Twins call up phenom Byron Buxton

On June 13, 2015, in Minnesota
ARLINGTON -- The wait is over. Byron Buxton, the No. 1 overall prospect according to MLBPipeline.com, will have his contract purchased by the Twins from Double-A Chattanooga before Sunday's game against the Rangers.
The Twins will announce a corresponding roster move on Sunday. Buxton, who will wear No. 25, said he found out during a team meeting held by Lookouts manager Doug Mientkiewicz.
"Doug brought everybody in the clubhouse and talked to us a little bit and told me I was coming up, and everyone got wild a little bit and excited," Buxton said. "It was an unbelievable moment. It was definitely unexpected. It caught me by surprise and shock. When I heard my name, just a lot of joy and happiness went through me. I'm just blessed to get the opportunity to get called up to The Show."
Buxton, 21, was hitting .283/.351/.489 with six homers, seven doubles, 12 triples and 37 RBIs in 59 games at Double-A. He also stole 20 bases in 22 attempts. The center fielder had been on fire recently with an eight-game hitting streak, batting .467/.531/.567 with a double and a triple.
"I feel pretty good," Buxton said. "I've been taking better at-bats. I've been laying off pitches early in the year I was swinging at. It's put me in position to drive the ball into the gaps more."
Buxton said his fiancée, Lindsey, his son, Brix, and his parents will be in attendance at Sunday's game at Globe Life Park. Buxton added that he's more excited than anxious to make his Major League debut.
"I'm not nervous now," Buxton said. "I'm ready to get up there and get going. But I'm sure once I'm up there, the nerves will kick in a little bit."
Buxton has stayed healthy this year after missing most of last season with a variety of ailments, including a sprained left wrist, a concussion and a dislocated left finger. He played in just 31 games last season, hitting .234/.307/.395, including just one game at Double-A, as he suffered his concussion in an outfield collision in his first career Double-A game. He also hit .263/.311/.298 in 13 games in the Arizona Fall League before dislocating his finger, which required surgery.
Buxton, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft after the Astros selected Carlos Correa, is a career .296/.380/.486 hitter in the Minors with 205 runs, 150 RBIs and 92 stolen bases in 263 games.
The Twins are looking for a spark after struggling so far in June after a strong showing in May, as they've lost five straight and seven of their last eight. Center fielder Aaron Hicks is sidelined with a sore right elbow that could see him placed on the 15-day disabled list, while Torii Hunter is suspended for Sunday's game after dropping his appeal of his two-game suspension on Saturday.
Twins manager Paul Molitor said it's hard to predict how Buxton will fare in his first taste of the Majors, but said it's not a short-term move, as Buxton will stick if he produces.
"We're hoping he can bring something a little bit special here," Molitor said. "But we don't want to put too much pressure on him. Everyone thinks he's going to be the next face of the franchise and all those things. And that's a lot on a young guy who is just trying to get established."
Buxton knows the Twins are looking for him to help get the offense going, but said he's not going to let that overwhelm him.
"I've got enough pressure on me as it is," Buxton said. "I'm not going to put any more pressure on myself once I get there. I'm just going out there and play the best I can and do what I can to help us win."
Rhett Bollinger/ MLB.com.
 
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