Latest news with #Baldelli
NBC Sports
7 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Twins' Byron Buxton hits for first cycle at Target Field since ballpark opened in 2010
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Twins All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton admitted to feeling a little added pressure before Saturday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was his bobblehead day, meaning the first 10,000 fans to walk through the gates at Target Field would receive a replica of Buxton doing his 'Buck Truck' home run celebration. 'I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous before the game started, just knowing it was bobblehead day,' Buxton said. 'Obviously you want to come out and do something good.' Buxton did more than something good. He became the first player to hit for the cycle at Target Field since the ballpark opened in 2010, helping ignite the Twins to a 12-4 win over the Pirates. It was the 12th cycle in Twins history and the first since Jorge Polanco had one in 2019. Buxton had three hits through three innings — a single in the first, a triple in the six-run second and a double in the third. After singling again in the fifth, he had one more opportunity in the bottom of the seventh. Buxton, who will participate in next week's Home Run Derby in Atlanta, crushed a 427-foot solo homer off Pirates reliever Andrew Heaney with two outs in the seventh to make it an 11-3 game and complete the cycle. That brought the Target Field crowd to its feet, many of which celebrated with Buxton bobbleheads. With his team holding a comfortable lead, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli almost took Buxton out of the game before his final at-bat, he admitted afterward. Thankfully for Baldelli — and Buxton — a few coaches reminded the skipper what was at stake. 'He was 4 for 4 at the time. But with everything going on during a game, sometimes I'll be the one that might miss on a hitting streak or something that's going on with a particular player,' Baldelli said. 'But once they reminded me of that, he was going to stay in the game. He was going to get another at-bat, regardless of the score, and give him a chance to do something great.' The homer was Buxton's 21st of the season, tied for fifth most in the American League. With two runs driven in Saturday, Buxton now has 55 RBIs on the season — just one shy of his single-season high. He boasts an OPS of .921 and is 17 for 17 in stolen bases. 'It's one of the greatest first halves I've ever witnessed,' Baldelli said. Buxton was replaced in center field after the seventh inning, but not before getting a standing ovation curtain call from Twins fans. He also received a Gatorade bath courtesy of teammate Ty France, who was headed to the clubhouse before realizing that nobody had doused Buxton yet after the game. 'It's special,' Buxton said. 'To be able to come out on bobblehead day like this and have a day like this is something I won't forget.'
NBC Sports
10-07-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Twins keep sore Byron Buxton out of starting lineup with bruised hand, but expect All-Star to be fine
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins held All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton out of the starting lineup on Thursday because of a bruised left hand that is not expected to affect his availability for long. Manager Rocco Baldelli said before the game against the Chicago Cubs that Buxton could be available as a substitute — possibly as a pinch-hitter — depending on how the hand was feeling. Buxton was hit by a pitch in the first inning on Wednesday and stayed in the game to run the bases but was removed before his next at-bat. The pitch hit at least part of the protective pad Buxton wears on his hand. X-rays showed no breaks. 'Nothing's really gotten worse from yesterday, but he's definitely sore and for the same reasons he came out of the game yesterday, he's not going to be starting the game today,' Baldelli said. 'I think he's going to be fine and I wouldn't be surprised if he's back out there soon.' Buxton was selected for his second All-Star Game and also chosen as a first-time entrant in the Home Run Derby, but his participation in those events next week in his home state of Georgia did not appear to be in jeopardy. 'We're just going to be seeing how he is today and tomorrow and see what he's capable of,' Baldelli said. 'The next couple of days will basically give us that answer.' The 31-year-old Buxton has 20 home runs through 75 games this year, tied for sixth in the American League. He's also third in the AL in runs and slugging percentage, sixth in OPS and seventh in stolen bases.
10-07-2025
- Sport
Twins keep sore Buxton out of starting lineup with bruised hand, but expect All-Star to be fine
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins held All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton out of the starting lineup on Thursday because of a bruised left hand that is not expected to affect his availability for long. Manager Rocco Baldelli said before the game against the Chicago Cubs that Buxton could be available as a substitute — possibly as a pinch-hitter — depending on how the hand was feeling. Buxton was hit by a pitch in the first inning on Wednesday and stayed in the game to run the bases but was removed before his next at-bat. The pitch hit at least part of the protective pad Buxton wears on his hand. X-rays showed no breaks. 'Nothing's really gotten worse from yesterday, but he's definitely sore and for the same reasons he came out of the game yesterday, he's not going to be starting the game today,' Baldelli said. 'I think he's going to be fine and I wouldn't be surprised if he's back out there soon." Buxton was selected for his second All-Star Game and also chosen as a first-time entrant in the Home Run Derby, but his participation in those events next week in his home state of Georgia did not appear to be in jeopardy. 'We're just going to be seeing how he is today and tomorrow and see what he's capable of,' Baldelli said. 'The next couple of days will basically give us that answer.' The 31-year-old Buxton has 20 home runs through 75 games this year, tied for sixth in the American League. He's also third in the AL in runs and slugging percentage, sixth in OPS and seventh in stolen bases.
Hamilton Spectator
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Twins keep sore Buxton out of starting lineup with bruised hand, but expect All-Star to be fine
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins held All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton out of the starting lineup on Thursday because of a bruised left hand that is not expected to affect his availability for long. Manager Rocco Baldelli said before the game against the Chicago Cubs that Buxton could be available as a substitute — possibly as a pinch-hitter — depending on how the hand was feeling. Buxton was hit by a pitch in the first inning on Wednesday and stayed in the game to run the bases but was removed before his next at-bat. The pitch hit at least part of the protective pad Buxton wears on his hand. X-rays showed no breaks. 'Nothing's really gotten worse from yesterday, but he's definitely sore and for the same reasons he came out of the game yesterday, he's not going to be starting the game today,' Baldelli said. 'I think he's going to be fine and I wouldn't be surprised if he's back out there soon.' Buxton was selected for his second All-Star Game and also chosen as a first-time entrant in the Home Run Derby , but his participation in those events next week in his home state of Georgia did not appear to be in jeopardy. 'We're just going to be seeing how he is today and tomorrow and see what he's capable of,' Baldelli said. 'The next couple of days will basically give us that answer.' The 31-year-old Buxton has 20 home runs through 75 games this year, tied for sixth in the American League. He's also third in the AL in runs and slugging percentage, sixth in OPS and seventh in stolen bases. ___ AP MLB:
San Francisco Chronicle
10-07-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Twins keep sore Buxton out of starting lineup with bruised hand, but expect All-Star to be fine
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins held All-Star center fielder Byron Buxton out of the starting lineup on Thursday because of a bruised left hand that is not expected to affect his availability for long. Manager Rocco Baldelli said before the game against the Chicago Cubs that Buxton could be available as a substitute — possibly as a pinch-hitter — depending on how the hand was feeling. Buxton was hit by a pitch in the first inning on Wednesday and stayed in the game to run the bases but was removed before his next at-bat. The pitch hit at least part of the protective pad Buxton wears on his hand. X-rays showed no breaks. 'Nothing's really gotten worse from yesterday, but he's definitely sore and for the same reasons he came out of the game yesterday, he's not going to be starting the game today,' Baldelli said. 'I think he's going to be fine and I wouldn't be surprised if he's back out there soon." Buxton was selected for his second All-Star Game and also chosen as a first-time entrant in the Home Run Derby, but his participation in those events next week in his home state of Georgia did not appear to be in jeopardy. 'We're just going to be seeing how he is today and tomorrow and see what he's capable of,' Baldelli said. 'The next couple of days will basically give us that answer.' The 31-year-old Buxton has 20 home runs through 75 games this year, tied for sixth in the American League. He's also third in the AL in runs and slugging percentage, sixth in OPS and seventh in stolen bases. ___
