Just a year into his major league career, Byron Buxton took off for third base. He was thrown out.

Buxton, one of the most successful base stealers of all time, didn’t attempt to do so again for more than nine years, finally trying it out on Friday night. The center fielder made it there without a throw and with the stolen base, slid into the Twins’ record books.

His first career steal of third base was also his 20th of the season, making him just the seventh Twin to become part of the 20 home run, 20 stolen base club. It was the highlight of the Twins’ 7-4 win over the San Diego Padres in the series opener at Target Field. An inning later, he stole another base as part of a four-run inning in which Padres starter, Nestor Cortes, was ejected right as he was seemingly about to be pulled from the game and the Twins broke away from the Padres.

Though he’s never taken off for third during manager Rocco Baldelli’s tenure, Baldelli said he wasn’t necessarily surprised to see it on Friday.

“It’s not something that he’s, I think, intentionally shied away from. I think he probably thinks ‘I can score on pretty much almost anything that’s put into play regardless,’ ” Baldelli said. “But I’m glad he did it. Just seeing the smile on his face after the game, there’s not too many things that he’s still doing for the first time. It’s Byron Buxton. But that, I think, he was waiting, that’s just one box I think he was waiting to check.”

The center fielder, who is the first to accomplish the feat since Brian Dozier did so in 2014, now has an outside shot to become the first Twin to reach 30/30, needing three more home runs and nine stolen bases to accomplish it.

Buxton has never hit 30 home runs or stolen 30 bases in his career, though that is more due to health than anything. If he stays healthy throughout the rest of the season, it doesn’t seem to be outside the realm of possibilities.

“The way he has played, he’s going to hit a lot of marks. He really is,” Baldelli said. “He’s not even close to done right now. He looks terrific. His legs, he’s flying around the bases. He’s doing everything he would like to do. Every day he could do something different and wow you and put up some huge number and impress us again and he’ll continue to do that.”

Meanwhile, Buxton, who hit a single and drove in two runs in the game, had plenty of help from his teammates. Trevor Larnach had a team-high three hits, including one in the fourth inning that put the Twins up by three. It came right after a fielding error by Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth allowed a pair of runs to score.

That helped make a winner of starter Zebby Matthews, who gave up three runs (two earned) and pitched into the seventh inning.

López nears return

Pablo López’s return is on the horizon.

López, who made his second rehab start with the Triple-A Saints on Tuesday in Toledo, Ohio, has plans to fly back to Toledo to link back up with the Saints and make another outing on Sunday. The starting pitcher has been on the injured list since early June with a teres major strain.

His goal in what he expects to be his final rehab start is to last five innings and throw around 75-80 pitches.

“Last one, best one,” he said. “I still have to remember that it’s been almost three months with a semi-major shoulder injury, so kind of take one more game to feel things out physically, mechanically, pitching wise (and) polish some things up. “

Though he admitted the back and forth is “a little weird,” his reasons for returning to the Twin Cities in between rehab starts are trifold. One, he said, it’s more fun. Two, he wanted to get back for his dog, Bosco. And three, he wanted to throw in front of pitching coaches Pete Maki and Luis Ramirez.

“I’m still trying to feel some things to make sure that I’m not as worried about my velo or things like that,” Lopez said. “Just making sure that I’m feeling healthy. And I’m checking all my marks with the mental cues I have when I’m pitching, so always good to throw, do my plyos, my towel drills, my long toss, having Pete and Luis right there with me.”

Briefly

The Twins have listed Taj Bradley as Saturday’s starter with Joe Ryan scheduled to start on Sunday. The last time through the rotation, Mick Abel started the day before Bradley. The Twins currently have six starters on the major league roster.

Originally Published: August 29, 2025 at 10:20 PM CDT