Byron Buxton: From Broken To Booming

I don't know if the corner has turned for good, but he looks more relaxed and less anxious. Each time he advanced a level in the minors he had an adjustment period. The majors adjustment was just a bit longer.

Interesting comment by Rowson about hitting coming from aggressiveness, too.

The kid is for real. Saw him play in Chattanooga a couple years ago. And again in Birmingham. If he has truly figured things out he's going to put up gaudy numbers and play like a HOF-type player for years (as long as he continues to toake care of his body). Special, special talent.

twins deserve credit for playing buxton every day. course, like with willie mays and leo durocher, buxton deserves credit too. long may it last.

A talent like this should just improve yearly.  I think we have a long term greatness that will be pleasure for the fans and the team.   

I'm just happy to see that he's learning how to make adjustments. Playing the bigs is all about making adjustments. Now pitchers will adjust to him, and he'll have to adjust again, but if he keeps his head on straight, which I think he will, he'll be fine.

Better than fine, actually.

A lot of people still talk about him in hypotheticals.

A 1.000 OPS (since July 1) combined with historically good defense is MVP caliber baseball. He's sustained that for 2+ months now. It's getting real. Throw in the baserunning/steals.

Oh, and he's 23.

It really is too bad that some people refuse to enjoy this. This guy is special, and he'll be a Twin for a long time.

As long as he doesn't get power hungry and pull happy I think he will do well.   He has obviously worked on his bunting skills which should keep him somewhat slump proof.    Keep using all fields and avoid over swinging and he will hit plenty of doubles, triples and home runs.   If you look at his three home runs they were all pulled but they were all solid swings with great balance and stepping toward the pitcher.    I think he has natural pull to him which is fine as long as he is still able to go with the pitch when they throw him that way..

A lot of people still talk about him in hypotheticals.

A 1.000 OPS (since July 1) combined with historically good defense is MVP caliber baseball. He's sustained that for 2+ months now. It's getting real. Throw in the baserunning/steals.

Oh, and he's 23.

It really is too bad that some people refuse to enjoy this. This guy is special, and he'll be a Twin for a long time.

Who's not enjoying this?  Blue Jays fans?

I think what he has been doing is why people on this site said they wouldn't trade him for pitching. You don't trade a young possible generational talent because he is struggling at age 22/23. 

We won't know if he's turned the corner for good" until we see how he starts next season, I suppose, but the signs are really encouraging.

I'm especially pleased that's he's gotten himself into this great run now, before things like roster expansion and you have more teams packing it in for next year. Chris Parmelee fooled me with a September run that he couldn't carry over, but Buxton is raking in July-Aug. That's really good.

Everything is on the upswing and it's wonderful to watch. The power we all hoped might be there is coming through good ABs, not him chasing it. He's still bunting for hits to keep the INF tight and how many times have you seen a fielder rush a play because they were worried about his speed beating something out or taking an extra base? I love it.

And the defense...oh, my the defense. Absolutely spectacular. here's the best part: it can still get better: with more experience, he's going to get better at making his break on the ball, taking the best possible route, honing his arm and decision-making. This is some of the finest CF play we've ever had in MN, and we've had a lot of really terrific CF D over the years. I'm not ready to call him the best ever defensively in a Twins uniform...yet. but that's the sort of thing we're talking about. Best in the game, potentially one of the best all-time.

Probably too late now to tempt him to sign a cheap 8 year contract, I think.  

Then tempt him with a 10 year expensive contract. While you are at it tempt Kepler, Rosario, Polonco, Sano and Berrios with long term contracts just to see who would bite. I understand that it is highly doubtful all sign but get 3 over the next 2 years locked up.

 

Who's not enjoying this? Blue Jays fans?

I vaguely recall many on this site getting into an organizational bashing frenzy when Buxton's new hitting approach (shorter stride designed to make better contact) was featured in an article. I would pull it up, but am WAY too lazy today. So far the results are pretty good I would say. Who is going to belly up for the first serving of crow?

And the defense...oh, my the defense. Absolutely spectacular. here's the best part: it can still get better: with more experience, he's going to get better at making his break on the ball, taking the best possible route, honing his arm and decision-making. This is some of the finest CF play we've ever had in MN, and we've had a lot of really terrific CF D over the years. I'm not ready to call him the best ever defensively in a Twins uniform...yet. but that's the sort of thing we're talking about. Best in the game, potentially one of the best all-time

Right now I would put him a 3 man argument over the best defensive CF ever to wear a Twins uniform and IF HE STAYS HEALTHY over a 12+ year career I have no doubt that he will be regarded as #1 defensively of all time. 

Edit to add on. Buck is right now 91st on the career active list for Defensive war, in 3 partial years!!!!!!!!!

I'm really glad to see the young man's perseverance finally bearing some fruit.  What a joy he is to watch!

If there's a hole in his all around game right now, I have to think it's those wispy chin whiskers... those have got to go....

If there's a hole in his all around game right now, I have to think it's those wispy chin whiskers... those have got to go....

good company:

Buxton was never "Broken." He was (and is) young and dealing with extreme expectations.

His talent was always going to shine through eventually.

Lock him up before he does this for a whole season at a time!

Lock him up before he does this for a whole season at a time!

The Twins have him locked up until 2022, assuming they want him that long.

There may still be some bumps in the road n

I vaguely recall many on this site getting into an organizational bashing frenzy when Buxton's new hitting approach (shorter stride designed to make better contact) was featured in an article. I would pull it up, but am WAY too lazy today. So far the results are pretty good I would say. Who is going to belly up for the first serving of crow?

I had suggested that the org was trying to "Molitorize" his swing. I liked the leg kick for timing and to keep his weight back. I still don't love that he hits a lot with a soft front leg which encourages lunging and head movement, but it appears to give him better contact and coverage. I LOVE that he closed down his stance. Better coverage, and Better use of his long lanky torso. Ultimately, I predict he goes back to the leg kick. His swing is still a lot of arms. His success is a testament to hard work, better recognition/plan, plate coverage and quick wrists. His upside at this point is pretty ridic.

I had suggested that the org was trying to "Molitorize" his swing. I liked the leg kick for timing and to keep his weight back. I still don't love that he hits a lot with a soft front leg which encourages lunging and head movement, but it appears to give him better contact and coverage. I LOVE that he closed down his stance. Better coverage, and Better use of his long lanky torso. Ultimately, I predict he goes back to the leg kick. His swing is still a lot of arms. His success is a testament to hard work, better recognition/plan, plate coverage and quick wrists. His upside at this point is pretty ridic.

I like your response. Just one comment: Buxton may go back to a leg kick but it isn't necessary. Check out this link at 1:30 (Stanton's new closed stance). Kris Bryant is another with a quiet front foot. Like you said, Buxton is lanky, so less movement might be better for him.

I'm shocked that after this weekend half the people on this site aren't screaming "TRADE HIM".

I am proud to say that I wasn't among those recommending the Twins trade Buxton during his learning process. I was just one of the guys saying he should be sent back down to AAA again. Glad I was wrong about that, too. The initial awkwardness of Buck's ultra short to-the-ball swing has gone away. Right now his swing is about as quick as anybody's in the league, plus all that power from his legs and long arms carrying the barrel through the zone. 

Funny thing about hitting: It takes a ton of confidence to NOT swing. Like Sano, Rosario, Kepler, and Polanco, Buxton now has enough confidence to lay off pitches outside his preferred hitting zone because he knows he can either foul off or mash just about anything he can reach. We saw the change in Rosario when he went on his hot streak - suddenly he became more selective. Same with Polanco. Now Byron Buxton has enough confidence to not swing, or, when he does, he mashes it.