Byron Buxton Confirms Return as Twins’ Center Fielder for 2024 Season at TwinsFest
At this weekend’s TwinsFest, Twins center fielder Byron Buxton assured supporters that he would reclaim his position for the 2024 season, as reported by Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
During the 2023 season, Buxton, aged 30, grappled with knee issues, leading him to predominantly serve as a DH before undergoing knee surgery in October.
Besides sidelining Buxton from defensive play last season, the persistent injuries likely contributed to his declining performance at the plate. He posted a decent .207/.294/.438 slash line in 347 at-bats, which fell around league average according to wRC+. Contrastingly, from 2019 to 2022, he boasted a slash line of .258/.316/.558, indicating a significant drop in performance.
Over the four-year period mentioned, Buxton’s exceptional baserunning and defensive skills, coupled with his hitting potential, positioned him as one of the league’s most valuable players in terms of rate.
However, Buxton’s recurring injury setbacks over the years have hindered his potential, with only one instance of him playing in 100 games throughout his nine-year tenure in the major leagues—his 140-game 2017 season. Since then, he hasn’t exceeded 92 games in a single season, averaging only 65 games per year.
The organization’s decision to assign Buxton as the full-time designated hitter in 2022 aimed to keep him on the field more consistently, given his history of injury-related absences. Regrettably, this strategy proved ineffective, highlighting the team’s reliance on Buxton’s return to his natural position for the 2024 season.
Reports earlier in the offseason suggested that Buxton would resume baseball activities before the conclusion of the 2023 season, with club management anticipating his return to center field by 2024 following his fall 2023 surgery.
Recent updates indicate that Buxton has resumed daily baseball activities, fostering optimism within both Buxton and the Twins organization regarding his potential as the team’s everyday center fielder for the upcoming season.
This development alleviates pressure on the team’s front office to seek a replacement for Michael A. Taylor, who admirably filled in for Buxton last season. Internal candidates such as Willi Castro, Nick Gordon, and Austin Martin could support Buxton in center field.
Buxton isn’t the sole Twins player making strides in recovery post-offseason surgery. Outfielder Jose Miranda and first baseman Alex Kirilloff, who underwent surgery in October, are also progressing well. Both aim to be ready for action when spring training commences in a month’s time.
Miranda enjoyed a promising start to his big league career in 2022 with a .268/.325/.426 slash line in 125 games but faced setbacks due to injuries and ineffectiveness during his sophomore season, limiting him to just 40 games.
On the other hand, Kirilloff experienced a breakout season in 2023, batting a solid .270/.348/.445 in 88 games while sharing first base duties with Joey Gallo and Donovan Solano.
