Byron Buxton didn’t play a single major-league inning in center field in 2023. In 2024, he was back in the outfield for 94 games.

For just the second time in his career, the Twins star eclipsed the 100-game mark, finishing at 102. It was an achievement that many people deserve credit for, from Buxton to the team’s medical staff to the coaching staff, all of whom did what they could to keep him healthy and productive.

2024 recap

Buxton entered the season coming off his second knee surgery — his right knee is the reason he did not play center field in 2023. To ease him back in, he took some DH at-bats and had some days off mixed in near the beginning of the season.

But his playing time got more and more consistent, and eventually, he stopped DHing altogether. Buxton, who had expressed that he was not particularly a fan of DHing, did not do so after May 22.

He combined his usual excellent defense with a productive year at the plate, hitting .279 with 18 home runs and a 137 OPS+ (100 is league average and 110 is his career average) in his 102 games.

He was forced to the injured list twice, first for right knee inflammation in May and later for hip inflammation that caused him to miss almost a month from mid-August to mid-September.

In his absence, Austin Martin started the second-most games in center, followed by Willi Castro and Manuel Margot, who is now a free agent. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. reached the majors late in the season and played the position briefly, though was the strongest defensive center fielder option not named Buxton.

2025 outlook

Is 100 games a new benchmark for Buxton, a number he will move past in future seasons?

The Twins sure hope so.

Buxton’s career high in games played came in 2017, when he appeared in 140 of them. After that? He played in 28, 87, 39, 61, 92, 85 and finally 102 last year. Few players can make an impact like Buxton, who is signed through the 2028 season, and that becomes abundantly clear when he’s out of the lineup.

Castro and Martin should see some opportunities there next season if he misses time. And how soon could Emmanuel Rodriguez join the mix?

Rodriguez reached Triple-A at the end of last season. The 21-year-old is the No. 29 prospect overall, per MLB Pipeline. He’s regarded as a strong defender who could stick in center field but could wind up shifting to right.

While the idea of watching him and Buxton run around the same outfield together sounds exciting, he could also be a potential option should Buxton miss an extended period of time.