Byron Buxton

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #1 prospect in 2016
  Plagued by health issues since destroying the low Class A Midwest and high Class A Florida State leagues in 2013, Buxton encountered more of the same in 2015 shortly after making the jump from Double-A Chattanooga for his big league debut in mid- June. This time a sprained left thumb that landed Buxton on the shelf for six weeks after he slid headfirst into second base. He returned in early August but still retained his rookie status for 2016, falling two at-bats shy of the cutoff. His two trips to the Arizona Fall League were shortened by a strained left shoulder (2013) and a fractured finger (2014) that required minor surgery. In between he missed close to four months in 2014 with a sprained left wrist, including a setback after just five games at high Class A Fort Myers, followed by a season-ending concussion after just three plate appearances at Double-A New Britain. The BA High School Player of the Year in 2012 and Minor League Player of the Year in 2013, Buxton jumped onto the fast track after the Twins drafted him second overall (behind the Astros' Carlos Correa) in 2012. They signed him for a $6 million bonus that remains the largest in franchise history. He helped Rookie-level Elizabethton win the Appalachian League title in his first pro summer. Considered one of the game's top prospects since his breakout 2013 season, Buxton is eager to justify that lofty reputation with similar production in the big leagues. While it's unfair to say he flopped in his first crack at the majors, Buxton struggled to recognize high-end breaking stuff and struck out in a club-record 21 straight games on either side of his DL stint. Twins general manager Terry Ryan openly admits he rushed Buxton due to need in center field, and the hope is he'll fare much better in his second go-round. Using quick hands and strong wrists, Buxton generates tremendous bat speed and keeps the bat in the zone longer than most. Throughout the minors he showed an advanced approach at the plate and good plate discipline along with power to all fields. Timed at 3.9 seconds to first base from the right side, Buxton is a top-of-the-scale runner who puts pressure on opposing defenders. However, he still must improve his bunting along with his reads and instincts. In the field, Buxton has double-plus arm strength and range and chases down balls in both gaps with relative ease. He has become more comfortable in media settings and with teammates as he has matured. With the retirement of Torii Hunter and the trade of Aaron Hicks, the Twins project to have two starting spots opened in the 2016 outfield. Provided Buxton makes a solid showing in spring, he should be the Opening Day center fielder. If the Twins opt to play it safe and use Danny Santana in center, Buxton could open 2016 back at Triple-A Rochester. A fast start there should expedite his return engagement at Target Field. When he does return, the Twins hope it's for good.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #1 prospect in 2015
  Buxton has been named the Baseball America High School Player of the Year (2012) and its Minor League Player of the Year (2013). He jumped onto the fast track after the Twins drafted him second overall in 2012, then gave him a $6 million bonus that remains the largest in franchise history. Buxton helped Rookie-level Elizabethton win the Appalachian League title in his first professional summer and then took his game to another level in 2013, dominating the Midwest and Florida State leagues. A strained left shoulder shortened his first Arizona Fall League assignment by a couple of weeks, but that setback was nothing compared with what Buxton experienced in 2014. First, he sprained his left wrist in mid- March while attempting a diving catch on a back field. Once he made it to high Class A Fort Myers a month into the season, he re-injured the wrist five games later while sliding home. This time it took him two months to return to action. Buxton logged a .956 OPS in 15 July games before again missing time after being hit by pitch on his right (other) wrist. Sent to Double-A New Britain on Aug. 13, he struck out in his only three at-bats before suffering a harrowing outfield collision with right fielder Mike Kvasnicka. Rushed to the hospital, Buxton was fortunate to escape with only a seasonending concussion. Widely acknowledged as the top prospect in the game by the time he played in the 2013 Futures Game, Buxton has done little to harm that reputation when healthy. Blessed with quick hands and strong wrists, he generates tremendous bat speed and keeps the bat in the zone for a long time. He has an advanced approach at the plate and shows good plate discipline, though his strikeout (24.6 percent) and walk (7.5 percent) rates diverged in his second pass through the FSL. Buxton generates easy power to all fields. Timed at 3.9 seconds from the batter's box to first base, he is an 80 runner but still must improve his reads and instincts while on base. In the field, Buxton has plus-plus arm strength and range, gliding to balls others must strain to reach. Naturally reserved and ever polite, Buxton has become more comfortable with teammates . Sent back to the AFL for a second straight year, Buxton sustained another injury, this time a dislocated middle finger on his left hand. When he gets a fresh start in 2015, he will report to Chattanooga, the Twins' new Double-A affiliate in the Southern League, with the hope that he can resume the roll he enjoyed in 2013. Buxton turns 21 this offseason and could reach the majors by the end of 2015 with a chance to put down roots in center the following year. Based on 20-80 scouting scale and future projection rather than present grades
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #1 prospect in 2014
  In consecutive years, Buxton has been named the Baseball America High School Player of the Year and its Minor League Player of the Year. He jumped directly onto the fast track after the Twins drafted him second overall in 2012, then gave him a $6 million bonus that remains the largest in franchise history. A product of rural Georgia, Buxton led Appling County High to the Georgia state 2-A championship as a senior. Still throwing 91 mph in the seventh and final inning, he recorded an 18-strikeout complete game in the title clincher. After some early struggles in his debut in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, Buxton took off upon his promotion to Rookie-level Elizabethton. He helped the team win the Appalachian League title, then took his game to another level in 2013, ranking sixth in the minors in batting (.334) and seventh in on-base percentage (.424). The Twins aggressively sent him to the Arizona Fall League, where he was shut down with eight games left with a strained left shoulder. It was the same shoulder he had injured while taking a swing early in the AFL season, causing him to miss nine days. He finished with a .212 batting average and .288 on-base percentage in the AFL, but those numbers weren't much different from what Mike Trout put up at a similar age the year before exploding onto the big league scene. Buxton's combination of tools and production made him the talk of the minor leagues. Blessed with quick hands and strong wrists, he generates tremendous bat speed and keeps the bat in the zone for what seems like forever. Considering his rural background, he stunned scouts with his advanced approach at the plate and shows excellent discipline for such a young player. He is learning to backspin balls and can generate easy power to all fields, and his future home run power is one of scouts' few questions about Buxton. Timed at 3.9 seconds to first from the right side, he is an 80 runner underway but is still working to improve his reads and instincts. He stole 55 bases at a 74 percent success rate that should climb as he refines his craft. Not even having a nail removed on his right big toe in late July could slow him down. He missed just five days. In the field, Buxton has tremendous arm strength and plus-plus range in center field. As his jumps and routes have improved, he habitually makes the difficult play look effortless. Quiet and still somewhat shy, Buxton is unfailingly polite and has a deep-seated work ethic that is second to none. After the shoulder scare in Arizona, the Twins will be even more cautious than usual with Buxton. He should open the year at Double-A New Britain, where he will play for the same manager who had him in the AFL, Jeff Smith. A late-season promotion seems logical, and Buxton should have every opportunity to seize the starting center field and leadoff spots with the Twins by Opening Day 2015.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #2 prospect in 2013
  Baseball America's 2012 High School Player of the Year, Buxton led Appling County High to the Georgia state 2-A championship, tossing a complete game with 18 strikeouts in the clincher. He was still throwing 91 mph in the seventh and final inning. BA's top-rated prospect and the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, he signed for a franchise-record $6 million and helped Rookie-level Elizabethton win the Appalachian League championship. If his blazing bat speed translates into power down the line, Buxton will be a true five-tool player. He'll need repetitions at the plate against better pitching, but his swing path keeps the bat in the hitting zone a long time. He'll have to learn to backspin balls a bit more down the line to have plus power, but many scouts think he'll get there. He's a top-of-the-scale runner who gets from the right side of the plate to first base in 3.9 seconds, with easy plus range and well above-average arm strength in center field. Buxton plays with confidence and has a chance to be a superstar along the lines of Andrew McCutchen. The Twins preach patience but know he's ready for full-season ball in 2013 with an assignment to their new low Class A Cedar Rapids affiliate.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #1 prospect in 2012 draft
  Buxton emerged last summer and fall as the top position player in the 2012 draft class, first with his premium, athletic body and blazing speed, then with his emerging power potential and intriguing bat. Buxton has a chance to be a true five-tool player if his bat develops as hoped. The 6-foot-2, 170-pounder has a high-waisted frame that oozes projection. He hasn't hit for big power this spring, with just two home runs, though he flashes plus raw power in batting practice and was runner-up (to Lewis Brinson) in last year's home run derby prior to the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field. Buxton's speed plays more presently, as he steals bases easily and covers acres of ground in center field. Some scouts have given him top-of-the-scale grades for both his speed (others call it well above-average) and at times for his throwing arm. He's shown a low-maintenance swing with a good path and premium bat speed that should allow him to hit for both average and power. Buxton will have to adjust to quality pitching, especially breaking balls. But as an amateur, he's shown the ability to sit back on offspeed pitches and hit them with authority the other way. Comparisons for Buxton range from Matt Kemp to a hybrid of brothers B.J. and Justin. Like Justin Upton, and he ranks as the top talent in his draft class.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked International League #2 prospect in 2016
  After making his much-anticipated major league debut in 2015, Buxton entered the season ranked as the No. 2 prospect in baseball for the second year in a row. He had played just 13 games at Triple-A, so he started the year at Rochester. He again showed how dynamic he can be, though he struggled to make the ultimate jump to the big leagues during a couple mid-summer callups. Buxton played the whole season as a 22-year old and continues to show five-tool potential. He generates tremendous bat speed and has the ability to drive the ball out to all fields. A disciplined hitter early in his career, he has proven susceptible to chasing offspeed stuff in the upper levels and his strikeout totals have climbed as a result. Buxton is a top-of-the-scale runner and is a good basestealer. His speed also allows him to cover ground with ease in center field, which, along with his plus arm strength, makes him an elite defender. Buxton still needs to finish his transition to Minnesota, but his elite tools make his lofty ceiling still attainable.
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  Ranked Southern League #2 prospect in 2015
  In terms of raw tools, Buxton had few peers in the SL. He might have turned in the best performance, too, had the Twins let him develop all year at Chattanooga rather than call him up on June 14 when the surprisingly-competitive club required an injury replacement for center fielder Aaron Hicks. Singled out by SL managers as the circuit's fastest baserunner, best defensive outfielder and most exciting player, Buxton has all-star potential, which began to manifest in 2015 after a slow start. He eased back into everyday play after an injury-wracked 2014 season in which he played just 31 games (wrist, concussion) to hit .308/.378/.527 with 21 extra-base hits, 22 walks and 18 steals (in 19 tries) over his final 45 games with the Lookouts. That Buxton began to use his top-of-the-line speed to take aggressive leads, attempt 22 steals and leg out 12 triples excited managers just as much as his growth at the plate. He shows initiative and works hard to improve his overall game, but critics point to susceptibility against good sliders and bat drag in his swing that robs him of power. Buxton covers a ton of ground in center field and shows plus arm strength, making him a true five-tool talent, albeit one who faces much on-the-job learning at the big league level.
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  Ranked Florida State League #1 prospect in 2013
  The No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 draft, Buxton earned his FSL promotion on June 24 and hit the ground running, hitting safely in 10 of his first 11 games, with a 15-for-22 stretch included. His tools, none of which grade below a 60 on the scouting scale, earn Mike Trout comparisons, despite different body types. They also prompted one veteran pro scout to say he gave Buxton the highest OFP (overall future potential) he?d ever turned in. Buxton?s feel for hitting surprised league observers the most, but all his tools graded out at least double-plus except for his power, which merely earns 60s from some scouts. Repeated questions to managers about negatives in his game prompted similar responses to this one from St. Lucie manager Ryan Ellis: ?Good luck with that one.? Brevard County manager Joe Ayrault said Buxton impressed nearly as much with his demeanor and how he played the game as he did with his tools. That evaluation doesn?t outstrip his tools, but his demeanor was still positive enough to make an impression.
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  Ranked Midwest League #1 prospect in 2013
  Scouts debated whether Buxton was the best prospect they?ve seen or simply one of the best. Coming out of tiny Baxley, Ga., he was supposed to need time to catch up to the MWL. Instead the league never caught up to him. Buxton showed advanced pitch recognition, an ability to drive the ball to all fields and better-than-expected power. ?It?s a simple, direct swing. It?s lightning fast and physically correct,? Twins vice president of player personnel Mike Radcliff said. ?His hands are so fast and the barrel goes so directly to the ball.? Defensively, Buxton was exceptional, showing the ability to make highlight-reel plays in center field. In fact, a diving catch he made in Cedar Rapids was a SportsCenter play of the day. In the long term, Buxton projects as a plus hitter with above-average power, top-of-the-charts speed and defense. That includes a plus arm. He?s already moving quicker than the Twins expected. Promoted to high Class A Fort Myers after the MWL all-star break, he may be ready for Minnesota by the end of 2014.
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  Ranked Florida Complex League #1 prospect in 2012
  Buxton was the top prospect in the draft, so the Twins were elated to get him with the second choice after the Astros drafted Correa No. 1 overall. Buxton's $6 million bonus was the biggest in his draft class, and while he only hit .216 in the GCL, he flashed all five tools before his promotion in early August. Buxton has a high-waisted, projectable body with plenty of quick-twitch athleticism. He has a simple swing with good plane, excellent bat speed and a nice idea of the strike zone for his age. He didn't show much in-game power during his high school season, but he has flashed plus raw pop. Buxton has considerable offensive potential and is particularly alluring as a two-way threat. He's at least a 70 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale, making him a threat to steal bases and allowing him to cover huge amounts of land in center field. He has a plus arm and could be a premium defender.
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  Ranked American League #1 prospect in 2012
  Baseball America's top-rated player in this year's draft, Buxton went second overall after the Astros opted for Correa. Buxton signed for $6 million, more than any other 2012 draftee, and ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Appy League as well as the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. He may need four years for his body and skills to mature, but he has five-tool potential. "He's a player where you have no concerns about him reaching his ceiling," one scout said. "He projects to be at least a 60 hitter with 60 power (on the 20-80 scouting scale) because he makes consistent hard contact. He has the speed for infield hits and the power for extra-base hits." Buxton's top-of-the-line speed was evident in his sub-3.9-second times to first base during the playoffs, as were his confidence, bat speed and consistent swing path at the plate. He shows a willingness to bunt for hits and an aggressive approach on the bases. He covers a ton of ground on defense and his plus-plus arm is considerably stronger than that of most center fielders.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #2 prospect in 2016
• Ranked Baseball America's #2 prospect in 2015
• Ranked Baseball America's #1 prospect in 2014
• Ranked Baseball America's #10 prospect in 2013

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Baseball America's 2012 High School Player of the Year, Buxton led Appling County High to the Georgia state 2-A championship, tossing a complete game with 18 strikeouts in the clincher to give the school its first state title in any boys' sport. He was still throwing 91 mph in the seventh and final inning. BA's top-rated prospect and the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, he signed for a franchise-record $6 million and helped Rookie-level Elizabethton win the Appalachian League championship. Scouting Report: If his blazing bat speed translates into power down the line, Buxton will be a true five-tool player. He'll need repetitions at the plate against better pitching, but his swing path keeps the bat in the hitting zone a long time. He'll have to learn to backspin balls a bit more down the line to have plus power, but many scouts think he'll get there. He's a top-of-the-scale runner who gets from the right side of the plate to first base in 3.9 seconds, with easy plus range and well above-average arm strength in center field. The Future: Buxton plays with confidence and has a chance to be a superstar along the lines of Andrew McCutchen. The Twins preach patience but know he's ready for full-season ball in 2013 with an assignment to their new low Class A Cedar Rapids affiliate.