There are not a lot of players like Byron Buxton.
Buxton first appeared for the Twins in 2015, three years after he was taken with the Second Overall Pick. Buxton was considered a five-tool player, but that was not the case in the Majors, though he has showed series of doing all of those things at different periods of time.
Buxton’s defense was stellar in 2017, a year where he led the American League in Total Zone Runs (29), was second in Defensive bWAR (2.6) and won the Wilson Overall Defensive Player. Offensively, he only had 117 Hits, but received MVP votes (18th overall), and was a star on the rise; or so we thought.
He dealt with copious injuries, and was returned to the Minors, but was able to come back with another defensive gem year; the COVID-shortened 2020 year where he was first in Defensive bWAR (1.2). Buxton again battle injuries late in 2022, but still blasted 28 Home Runs in less than 100 Games, while appearing in his first All-Star Game.
Buxton enters 2024 with only one year of 100 Hits, though has been an All-Star (not in that year) and won multiple fielding awards, and is now a top power hitter. This is a statistical ESPN 30-for-30 player.
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