Byron Buxton has no interest in talking about a 30/30 season. Not yet, at least.
The center fielder reached 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases for the first time in his career over the weekend, a testament to his health as much as his speed and power. But while he has a chance to become the Twins’ first 30/30 player, he’s not up for discussing it.
“I’m not talking about 30/30 unless I’m at 30/30,” he said. “Once I get there, we can talk about it.”
It could happen. The Twins have 23 games remaining after Wednesday. Buxton hit his career-high 29th home run of the season on Sunday, and currently sits at 21 stolen bases entering Wednesday’s play.
Those 21 steals include one of third base, the first of his career. The speedster attempted it for the first time in his career in 2016 as part of a double steal attempt with Eduardo Núñez. He was caught, and didn’t try again until Friday.
“I definitely remember,” he said. “That’s why I don’t do it anymore, because I realized, well, if I stay at second and you hit a single, I score anyway. So, I stopped taking the chance of getting thrown out and giving up a run. Hit me a single and I’m going to score for you.”
So, what changed on Friday? Nothing really, it seems.
“I literally told (third base coach) Tommy (Watkins) during the pitching change ‘I’m stealing,’ ” he said. “That’s what I told him, so I ran.”
That steal was his 20th of the season, putting him in the 20/20 club for the first time in his career. He became just the seventh Twins player to accomplish the feat and is currently one of 13 players in the majors who have reached the milestone this season.
And that one, he’s happy to talk about.
“Means a lot. Means being healthy. Proves that’s what it takes,” he said. “When you’re healthy, your mind is at more of a mental peace. Things, I don’t want to say come easier, but you tend to let go of things a little easier and turn the page a little quicker.”
Last week, Buxton reached 100 games played for the third time in his career, marking the first time he’s done so in back-to-back seasons. Over the weekend, he eclipsed 102 games, the number he played last year.
The Twins have more than 20 games remaining and while Buxton has not stolen nine bases in a single month this season, it’s not necessarily outside the realm of possibility. If he reached 30, it would be a new career high, eclipsing the 29 he stole in 2017, the healthiest season of his career. He played in 140 games that season.
“He could get nine steals in one game if he gets on base enough and we green light him enough,” teammate Royce Lewis said.
But whether he eventually gets to 30/30 or even 25/25, those around him have delighted in watching him play this season, seeing a healthy Buxton on the field more often than not.
“It’s become one of those things where almost every day you come in and he’s doing something even more impressive or setting some new mark and doing something great,” manager Rocco Baldelli said.
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