CLEVELAND -- Byron Buxton joined an exclusive club on Wednesday night, and it’s not just the numbers that make it special. It’s the names.
Buxton stole the 100th base of his career in the 4-2 loss to the Guardians, making him the eighth player in Minnesota Twins history to reach that milestone. More notably, he became the third player since the franchise moved to the Twin Cities to reach both 100 steals and 100 homers.
Buxton joined Kirby Puckett and Torii Hunter, and it couldn’t be a more appropriate fit. They are unquestionably the three greatest center fielders in Minnesota history, combining for 25 Opening Day starts at the position. Puckett is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He and Hunter are both in the Twins Hall of Fame, and Buxton is very likely to join them one day.
“Being in a group with those two top center fielders that put on this uniform that played in the position that I’m playing … it’s special,” Buxton said. “It’s hard to put into words now. I’m blessed. That’s pretty much all I can say.”
Buxton has 139 home runs in his career. He’s one of 26 active Major Leaguers to have reached the 100/100 mark.
“He’s a very well-rounded, exciting player and he can do so many things on the field,” said manager Rocco Baldelli. “There’s only so many guys that have the ability to contribute in those different ways. It’s a great accomplishment, but he’s also going to accomplish even further things related to this, related to his legs and his bat. So it’s a pretty cool thing.”