Minnesota Twins star center fielder Byron Buxton believes the club is well positioned to make a strong push toward the postseason after the All-Star break, expressing confidence that the second half of the season will be an exciting one despite the team’s sub-.500 record.
Fresh off the 2026 MLB All-Star festivities in Philadelphia, Buxton said the Twins have all the ingredients needed to climb back into contention. Minnesota enters the second half at 48-49, just three games behind both the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians in a tightly contested American League Central race, leaving everything to play for over the final 65 games.
“It’s going to be fun,” Buxton said. “Just keep being ourselves. We go out there, and we play resilient baseball.”
Buxton watched Tuesday night’s All-Star Game from the stands alongside his family after being unable to start for the American League because of a lingering hip injury. Although disappointed to miss out on playing, the veteran outfielder quickly turned his focus toward helping the Twins make a postseason run once the regular season resumes.
The 31-year-old is expected to be activated from the injured list in time for Friday’s series opener against the Chicago Cubs, providing a significant boost to one of baseball’s most productive offenses. Minnesota has already scored 471 runs in 97 games, leading the American League in offense and trailing only a handful of National League clubs in total runs scored.
Buxton emphasized that the Twins don’t need to change their approach despite the pressure of the playoff race.
“We’re never out of a game, so don’t try to overdo it,” he said. “We know where we are in the division, and we know what our division looks like.”
Instead, Buxton believes success will come from executing the fundamentals consistently, limiting mistakes and capitalizing on scoring opportunities.
“It’s about controlling our destiny by playing good baseball,” he explained. “Error-free baseball. Putting the ball in play when it needs to be put in play and doing the little things that lead to big results.”
Before his injury, Buxton was enjoying one of the best offensive seasons of his career. In 75 games, he ranks among Major League Baseball’s elite hitters, sitting seventh in the majors with 25 home runs and fourth with 58 RBIs, making him one of the biggest reasons Minnesota remains firmly in the playoff hunt.
Although he was frustrated to miss Monday’s Home Run Derby after being voted into the American League’s starting lineup for what would have been his third All-Star appearance, Buxton still traveled to Philadelphia to enjoy the experience with his family.
“It was frustrating not being able to participate,” he admitted. “But my family enjoys this, and I enjoy this. It’s something I cherish because I may never get another opportunity here.”
While Buxton watched from the sidelines, Twins ace Joe Ryan represented Minnesota on the field, delivering an impressive scoreless inning in his second consecutive All-Star appearance. Ryan allowed a leadoff single before striking out Freddie Freeman and C.J. Abrams, then retiring Max Muncy to complete his outing.
Ryan said one of the biggest highlights of the week was spending time with future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander, using the opportunity to learn from one of baseball’s greatest pitchers.
“It was fun talking to him and trying to learn as much as I could,” Ryan said. “You always want to pick the brains of guys you’ve looked up to.”
Former Twins pitcher Louis Varland, now with the Toronto Blue Jays, also impressed during the All-Star Game by throwing a scoreless inning. After pitching in last year’s World Series, Varland described the All-Star experience as one of the highlights of his career and expressed hope of returning in future seasons.
As trade speculation continues to swirl around the league ahead of the deadline, Buxton also reaffirmed his commitment to Minnesota, pointing to the full no-trade clause in his contract and the life his family has built in the Twin Cities.
“That’s why I put a full no-trade in my contract,” Buxton said. “My family loves Minnesota. My kids have grown up there. It’s a special place for us. You wouldn’t just be moving me you’d be moving my entire family and everything we’ve built.”
Despite Minnesota’s 48-49 record entering the All-Star break, Buxton remains convinced the Twins are better than their record suggests and believes the club has what it takes to make a serious run at the postseason.
“We’ve got something special going, and I want to be a part of it,” Buxton said. “Even though the record says otherwise, we’ve got a great team. The second half is going to be fun, and I can’t wait.”
With Buxton nearing his return and Minnesota sitting within striking distance of first place in the AL Central, the Twins will look to turn their confidence into victories as the playoff race intensifies over the final two months of the regular season.
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