how good Byron Buxton is and we have all heard of the same things over and over. Five-tools, speed, defense, steals, etc. This is just the qualities that show up on book about Buxton, though. There is plenty more to Buxton and the Twins organizations’ future that make him so sought after and dream like. I will now list the 5 reasons why Buxton will lead the Twins to a championship within a decade other than the common "He is good."

 

 

5. His differing and unique talent.

Byron is so perfect for this team because he has tools that no one really has at the current ML level. Dozier, Florimon, and Hicks/Presley are the only current starters who can steal a base or two. The problem is that two or three of those guys are not expected to be part of the solution in turning this team around. Let’s just say for now that Dozier and Hicks are part of the 'future.' They together stole only 23 bases last year. Granted, Hicks was only up half the year (and never on base) and his numbers would obviously go up once he is around for a full season and performing. Yet, Buxton has the speed and base stealing skills to steal at least double that 23 in a year. Low strike outs, hitting for average, potential lead-off guy, and defense are all things this team desperately needs as well.

 

4. Superstar in Minnesota

Buxton has the potential to be one of the greatest players…EVER. A Twin (other than Killebrew) could be up for debate as the greatest ever. Jason Parks has said, worst case scenario for Buxton is like Torii Hunter and at best is Willie Mays or greater. Buxton, when all is said and done, could have one of the best careers ever. That is just hoping and speculation, but it is still something that is not said of everyone.

 

3. His youth

Byron Buxton is 20 years young. Let that sink in for a second....he is two years removed from high school...and hopefully one year from his ML debut. WOW! Buxton hopefully make his debut when he is 21. If the Twins play their cards right, they could be able to have Buxton in Center for ten, maybe twenty, years. He could realistically be an everyday starter for over a decade. That is a key piece of a future contending team that will be there year after year. Which leads to....

 

2. Future 'Face of the Minnesota Twins'

Let’s face it guys, Mauer won't be here forever. We have already seen him move out from behind the plate and history states that former catcher's careers after a move are usually not pretty. Not saying Mauer is done being Mauer, but we know every day is another day closer to him retiring. If Joe's career ended today, who would be 'that guy' that baseball fans would instantly think of when talking about the Twins? Dozier? Nolasco? Arcia? No, the answer will always be Buxton. Even now, never playing AA ball you can argue he is currently the face of Minnesota Baseball. The reason for this is...

 

1. One of the most exciting players I have ever seen!

Byron Buxton has made me a bigger fan of not only ML baseball, but the sport as a whole. I have never, NEVER been more excited to see one man play the game. Byron will personally sell tickets for years to come. Even now we are learning that ticket sales are down for the ’14 season. God forbid it, but let’s say Sano, Meyer and all the other prospects don’t work out and this team still struggles. If Byron Buxton is playing at just half his potential, he will sell every seat in Target Field. Not to mention what will result if he plays at his full potential.

 

Byron Buxton, overall, will save this team because of his skill set, his age, selling seats, and being a potential super star here in the TwinsCities. I absolutely cannot wait for his debut, whenever it be.

[Paul Pleiss]

Buxton seems almost a surefire hit when he reaches the MLB level, but as great as I think he can and will be, one player cannot save a franchise. Barry Bonds doesn't have a WS ring and he is arguably the greatest position player to play the game. The Twins don't need saving. The organization is moving in the right direction. It's taking longer than some hoped, but they're headed back towards contention. They fell off abruptly from their AL Central dominance, and we have suffered as fans the last couple years. Byron Buxton will be a big part of the Twins remergence into contention, but he can't "save" the franchise.

 

I hope Bux rakes this season and gets a September call-up. There is a lot of happy baseball in Minnesota to come.

[Trautmann13]

When I wrote "saved", I didn't mean by himself. I really meant that he is the poster boy, if you will, of this next set of Twins. The biggest reason this team is on its way up, other than the front office realizing the new market and finally took part, is the farm system. Buxton is the best player in the farm system. So what I meant (and I guess should have said) was that the farm system was going to save the Twins, led by Byron Buxton.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Jason Parks has said, worst case scenario for Buxton is like Torii Hunter and at best is Willie Mays or greater.

 

Let's not go crazy here. Mays might be the greatest player of all time.

[Trautmann13]

Jason Parks said it, for what its worth.

[ashbury]

Let's not go crazy here. Mays might be the greatest player of all time.[/color]

 

Are you prepared to say that Buxton's ceiling is below that? What's his uncorrectable flaw?

[Brock Beauchamp]

What's his uncorrectable flaw?

 

That his birth name was not Willie Howard Mays, Jr.

[lightfoot789]

Are you prepared to say that Buxton's ceiling is below that? What's his uncorrectable flaw?

 

He needs to correct his SB ratio - He was caught stealing 25% of the time last year. He stole 55 bases in 74 attempts. With his speed I'm sure he will correct this, but it is his "Flaw" for now, if you ask me. Relies on speed and not good reads on the bases. Can easily be a 75+ SB guy. Willie was better

[diehardtwinsfan]

Buxton is a great prospect, but I really cannot help but think that our expectations might be getting a bit out of hand... Just my 2 cents.... I hope he's the next Willie Mays, but there was only one Mays. If he turned into say Torri Hunter, would we consider him a failure?

[Trautmann13]

Are you telling me that one of the greatest of all time who played 22 years in the majors is better than a 20 year old who just had his first season at A ball? Get out of here

[Guest USAFChief]

Willie Mays? Lets not undershoot here. I want Willie Mays Hays!

[JB_Iowa]

This is really the type of post that makes me cringe. We put such high expectations on these young guys.

 

While I hope that they meet and exceed them, I suspect that they put enough pressure on themselves without the media and fan base heaping even more upon them. It is one of my biggest problems with the scrutiny brought by the blogosphere and the internet sports world.

[Trautmann13]

This is really the type of post that makes me cringe. We put such high expectations on these young guys.

 

Boy, I guess I really worded this poorly

 

What I meant by this post was giving realistic Reasons HOW Buxton could "save" the Twins. What I really wanted to get across is that he is a very important piece of the team's future. Whether he likes it or no, being a #2 overall pick will come with some pressure. I am sure he accepts it and uses it to get better. I am not saying that he must be the greatest ever or he can just go away, I’m just saying that he is the center piece of this incoming class. He doesn’t need to be the best, but he very well could be.

[Halsey Hall]

This is really the type of post that makes me cringe. We put such high expectations on these young guys.

 

While I hope that they meet and exceed them, I suspect that they put enough pressure on themselves without the media and fan base heaping even more upon them. It is one of my biggest problems with the scrutiny brought by the blogosphere and the internet sports world.

 

Amen to that. Buxton may never pan out to expectations. He hasn't shown anything much this spring, he's just one of many guys down here playing. The one that fans expect something from, but he has yet to show anything. Oh, he has a new truck, knocked up the girlfriend and has a baby, and a ton of money. The money effects kids in strange ways sometimes. I hope he gets his head back into baseball.

[JB_Iowa]

Buxton may never pan out to expectations. He hasn't shown anything much this spring, he's just one of many guys down here playing.

 

I hope that he CAN be just another one of the guys out playing baseball and trying to work his way through the system. He does seem to have the work ethic and the tools to someday be a top tier player. I hope it works out that way for him.

 

I've paid more attention this spring to what the Twins brass are saying about the process that the minor leaguers go through -- not just improving their baseball skills but learning to be away from home, learning English (for non-English speakers), learning to deal with the media, learning the proper way to take care of their bodies (for some). The Twins do seem to have a handle on this (and maybe it is their Midwestern sensibility that leads them to talk about it).

 

It is just a lot to deal with. Some highly ranked prospects grab on and move up the ladder rapidly. Others crash and burn. Others move up in fits and starts. Some make their major league debuts and become stars. Others make their debuts and are steady but not spectacular. And still others burn brightly for a time but fade rapidly.

 

And it has probably always been that way. It's just that with so much attention paid to the minor leagues, any failures or setbacks get much more scrutiny now.

 

It gives me more appreciation for the work that Seth does in trying to spread the spotlight around a little. And more appreciation for pieces like the ones written by A.J. Pettersen because they give a little more insight into the whole picture.

 

Trautman, I hope it works out the way you do for Buxton and I do agree that he is an important piece of the Twins' future. But there may be someone working his way through the system who will turn out to be just as important -- he just may not be in the bright spotlight yet.

[Halsey Hall]

Great points. It is a process and alot of learning involved. The Twins do, it seems, a great job in guiding and helping these guys along. There's going on that most of us don't see or know about. These guys grow up here, at least many of them.

 

Buxton has everything going for him baseball wise. He's certainly a fun player to watch and who's to say just how good he could or can be. I've seen his baby, just a little thing. I know if it was me, my head would be spinning just trying to figure out what to do here, what to do there. Hopefully the organization helps these guys along.

[GCTF]

I hope he's the next Willie Mays, but there was only one Mays.

 

Suppressing the memory of Joe Mays doesn't mean he didn't exist.

[rukavina]

The Twins have 3+ years of a greatly undervalued (underpaid?) center fielder, starting in 2015. After that, they will pay market rates.

[jokin]

The Twins have 3+ years of a greatly undervalued (underpaid?) center fielder, starting in 2015. After that, they will pay market rates.

 

If he pans out like most of us think he will, he will likely follow the Trout timeline. Trout got a record $1M for a pre-arb player this year, with the understanding that a timeframe for discussions is now in place with the Angels for a 6-year extension starting in 2015- buying out the 3 arb years and the first 3 years of FA.

[gil4]

The Twins have 3+ years of a greatly undervalued (underpaid?) center fielder, starting in 2015. After that, they will pay market rates.

 

That's fine. What would it cost them for the opportunity to pay market rates for someone like Trout? Buxton + Stewart might get them to think about it (or at least talk some more), and two of Trout's underpaid years are already gone. Most of the time you have to develop elite players in order to have the opportunity to pay market value for them.