Twins' Star Byron Buxton Joins Team USA for World Baseball Classic
Byron Buxton has been named to Team USA's roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, becoming just the fourth outfielder to commit to the team. The Twins' center fielder joins teammate Joe Ryan in representing the organization at the tournament. This is both players' first WBC appearance, with Buxton and Ryan joining a star-studded roster featuring Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr., Paul Skenes, and Tarik Skubal.
Buxton's inclusion was expected after Twins manager Mark DeRosa and general manager Michael Hill confirmed last month that the center fielder was under "serious consideration" to join the team. The decision is a strategic move by Team USA to balance its roster with players who can offer right-handed power and defensive capabilities. Hill pointed out that Buxton's speed, defense, and right-handed bat would complement some of the other pieces on the team.
The Twins' center fielder had an impressive all-star season in 2024, hitting .264 with a .878 OPS and posting a career-high 35 home runs while driving in 83. He was also seen as one of the top players in American League Most Valuable Player voting. DeRosa praised Buxton's growth from working out with young pitchers and described him as "time for the world to see him run around in center field."
Team USA will convene in Arizona before the tournament, playing two exhibition games on March 3-4 before beginning play in Pool B alongside Brazil, Great Britain, Italy, and Mexico at Daikin Park. The first round will take place from March 6-11, with quarterfinals for Pools A and B occurring on March 13-14. The tournament will conclude in Miami, where the winner will be crowned on March 17.
The United States last won the World Baseball Classic in 2017 and finished as a runner-up to Japan in 2023.
Byron Buxton has been named to Team USA's roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic, becoming just the fourth outfielder to commit to the team. The Twins' center fielder joins teammate Joe Ryan in representing the organization at the tournament. This is both players' first WBC appearance, with Buxton and Ryan joining a star-studded roster featuring Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr., Paul Skenes, and Tarik Skubal.
Buxton's inclusion was expected after Twins manager Mark DeRosa and general manager Michael Hill confirmed last month that the center fielder was under "serious consideration" to join the team. The decision is a strategic move by Team USA to balance its roster with players who can offer right-handed power and defensive capabilities. Hill pointed out that Buxton's speed, defense, and right-handed bat would complement some of the other pieces on the team.
The Twins' center fielder had an impressive all-star season in 2024, hitting .264 with a .878 OPS and posting a career-high 35 home runs while driving in 83. He was also seen as one of the top players in American League Most Valuable Player voting. DeRosa praised Buxton's growth from working out with young pitchers and described him as "time for the world to see him run around in center field."
Team USA will convene in Arizona before the tournament, playing two exhibition games on March 3-4 before beginning play in Pool B alongside Brazil, Great Britain, Italy, and Mexico at Daikin Park. The first round will take place from March 6-11, with quarterfinals for Pools A and B occurring on March 13-14. The tournament will conclude in Miami, where the winner will be crowned on March 17.
The United States last won the World Baseball Classic in 2017 and finished as a runner-up to Japan in 2023.
Byron Buxton getting his first taste of the WBC is gonna be lit 
! I love how they're stacking the roster with guys who bring that right-handed power & defense. Buxton's speed and defense are gonna complement the team perfectly 
. He had an all-star season in 2024, no doubt about it 
. I'm hyped to see him run around in center field 
! Team USA needs a strong showing this time around, considering they didn't win since 2017 
. Brazil, Great Britain, Italy, and Mexico are gonna give 'em a run for their money tho 
. Can't wait for the tournament to start! March 3-4 can't come soon enough 
, but this is just incredible news for baseball fans everywhere! The fact that Team USA picked him to join the roster is a no-brainer - speed, defense, and power are exactly what they needed to round out their lineup. And let's be real, Buxton's growth from last year was insane 
. I'm also stoked that he's got some big names on his team like Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt Jr. 
. On one hand, it's awesome that he gets to represent his country on such a big stage, showcasing his skills and hard work in front of a global audience. But, can we really say that his value lies solely in his ability to offer right-handed power and defensive capabilities? Is there more to his game than that? 
What does it say about our society when we're more focused on strategic team moves rather than individual player development? And what's the pressure like for a 25-year-old player to live up to expectations, especially when he's playing in front of millions of people? 
The team's strategy to balance power and defense with players like Buxton is genius 
. I'm hyped for this tournament! 
! The fact that they're choosing him over other outfielders shows how much confidence they have in his skills. And let's be real, it's about time we see more power hitters like Buxton on Team USA 
. gotta give props 2 Twins' manager Mark DeRosa 4 seeing his growth & potential in Buxton... now lets see him shine on da big stage 
️! His speed, defense, and power are all game-changers - I'm loving this strategic move by Team USA 
! Can't wait to see him in action alongside the likes of Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt Jr. 
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team USA is looking good this year! 
i mean don't get me wrong byron buxton is a beast but you'd think they'd be more open to mixing it up with some international talent now that the world is getting smaller 
His speed, defense, and power are a perfect combo for Team USA. And let's be real, who doesn't love seeing him run around in center field? 
It's gonna be lit! I'm hyped to see how he'll do against some of the top teams from around the world. Bring it on! 
Byron Buxton's inclusion on Team USA is a NO-BRAINER! 
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! The tournament is gonna be lit! 
And I wonder how he's gonna do in that World Baseball Classic... will the US actually win it this time around? 
He's been having an amazing season with the Twins and it's awesome to see him get the recognition he deserves on a global stage. The fact that his speed, defense, and right-handed bat will complement the team's roster is just genius 
He's definitely one of the top players in the game right now. I'm also hyped about the tournament's format, it's gonna be so exciting to see all these talented players compete against each other 
. His growth as a player, particularly working with young pitchers, has been impressive to watch. He's now ready to take on the world and show what he can do! 
. With a mix of veteran players and rookies like Buxton, this team is shaping up to be competitive. Who knows, maybe we'll see them take home that elusive World Baseball Classic title 
. I think they're making a big mistake by choosing him. He's had an amazing season, no doubt about it, but he's not exactly the most reliable guy on the field. His .264 batting average is still pretty mediocre and he's been known to have some injury issues in the past. Plus, with all these other talented players like Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt Jr., why did they need to go with Buxton? It feels like a PR move or something