{"id":590857,"date":"2026-02-24T20:41:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:41:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/590857\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:41:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:41:21","slug":"minnesota-twins-star-demanding-center-field-from-team-usa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/590857\/","title":{"rendered":"Minnesota Twins Star Demanding Center Field from Team USA?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"ByronCredit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Byron Buxton joined the Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers for the beginning of Spring Training hoping to replicate the standout season he had in 2025. Per usual, the production will be there as long as Buck is on the field.<\/p>\n

Before he puts on a Twins uniform and runs out to center field for the first time in Baltimore on March 26, Byron Buxton will leave MLB teammates to represent Team USA<\/a> in the World Baseball Classic, which the the United States hasn\u2019t won since 2017.<\/p>\n

\"ByronCredit: Jonah Hinebaugh\/Naples Daily News\/USA Today Network-Florida \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n

What position the MN Twins All-Star center fielder will play for Team USA remains unknown to the general public. The 2026 American squad has only four outfielders on the roster<\/a> so Buck will undoubtedly be on the lineup card regularly.<\/p>\n

The other three USA outfielders are Roman Anthony \u2014 who was recently called upon to replace Corbin Carroll (D-Backs \u2013 broken hamate bone), Aaron Judge (Yankees) and Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs).<\/p>\n

MN Twins star Byron Buxton playing CF only in WBC?<\/p>\n

While Team USA has been quiet about their outfield arrangement leading up to the WBC, most baseball people assumed that 23-year-old<\/a> Arizona Diamondbacks CF Pete Crow-Armstrong \u2014 who won the NL Gold Glove in 2025 \u2014 would be the Americans\u2019 No. 1 choice to roam center field.<\/p>\n

But according to Aaron Gleeman (The Athletic)<\/a> on the latest Gleeman and the Geek episode<\/a>, the Minnesota Twins are being led to believe that Byron Buxton will play center field in the WBC, and that when he isn\u2019t he\u2019ll be DH only, not in the corner outfield.<\/p>\n

\u201cI asked Shelton yesterday, if there\u2019s been any sort of agreement put in place or understanding put in place [on where Buxton will play during the WBC]. He said no, there\u2019s not like anything in writing like this is the only way you\u2019re allowed to use our player or something like that. He did indicate that their expectation is that when Byron Buxton is on the field for Team USA, he will either be the center fielder or the DH.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aaron Gleeman \u2013 Gleeman and the Geek<\/a><\/p>\n

Looking at the Team USA roster, it\u2019s hard to see many opportunities where you\u2019d use Buxton as the designated hitter. Kyle Schwarber is on the squad, and that is his sole position\u2026 because he\u2019s insanely good at it.<\/p>\n

So what does that mean for Buxton, if he\u2019s only willing to play CF? It means that either Byron or Pete Crow-Armstrong will start in CF and the other will likely be the fourth outfielder, which means Buck better hit if he wants to play because he\u2019s not the quality of outfielder at 32 years old, that a decade-younger PCA currently is.<\/p>\n

Pete Crow-Armstrong is coming off a gold glove and is currently considered one of the top two or three center fielders in Major League Baseball. Last season, PCA posted a 15 DRS (defensive runs saved<\/a>, while Buxton put up a -5 DRS.<\/p>\n

\u201cPete Crow-Armstrong has never played anywhere but center in the majors and if people haven\u2019t watched him with the Cubs \u2014 any Cubs fans listening to this are just shaking their head, I\u2019m sure \u2014 but he\u2019s absurd. Like, he is absolutely incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aaron Gleeman \u2013 Gleeman and the Geek<\/a><\/p>\n

Pete Crow-Armstrong was the best defensive OF in baseball in 2025.<\/p>\n

24 OAA
19 5-Star Catches
59.4% conversion on 5-Star chances<\/p>\n

Here are some of his least probable grabs pic.twitter.com\/jaYtYizBJh<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Carson Wolf (@TheWrigleyWire) February 11, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

What does \u2018CF Only\u2019 mean for Byron Buxton and Team USA?<\/p>\n

Obviously, Byron Buxton is still a really good defensive outfielder. He still posted 3 outs above average and 2 fielding value runs in 2025 and the Twins have no plans of moving him to a corner, for that reason. However, he\u2019s not the same guy he was at 23, before suffering 10 careers worth of injuries over the past decade.<\/p>\n

That said, Pete Crow-Armstrong is not the offensive player, at this point in his career, that Buxton is. In 2025 Byron finished No. 11 in MVP voting<\/a> (4.6 WAR), thanks to 35 HR, 83 RBI and 97 R in 126 games for the Minnesota Twins, posting a .247\/.287\/.768 slash line (.768 OPS, 118 OPS+).<\/p>\n

PCA finished No. 9 in 2025 MVP voting<\/a> (6.0 WAR), which speaks to his incredible defense. Offensively, his totals were similar to Buck, because he played 157 games on a good team (31 HR, 95 RBI, 91 R). His .264\/.327\/.551 slash line (.878OPS, 136 OPS+) show Buck\u2019s offensive superiority, however.<\/p>\n

THE HOME RUN THAT COMPLETED BYRON BUXTON’S CYCLE!!!! pic.twitter.com\/bhFUoSYDaT<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 12, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n

Shelton didn\u2019t indicate anything to Gleeman that would hint at feelings being hurt if Byron Buxton were used outside of center field. That said, it wouldn\u2019t make a kit if sense for Team USA manager Mark DeRosa to limit one of his outfielders to a single position, meaning it\u2019s Buck who\u2019s essentially refusing to play anywhere else.<\/p>\n

Aaron Judge is locked in as the Americans\u2019 right fielder, but there is no question a Buxton (LF) + PCA (CF) combination on the other side would be much better than Roman Anthony next to either center fielder.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t look for Buxton to move out of CF for Minnesota Twins either<\/p>\n

Judge, PCA, and Buxton from right to left would give Team USA its best outfield configuration and it sounds like we will not get it. Moving to a corner is in Byron\u2019s future, eventually. But whether playing for his country or the Minnesota Twins, he\u2019s not trying to make that move anytime soon.<\/p>\n

I asked Byron Buxton if he ever sees himself anywhere but in center field?
His response was very Byron, and very true. pic.twitter.com\/kioW6iExE8<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Alec Ausmus (@A_TwiceKSTP) February 19, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, not really. I mean, somebody else come here and they faster than me, I\u2019ll move over. But until then, I ain\u2019t going nowhere. That\u2019s home for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Byron Buxton on whether or not he sees himself playing anywhere but CF (via Alec Ausmus \u2013 KSTP<\/a>)
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Byron Buxton<\/a> World Baseball Classic<\/a> <\/p>\n

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