Twins' Baldelli on Buxton: 'No better player in the world'

Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli on OF Byron Buxton: 'No better player in the world than him'

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 4/24/22

When baseball fans and media members are asked to name the best player in the sport today, common answers include reigning MVPs Shohei Ohtani and Bryce Harper, as well as Mike Trout, Ronald Acuña Jr. or Juan Soto. Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli made his opinion clear on Sunday that he feels that the top player in the game patrols center field for his club.

Rocco Baldelli on Byron Buxton: "Right now, there's no better player in the world than him." pic.twitter.com/PkHfocXpoc
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) April 24, 2022

Baldelli dished his praise on Buxton following the Twins 6-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday in which the centerfielder played a crucial role.

Byron Buxton starts the game 0-for-3 with three strikeouts, falls behind 0-2 in his fourth at-bat ... and then launches a game-tying two-run homer to the opposite field on a 94.1 mph sinker.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) April 24, 2022

Byron Buxton figured out a way to ensure the #MNTwins don't spoil one of his signature moments again.

Have *another* signature moment. Holy shit. Three-run walk-off homer to complete a sweep over the White Sox.

Oh, and the Twins take possession of first place in the AL Central.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) April 24, 2022

Buxton has spent his entire career in Minnesota after being selected with the second overall pick in the 2012 MLB June Amateur Draft. Despite boasting uber talent at the dish, on the basepaths and in the field, much of Buxton's playing career has been marred by injuries since he made his big-league debut in 2015.

His best season came in 2017, when he set career highs in games played (140), at-bats (462), runs scored (69), hits (117), triples (six), RBIs (51) and steals (29), while capturing a Gold Glove award. Coming into Sunday's action, Buxton was off to an 11-for-32 start in 2021 to go with four home runs, six RBIs, eight runs scored and four doubles.

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