Finally, the MLB Winter Meetings are starting to heat up for the Minnesota Twins. No, the team didn't trade one of their best players (yet?). Something exciting actually happened.
Francys Romero, a reporter at the Winter Meetings in Orlando, was able to provide Twins fans with a note of positivity. He reported that Byron Buxton will join the Team USA baseball team for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. For what it's worth, Buxton is a superstar coming off an electric season with his first Silver Slugger Award and his second All-Star nod, among other things.
Buxton deserves to be celebrated on a bigger stage. He is one of the best in the business, and finally, he'll be celebrated on a larger scale.
The 2017 Platinum Glove Award winner is heralded by the Twins' faithful. Local fans know what he is capable of, whether it's a game-saving diving catch, hitting for the cycle, or being one of the fastest players in Major League Baseball.
Buxton holy crap dude. We’re seeing that 2017 platinum glove again
— Rocco Hairdelli (@beastModeRocco) April 30, 2025
At the MLB Winter Meetings, reports shared that Twins' Byron Buxton is joining Team USA in 2026
Minnesota knows all about him, but he gets overlooked across the country. The Twins have placed fourth in the AL Central standings two years in a row, so the spotlight isn't necessarily on him and his teammates. Baseballs fans are continually wowed by Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Bobby Witt Jr., Tarik Skubal, and Paul Skenes. They hardly care for what's going on among the bottom of the standings in the American League, which makes sense. Buxton also has a bit of a reputation of not being durable, though he's played in more games as of recent.
But Buxton is also so much better than the overall product that Minnesota conjured over these two losing seasons. He's registered a 137 and 136 OPS+ in each of the last two years, as well as elite marks in several defensive metrics. In 2025, he flexed 35 home runs, 21 doubles, seven triples, 24 stolen bases, and a career-high 129 hits.
Playing for Team USA is going to heighten Byron Buxton's brand. He deserves to be on the field with the other stars, and hopefully he gains plenty of more fans throughout this event. And of course, as he always does, Buxton will represent the Twins to the highest degree. It's a win-win.