For much of his career, Byron Buxton has been both a marvel and a mystery…the biggest “what if” in Twins history. A once-in-a-generation, Hall-of-Fame caliber talent capable of jaw-dropping defense, game-changing speed, and clutch power—but also a player whose time on the field has been plagued by injury and frustration.
In 2025, we’re seeing with a healthy Buxton is capable of. At the All-Star Break, he’s already tied his career-high with 56 RBI. He’s mashed 21 home runs and is a perfect 17/17 in stolen base attempts, all while hitting a career-high .289. He is on pace for an 8 WAR season (the only players in Twins history with an 9 WAR season are Rod Carew in 1977 and Chuck Knoblauch in 1996), is representing the Twins at the All-Star Game for the second time in his career, and is participating in tonight’s Home Run Derby…the first Twin to compete since Miguel Sano’s runner-up finish in 2017.
Yet as Buxton continues a strong 2025 campaign, a new consensus is forming: now in his 11th season with the Twins, where does he fit among the discussion of the greatest outfielders in Minnesota Twins history?
The overall Minnesota Twins Mount Rushmore is pretty set: Carew, Killebrew, Mauer, Puckett. But a top-four franchise outfielder is still open for debate.
Buck has some serious competition in that discussion, with Hall of Famers Kirby Puckett and Tony Oliva setting the bar high, plus Torii Hunter who won seven of his nine career Gold Gloves with the Twins.
Then comes the injury discussions which, sadly, you need to have with one of the greatest five-tool players the Twins have ever had. His 2017 Gold Glove Award only scratches the surface of his defensive brilliance. He’s consistently ranked at or near the top of the league in advanced metrics like Outs Above Average and Defensive Runs Saved.
While defense is his calling card, Buxton’s offense has flashed superstar-level potential. In 2022, he hit 28 home runs in just 92 games, posting an OPS over .830 before being shut down in August with a hip strain.
As of today (July 14, 2025), Buxton has surpassed 150 career home runs and 100 stolen bases, with a career Wins Above Replacement (WAR) just shy of 29. His 2025 season has been one of his best yet: 21 home runs, 17 stolen bases without being caught, a career-high .289 average and an OPS approaching .900—while only missing 18 games in the first half of the season.
Buxton’s career narrative has often been dominated by one word: injuries. Thumb sprains, migraines, head injuries, broken toes, hip inflammation, wrist fractures, —you name it, he’s battled it. The guys missed a game after breaking a tooth eating a steak in 2021. But what often gets overlooked is just how resilient he’s been in fighting back from every setback.
The Twins drafted Buxton second overall in 2012, and while his development was slowed by injuries, he’s remained loyal to the only organization he’s ever known. Unlike stars who’ve left in free agency or been traded away, Buxton signed a team-friendly extension and became the centerpiece of the team’s culture, mentoring younger players and never using injuries as an excuse.
“This guy plays through more than most people realize,” former teammate Nelson Cruz said in 2021. “He’s a warrior.”
In terms of the Twins outfield hierarchy, we know the names at the top of the list:
1. Kirby Puckett (1984–1995)
-
Key Stats: .318 AVG, 207 HR, 1,085 RBI, 2,304 hits
-
Accolades: 10× All-Star, 6× Gold Glove, 6× Silver Slugger, AL Batting Champion (1989), AL RBI Leader (1994), 1991 ALCS MVP, 2× World Series champion, first-ballot Hall of Fame
2. Tony Oliva (1962–1976)
-
Key Stats: .304 AVG, 220 HR, 947 RBI
-
Accolades: 3× AL Batting Champion, 8× All-Star, Rookie of the Year (1964), Gold Glove (1965), Hall of Fame (2022)
3. Torii Hunter (1997–2007, 2015)
-
Key Stats (with Twins): .277 AVG, 214 HR, 792 RBI
-
Accolades: 7× Gold Glove with Twins (9 total), 2× All-Star with Twins (5 total)
There is no debate for the first three-spots on the Twins Outfield Mount Rushmore. But who gets that fourth spot?
Bob Allison still makes a compelling case for number four. The 1959 AL Rookie of the Year was a three-time All-Star for the franchise (once with Washington, twice with Minnesota). He led the league with 99 runs scored and a .911 OPS in 1963 and, with Harmon Killebrew, made up one of the most-feared power combos in the mid 1960s, helping lead the Twins to the World Series in 1965.
Buxton is also an interesting conversation at four. Byron has already vaulted past a lot of long-tenured Twins outfielders…Michael Cuddyer, Shane Mack, Cesar Tovar, Denard Span, etc. He’s long passed those guys in career WAR, and even finds himself higher than Hunter, Gary Gaetti, Justin Morneau and Brian Dozier on the franchises WAR list.
However, nay-sayers will bring up the injury history. How can a guy who averages 85 games a season be a Top-4 player? They’ll bring up his lifetime .249 batting average, which ranks 76th in franchise history, one point ahead of Nick Punto. 725 hits over 11 seasons, which puts him behind Jacque Jones, Max Kepler, Randy Bush, Matt Lawton, Eddie Rosario and Jason Kubel on the franchise hits list. Skeptics counter that consistency matters, and that players like Shane Mack or Dan Gladden, who delivered reliably during Minnesota’s 1991 championship run, might be more deserving.
Supporters argue that Buxton’s elite defense and occasional MVP-caliber plays make him worthy of the spot—especially when healthy. However, that’s just not something Twins Territory has seen consistently.
Twins Top-10 list of Position Player Wins Above Replacement:
- Rod Carew, 63.8
- Harmon Killebrew, 60.6
- Joe Mauer 55.6
- Kirby Puckett, 51.1
- Tony Oliva, 43.1
- Kent Hrbek, 38.6
- Chuck Knoblauch, 38.0
- Bob Allison, 34.1
- Byron Buxton, 28.9
- Gary Gaetti, 27.1
The debate is far from over. If Buxton can stay healthy—and that’s always been the caveat—he has the potential to climb even higher. At 31, he’s still in his prime and is under contract to play for the Twins through the 2029 season. A few more 20+ home run seasons with full-time availability could put him in serious conversation to surpass Hunter, or even challenge Oliva for a top-two spot among Twins outfielders. His ability to change games in all phases—defense, power, speed, and leadership—makes him one of the most complete players ever to wear a Twins uniform.