Byron Buxton reveals the secret to his defensive skills: Self-preservation
Buxton reveals the secret to his defensive skills
Byron Buxton's 2014 was cut short by injuries, but there's still plenty of anticipation for 2015. MLB.com ranked him as the top prospect heading into this coming season, and Twins fans are already eagerly anticipating seeing his five tools in action at Target Field.
One of those tools: A knack for chasing down fly balls in center field. His prospect profile lists fielding as his second-best skill, behind only his running.
In the 29 games he played in 2014, Buxton sported a 1.000 fielding percentage; in 2013, he made catches like this:
So where did he learn to play the outfield like that? At TwinsFest, Buxton explained:
"The only reason I started catching fly balls was because I got hit in the head with a fly ball."
So it's not that Buxton wants to make the catch -- it's that he needs to. Nothing like a good whack on the noggin that'll make you catch everything that comes your way.