His first at-bat Wednesday was the 500th this season for Byron Buxton, the second time he had done so in 11 major league seasons. It was a nice, round number, and one was significant to the Twins’ center fielder.
“That’s a big number,” Buxton said. “That means you’ve been on the field and you’ve been in the lineup. I kind of look at it on that end of the scale, like I’ve been in the lineup, been able to post up every day, not DHing, and in center. That’s a positive for me.”
Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton (25) reacts after hitting a single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
No. 502 was a pretty important one for him, too, triggering an incentive in his contract that will pay him an additional $500,000.
There could be more coming. His big season has him in line to reach incentives in his contract — a seven-year, $100 million extension he signed in 2021 — that he has not yet reached in his career. Buxton’s next target number is 533 plate appearances for another $500,000. He can earn more with 567 and 625 at-bats, but with 10 games remaining, 533 is the milestone within reach; Buxton has averaged 4.31 plate appearances a game this season and there are 10 games left.
Another trigger in his contract could come into play this offseason.
Buxton’s contract takes both his talent and his injury history into account. His deal was structured to reward him for playing time and performance, and for an all-star season in which Buxton is hitting .270 with a .884 OPS and has a chance to become the Twins’ first 30 home run, 30 stolen base player in team history — he needs six stolen bases to reach the milestone — he could be heavily rewarded.
If Buxton finishes between sixth and 10th in American League MVP voting, he will be paid an extra $3 million dollars. He’d earn even more for a higher finish. Voting is conducted before the postseason begins and the final tally will be revealed in November. Entering Thursday, Buxton was 10th in fWAR (Wins Above Replacement per FanGraphs) in the AL and likely to earn some down-ballot votes.
Regardless, the longtime Twins center fielder was excited about reaching plate appearance No. 500, a number that signifies his ability to stay on the field this season. Buxton’s 117 games played are third on the team behind Trevor Larnach and Brooks Lee, and while he has landed on the injured list twice — once for a concussion, once for ribcage inflammation — it’s already the second-most games he has played his career.
“I don’t know what’s going to end up meaning the most to Buck when the time comes and the season wraps up, what he’s going to be most happy about,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “I think it’s going to be just the fact that he woke up every day, showed up to the field and he was out there. And that means way more to him than statistics because he loves to play.”
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