Byron Buxton Is Stepping Into a Bigger Role for the Twins-And It Goes Beyond the Stat Sheet
As the Minnesota Twins open spring training, there's a clear theme running through the organization-and it’s not just about pitch velocity or OPS. It’s about leadership.
After a 2025 season that was equal parts promising and painful, marked by the ups and downs of a young roster still finding its footing, the Twins are looking for something that doesn’t show up in the box score. They need a steady hand.
A voice. A presence.
And fortunately for Minnesota, they may already have that in Byron Buxton.
Buxton, fresh off what many would call the most complete season of his big-league career, remains the heartbeat of the roster. He’s long been known for his jaw-dropping defense, his lightning speed, and his ability to flip a game with one swing.
But as the Twins usher in a new wave of young talent, they’re asking their franchise cornerstone to do something more-something quieter, but just as impactful. They’re asking him to lead.
And Buxton? He’s embracing that responsibility in his own way.
“A lot. Like, we thought quite a bit this offseason, just because we had to,” Buxton said when asked about his evolving role.
“We know what we're striving to. And it's gonna take us veteran guys to kinda lead these young guys to get to where we want them.
We've been here to know how to play baseball the right way, play the game the right way, put in the effort. It's all about showing them the right way, how to do things.”
That right way, for Buxton, is about consistency-showing up, doing the work, and setting an example without needing to make a speech. He’s not changing who he is.
He’s not putting on a leadership mask. He’s just being Byron Buxton.
“Nope, be myself, go about my business the same way I went,” he said in Fort Myers. “Come in and play ball, that's it.
Like, I'm a dad at the end of the day, and I'm a husband. I'm like, this is my job, this is a game.
I know what I'm supposed to be doing when I'm here, but when I leave, this is over with. So, enjoy this while I'm here.”
That grounded, authentic approach hasn’t gone unnoticed. Twins manager Derek Shelton, who’s seen Buxton grow from a talented young outfielder into a franchise pillar, says the difference is visible the moment Buxton enters the room.
“The thing that stuck out to me the most was just how mature he is,” Shelton said. “When I was here before, he was a young player trying to establish himself.
And now? He's a superstar.
You don't play center field for Team USA in the WBC if you're not a superstar. You don't do the things that he's done.”
Shelton isn’t just talking about accolades or highlight reels. He’s talking about presence-something that doesn’t show up in a box score, but everyone in the clubhouse can feel.
“When you're around great players and they walk in the room, you know it. When he walks in the room, you know it,” Shelton said.
But leadership, as Shelton points out, doesn’t always look the way fans expect. It’s not always about fiery speeches or dramatic dugout moments. More often, it’s about the day-to-day-how a veteran carries himself, how he handles adversity, how he sets a tone without saying a word.
“Leadership is organic,” Shelton said. “When Byron-and I saw this from him before in '19-the guys he came through the minor league system with, they gravitate towards him, because they know the expectation he has on himself.
“When leaders show the expectation they have of themselves, it doesn't matter how the leadership manifests outwardly, whether it's loud, whether it's quiet,” he continued. “I know everyone expects, not just in Buck's case, but in any case, 'This guy has to be loud.'
There's only very few people that know how conversations happen within a room when no one is there. That's leadership.
That happens organically, and I think he does it in his own way.”
And that’s exactly what the Twins need right now.
This is a team with talent. The young core is real.
But talent alone doesn’t win in October-it takes experience, resilience, and the kind of internal leadership that helps a team weather the inevitable storms of a 162-game season. Buxton has been through those storms.
He’s battled injuries, slumps, and postseason heartbreak. He’s also delivered game-changing moments and played at an elite level on both sides of the ball.
He knows what it takes. And now, he’s showing the next generation how to get there.
If the Twins are going to take that next step in 2026, they’ll need their young players to keep growing. But just as importantly, they’ll need someone to guide them through that growth.
Byron Buxton has already proven he can lead with his bat and glove. This season, his leadership off the field could be just as important as anything he does between the lines.