Outfielder Byron Buxton promised fans at Minnesota Twins FanFest over the weekend that he will play in the outfield again this season, despite spending the entire season as a designated hitter last year.
Byron Buxton, the Minnesota Twins’ outfielder, assured fans over the weekend that he will return to the outfield in 2024.
He made the statements during the Twins FanFest festivities. The following is from MLBTradeRumors, including a link to the original story (subscription required).
This is noteworthy because Buxton only played designated hitter in 2023 in order to stay healthy. Unfortunately, it didn’t help because Buxton only played 85 games and was left off the Twins’ original playoff squad.
Buxton is a tantalizingly talented athlete, but injuries have always plagued him. Buxton has only played 100 or more games once in his career, in 2017. Even during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he missed 21 of the available 60 games.
He has a lifetime batting average of.239 and 115 home runs. His biggest power season was in 2022, when he hit 28 home runs and made his sole All-Star Game appearance.
This development benefits the Twins on numerous fronts. First, Buxton is regarded as a top-tier defender. Two, if Michael A. Taylor leaves in free agency, the Twins no longer need an outfielder, and three, it allows the team to better rotate designated hitters, including playoff hero Royce Lewis.
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