The Minnesota Twins are in their first full week of Spring Training in Fort Myers, Fla., and no player is more excited to be back on the field than Byron Buxton.
The talented centre fielder’s recent seasons have been hampered by injury. Buxton appeared in only 85 games for the Twins last season, all as a designated hitter and none in the outfield. He played in one playoff game and hit.207 on the season, with 17 home runs.
He had a knee procedure in the offseason and declared before Spring Training that he felt better than he has in a long time. Thursday at Spring Training, FOX 9’s Jim Rich interviewed Buxton about picture day and the upcoming season.
When the Twins open the season in late March, Buxton will hopefully be in the outfield for the first time in nearly two seasons.
“Just a regular day. We got Spring Training so I could practice, so go out there and treat it like any other day. Obviously, it’s been a long, but the more normal I handle it, the easier it will be for me to go out there and perform my job,” Buxton explained.
Buxton hopes to help lead the Twins to a playoff run after the team won its first playoff game in 19 years and first series in 21 years last season.
“We removed a monkey from the back. When you get a monkey off your back, the pressure is relieved. That grew into a hungry need to return, which was delightful. “That’s what you want to play for,” Buxton stated.
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