Twins star center fielder Byron Buxton to compete in 2025 Home Run Derby
Buxton will join Cal Raleigh, Ronald Acuña Jr. and James Wood in the 2025 Home Run Derby on July 14 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, the Twins’ star center fielder announced via social media. Buxton, who will be the first Twin to compete in a Home Run Derby since Miguel Sano in 2017, grew up in Georgia, making the honor even more special for the Twins star.
Buxton, who was also named an All-Star reserve last Sunday, ranks fifth among the American League and 12th across MLB in home runs with 20. After missing out on being an All-Star game starter despite ranking first among American League center fielders in fWAR at 3.3, Buxton is getting some much-deserved recognition by being named a reserve in the fall classic and earning a shot at becoming a Home Run Derby champion.
Buxton competing in the Home Run Derby brings attention to the Twins center fielder finally being consistently healthy
If you told the average Twins fan in 2023 that Buxton would be competing in the Home Run Derby in two years, they probably would have had a hard time believing you. Although he made the All-Star team in 2022, Buxton appeared in just 85 games in 2023 while solely serving as the designated hitter to reduce the risk of injury. Considering he only played in roughly half of Minnesota’s games that season, however, led to the Twins using him as their center fielder again in 2024. He played in only 102 games in 2024, but it was the first time he had played in more than 100 games since appearing in 140 in 2017. Now, in 2025, Buxton has already played in 73 games, and is on pace to easily clear 100 this season (knock on wood).
Twins to begin three-game series against the Chicago Cubs
Game 1 of a three-game set between Minnesota and Chicago (NL) is set to start at 6:40 p.m. CT on Tuesday. The expected starting pitchers for the series opener are lefty Shota Imanaga for the Cubs and righty Simeon Woods Richardson for the Twins.