Fans across the country have spoken, and for the first time Byron Buxton will take the field as an All-Star starter.
Buxton's First All-Star Start
He will be joined by teammate Joe Ryan, giving the Minnesota Twins two representatives in the midsummer classic.
Both players have been the subject of trade speculation, yet the front office has signaled that neither is moving.
Buxton’s season has been a revelation: he sits fifth in the majors with 25 home runs and posts a .904 OPS, the highest of his career since 2021.
Ryan, meanwhile, has logged 19 starts and ranks seventh in the league in strikeout-to-walk ratio, underscoring his reliability on the mound.
Despite a history of injuries, Buxton has avoided the injured list this year, though a recent hip twinge prompted a precautionary removal from a game.
The Twins have managed to stay competitive even with a thin bullpen and a slew of starter injuries, highlighted by a rare road series victory over the Yankees — their first in over a decade.
‘This is the most fun I’ve ever had playing baseball,’ Buxton said, reflecting on the clubhouse chemistry and the support he feels from teammates and fans alike.
General Manager Jeremy Zoll reiterated that Buxton has never been on the trade block and will not be considered for a move, a stance reinforced by the player’s no-trade clause that runs through the 2028 season.
With the All-Star Game on the horizon, the excitement within the organization is palpable, and the team looks to carry this momentum into the second half of the season.