Lookouts' Byron Buxton Called Up To Twins

Byron Buxton, the No. 1 overall prospect according to MLBPipeline.com, will have his contract purchased by the Twins from Double-A Chattanooga before Sunday's game against the Rangers at 3:05 p.m. ET.
 
A promotion was to be expected given his recent success at the plate and in the field. The Twins will announce a corresponding roster move on Sunday.

"Doug (manager Doug Mientkiewicz) brought everybody in the clubhouse and talked to us a little bit and told me I was coming up, and everyone got wild a little bit and excited," Buxton said. "It was an unbelievable moment. It was definitely unexpected. It caught me by surprise and shock. When I heard my name, just a lot of joy and happiness went through me. I'm just blessed to get the opportunity to get called up to The Show."

The Twins are looking for a spark from Buxton after struggling so far in June after a strong showing in May. Center fielder Aaron Hicks is sidelined with a sore right elbow that could see him placed on the 15-day disabled list, while Torii Hunter is suspended for Sunday's game after dropping his appeal of his two-game suspension on Saturday.

When the Lookouts played in Birmingham Saturday night, Buxton was enroute to Texas for Sunday's game. It seems that his loss to the team made little difference. Chattanoooga, who are in a first place in the Southern League North Division by 4 1/2 games, shutout Birmingham Saturday, 4-0, in their first game without Buxton. The Lookouts magic number to clinch the first-half crown is down to four games. 

As matters stand now, the Lookouts could also lose shortstop Jorge Polanco and third baseman Miguel Sano at some point in another Twins' call up. In Saturday's win at Birmingham, Polanco, who hit lead-off in Buxton's spot, went 2-for-4 while while Sano was 1-for-2 with a double.

Buxton, 21, was hitting .283/.351/.489 with six homers, seven doubles, 12 triples and 37 RBIs in 59 games at Double-A.

Buxton has been a terror on the bases stealing 20 bases in 22 attempts.

 

The center fielder had been on fire recently with a 10-game hitting streak, batting .421/.489/.500 with a double and a triple.

Buxton has stayed healthy this year after missing most of last season with a variety of ailments, including a sprained left wrist, a concussion and a dislocated left finger. He played in just 31 games last season, hitting .234/.307/.395, including just one game at Double-A, as he suffered his concussion in an outfield collision in his first career Double-A game.

He also hit .263/.311/.298 in 13 games in the Arizona Fall League before dislocating his finger, which required surgery.

The Twins selected Buxton out of a Georgia high school with the second overall pick in the 2012 Draft. A year later, he was named TOPPS Minor League Player of the Year and earned All-Star status in both the Midwest and Florida State leagues after posting a .334/.424/.520 slash line with 12 homers, 18 triples, 19 doubles, 77 RBIs, 109 runs scored and 55 stolen bases in 125 games across two levels.

When Buxton takes the field on Sunday in Arlington, Texas, he'll join fellow top 20 prospects Carlos Correa (No. 2), Joey Gallo (No. 8), Noah Syndergaard (No. 9), Archie Bradley (No. 12), Blake Swihart (No. 15) in the Major Leagues.

--- Source: MLB.com