Twins teammates cherish Byron Buxton on, off field: ‘He’s top notch’
Torii Hunter was at the tail end of a 19-year career when Byron Buxton, just 21 years old, reached the majors way in 2015. Buxton arrived with sky-high expectations and the enormous pressure that comes with being the second-overall pick in the draft. Two years later, when Royce Lewis was the top pick in the 2017 draft, Hunter, who had a longstanding relationship with Lewis’s dad from his playing days in Anaheim, had a message for the younger Lewis.
“Torii said, ‘Buck’s going to get you,’ ” Lewis said. “And when I went up to him, he treated me like we had known each other for a while … like an older brother. It’s just like a family tie now.
” On Sunday, Buxton celebrated 10 years of major league service time, a milestone that fewer than 10 percent of players to ever don a major league uniform have reached. It’s an incredible achievement for any player, and one Buxton himself admitted he didn’t know if he would get to during an emotional clubhouse speech before Sunday’s game. But for everything that he’s done on the field — he’s a two-time All-Star, a Gold Glove Award winner, a Silver Slugger Award winner and more — it’s the person he is in the clubhouse and away from the ballpark that his teammates say makes him so special.
“Everybody thinks of him extremely highly, not only for the talent that he is but just who he is off the field,” teammate Austin Martin said. “He’s always made that comment to me of like, ‘When it’s all said and done, I don’t really care what people think of me as a player, but I care about what my teammates thought of me in the locker room. ’ ” During the season-opening series in Baltimore, Buxton could tell Lewis was down after missing his pitch during his first at-bat.
“You’re the best player ever,” the veteran told Lewis in the dugout in between plate appearances, trying to pump him up and instill confidence. Lewis hit a home run in his next at-bat. He may not be the biggest on public speaking or giving team speeches, but Buxton is quick to lend advice or speak up when the situation calls for it.
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