Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Twins are just weeks away from Spring Training, which will start in mid-February. Derek Falvey still has plenty of heavy lifting to do, with the roster, before we get there too, if the Twins really want to compete in the AL Central like he and his new manager Derek Shelton claim.
One position that is set in stone, however, is center field. Byron Buxton isn’t just the greatest Twins of all time, but he has blossomed into one of the best outfielders in all of baseball.
And 2025 was inarguably the best season of his 11-year big league career, when you combine health with production. Buxton finished 11th in MVP voting, after playing 126 games and batting .264 with a .327 OBP, .878 OPS and 5.0 fWAR.
Byron Buxton with a cycle on bobblehead day! pic.twitter.com/tGTTkD9p1N
— Ted (@tlschwerz) July 12, 2025
Most importantly, though, Buck stepped to the plate 542 times, also a career-high. And with the increase in opportunities, came way more production. In 2025, the 32-year-old powered out 35 home runs, drove in 83 runs and scored 41 walks — all career highs.
When the dust settled, Byron Buxton finished just outside the top 10 in MVP voting, at No. 11, which cost him hundreds of millions in bonus payments on his contract.
MN Twins superstar representing in WBC
But come March, just before the MN Twins season gets started, Buxton will leave the team in Fort Myers and join his new temporary teammates on the USA National Team, for the highly anticipated 2026 World Baseball Classic, after his inclusion on the final roster was made official Monday morning.
Byron Buxton 🤝 Team USA
The @Twins outfielder is joining the squad for the World Baseball Classic! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Ut6FXE0TeO
— USA Baseball (@USABaseball) January 12, 2026
It had been previously reported that the Minnesota Twins’ star center fielder made Team USA’s preliminary roster for the WBC, but it did not become official until this morning. March will be the first time Byron Buxton has competed for Team USA, in the World Baseball Classic.
Joe Ryan will also join Team USA
Byron Buxton is not the only Minnesota Twin expected to play for Team USA, come March. Starting pitcher Joe Ryan was also named to the preliminary roster, back in early December, along with Buck.
Ryan pitched for Team USA in the 2020 Summer Olympics, which were actually held in the Summer of 2021, shortly after the Twins acquired the righty starter from Tampa Bay. He was good for the stars and stripes back then, but he will be even better now.
Some current and past Twins players who have participated in the WBC recently include Jose Berrios (Puerto Rico), Carlos Correa (Puerto Rico), Pablo Lopez (Venezuela), Luis Arraez (Venezuela), Justin Morneau (Canada),, Edouard Julien (Canada), among plenty of others.
Last time the World Baseball Classic took place, we got a showdown unlike any other. With the title on the line, Mike Trout stepped in against Shohei Ohtani while they were both teammates for the Los Angeles Angels.
Some of the most memorable moments from the 2023 World Baseball Classic
A THREAD 🧵
1. Shohei Ohtani strikes out Mike Trout and Japan wins the WBC title 🏆 pic.twitter.com/Qe2mDGlP6R
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 21, 2024
Thankfully, both Ryan and Buxton will represent Team USA, who most of us will be cheering for. Team USA begins pool play at 7pm on March 6th in Houston. Buxton and Ryan will be away from the MN Twins during spring training, while they play in the World Baseball Classic.
Mentioned in this article: Byron Buxton World Baseball Classic
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