Byron Buxton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Byron Buxton |
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Buxton with the Minnesota Twins in 2016
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| Minnesota Twins – No. 25 | |||
| Center fielder / Designated hitter | |||
| Born: December 18, 1993 Baxley, Georgia, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 14, 2015, for the Minnesota Twins | |||
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) |
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| Batting average | .244 | ||
| Home runs | 133 | ||
| Runs batted in | 353 | ||
| Stolen bases | 93 | ||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Byron Keiron Buxton (born December 18, 1993) is a super-fast and talented baseball player. He plays center field and is a designated hitter for the Minnesota Twins in Major League Baseball (MLB). Many experts thought he was the best player in the 2012 draft. He even won a big award for minor league players in 2013 before joining the MLB in 2015.
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Byron Buxton's Early Life and High School Sports
Byron Buxton started playing baseball when he was just six years old. He grew up in Baxley, Georgia. In high school, he was known as "Buck." He played baseball, basketball, and football for Appling County High School.
As a baseball player, Byron was amazing. He was a great pitcher, winning 10 games and striking out 154 batters in his senior year. He could throw a fastball super fast, at 99 miles per hour! Scouts, who are people who look for talented players, noticed him when he was only 15. He also hit very well, with a .513 batting average and 38 stolen bases in 39 games during his senior year. Byron was so good that he was offered a scholarship to play college baseball at the University of Georgia.
Byron Buxton's Professional Baseball Journey
Starting in the Minor Leagues (2012–2014)
Many baseball experts believed Byron Buxton was a "five-tool player." This means he was great at hitting for average, hitting for power, running, throwing, and fielding. The Minnesota Twins picked him as the second overall player in the 2012 MLB draft. He signed with the Twins and received a $6 million bonus!
Byron began his professional career in the Minor League Baseball (MiLB). In 2013, he played so well that he was named the best prospect in baseball by many experts. He hit .340 and stole 32 bases with the Cedar Rapids Kernels. He was even named the Midwest League Most Valuable Player and won the Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year Award.
In 2014, Byron faced some challenges. He hurt his wrist and later got a concussion after colliding with another player. These injuries kept him off the field for much of the season.
Making it to the MLB (2015–2017)
Even after his injuries, Byron was still considered one of the best young players in baseball. He made his big league debut with the Minnesota Twins on June 14, 2015. He scored the winning run in his very first game! He got his first hit, a triple, in his second game.
In 2016, Byron became the Twins' starting center fielder. He was known for his incredible speed, leading all of MLB in sprint speed. He hit 10 home runs and stole 10 bases that year.
The 2017 season was a big one for Byron. He continued to show off his speed, hitting the fastest inside-the-park home run ever recorded by Statcast. He also hit three home runs in one game against the Toronto Blue Jays. For his amazing defense, he won several awards, including the Gold Glove Award and the Platinum Glove Award for the American League. He stole 29 bases in 30 tries!
Recent Seasons and Achievements (2018–Present)
Byron had some more injury struggles in 2018, dealing with a toe injury and migraines. Despite this, he still led MLB in sprint speed. In 2019, he continued to be one of the fastest players in the American League.
In the shorter 2020 season, Byron played well despite a shoulder injury. He had a career-high slugging percentage, which shows how much power he was hitting with. In April 2021, he was named the American League Player of the Month for hitting 8 home runs and driving in 14 runs.
In December 2021, Byron signed a big seven-year contract with the Twins. In 2022, he teamed up with Carlos Correa, and they became only the third pair of players picked first and second in the same draft to play for the same team. That year, Byron was part of a rare play where he, Luis Arráez, and Carlos Correa hit three home runs in a row to start a game! He also made history by starting the first 8–5 triple play in major league history.
In 2023, the Twins tried to keep Byron healthy by having him play mostly as a designated hitter. But in 2024, he moved back to his usual position in center field.
Byron Buxton's Family Life
Byron Buxton grew up in Baxley, Georgia. His father, Felton, owns a trucking company, and his mother, Carrie, works at a school. Byron has a younger sister named Keva. His cousin, Dexter Carter, used to play football in the NFL.
Byron married Lindsey Tillery in 2016. They met in high school. They have three sons together, born in 2013, 2020, and 2023.
Images for kids
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Buxton with the Minnesota Twins in 2016
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Buxton batting for the Minnesota Twins in 2015
