Twins outfielder Byron Buxton is off to a good start and could be a candidate for the American League Comeback Player of the Year. In a recent sit-down with MLB.com, Buxton talks about why being himself is important to him and the help he received from his family and mentor, Torii Hunter.

MLB.com: How comfortable are you this season and why?

Buxton: I’m very comfortable. I had a good offseason. I found myself, got back to being myself. That’s the biggest key. You must have the confidence. You have to feel you are able to be yourself. Me being able to be myself, that takes a lot thinking and pressure off me.

MLB.com: How did you find yourself?

Buxton: Worked. That’s the only way you can find it. You have to work [at this game], train, hit in the cage, try to find my swing. I found something that was comfortable for me.

MLB.com: How much did your wife [Lindsey] and son [Brixton] -- I know he is a baby -- help you find yourself?

Buxton: Oh, a lot. That’s my backbone. I know they are my biggest supporters. They have my back no matter what. Just them by my side through the tough times is what really matters. The good times are when we all make those good memories. That was huge, especially me going into the offseason. I get to see them every day. I saw my little boy every day, just seeing him smile is all that matters to me.

MLB.com: What did your wife say to you that made you say, “Hey, this year is going to be different?"

Buxton: Be you. That’s all everybody else was telling me. I tried to do something I can’t. I took a step back and just told myself to relax. Why put pressure on yourself and everybody else has to do the same thing … control what I can control. That’s me going out there, play great defense, have great at-bats and trying to help the Twins win.

MLB.com: How much did Torii Hunter help you this offseason? I know he is a mentor to a lot of players on the Twins.

Buxton: Big. No matter time of the night or day, I can call him and talk about anything, whether it’s baseball, family stuff, it doesn’t really matter. That’s a big mentor I look up to. No matter what, he has my back.

MLB.com: What’s the biggest thing he said to you?

Buxton: Be you. That’s what everybody told me. Obviously, if everybody is telling me, “Be you.” Then I’m obviously not being myself.

MLB.com: You were one of the best prospects a few years back. Did you put a lot of pressure on yourself because of all that publicity?

Buxton: I did. When I first got up here, I don’t think I understood as much as I do now. I had a lot of pressure on my shoulders, and [I was] worrying about way too much rather than coming out here and playing baseball. Like I said, I took the offseason and threw everything out and turned the page.

MLB.com: I read the story where Rocco Baldelli went to Georgia to see you. How much of a difference did that make to you?

Buxton: It was huge. The new manager is getting off on the foot like that --- him taking the time to come all the way to Georgia just to meet me. It’s something I can’t put into words. After he left, it was one of the things where I couldn’t wait to get to Spring Training. I couldn’t wait to get the boys back together and get out and do what we are doing.

MLB.com: How much credit do you give Baldelli to your nice start? You are doing well.

Buxton: He [helped me do] well. He just told me to come out and be yourself, play aggressively and have fun. He preaches to have fun a lot. That’s one thing I got away from a little bit -- was having fun with the game. I also put a little more pressure on me to come out here and say, “I have to do this, I have to do that,” rather than come out here and have quality at-bats. I try to do just one little thing a day, whether it’s a stolen base, run, keeping the runner off second. The little things are what counts.

MLB.com: That seems to be the theme. Be yourself. As one of the top Draft picks, did you feel you had to hit a lot of home runs to drive in a lot of runs?

Buxton: I really wasn’t a home run guy. ... That was one of the biggest things -- when I got to pro ball -- that Torii, Michael Cuddyer, Justin Morneau and Paul Molitor [tried to tell me not to do]. I tried to elevate the ball to try to hit it out. They would ask, “Why are you different?” I’m trying to hit it out. I didn’t understand. Try to hit it through the wall. You hit it through the wall and stay through the zone longer. Those little things right there. …

MLB.com: It seems like the Twins are having fun. The Twins are not going away. What do you think?

Buxton: We are having a lot of fun. This is our squad. This is it. We have a lot of fun in the clubhouse. We have a lot of fun on the field. We play hard, play aggressive. That’s how we come up with our DNA.

MLB.com: I have to ask you about last year. I know it wasn’t pleasant. How disappointed were you that you didn’t get back to the big leagues? I know you had your share of injuries.

Buxton: It is what it is. I turned the page. Just glad to be up [in the big leagues]. I’m glad to be helping the team win. I’m glad to be up here being myself. Just being up here, being in this clubhouse, being out here and being able to put on a big league uniform, that’s the biggest thing to me. That’s something you can’t take for granted. I come out here each and every day, and I thank the Lord that I’m able and blessed enough to come out here and play this game each and every day. I’m lucky.

MLB.com: I have to ask about your defense. How did you get to be the Gold Glove-caliber player that you became?

Buxton: My dad. He was more of that go-getter type of guy. Once I’m out there, I make my mind up that I’m going to catch this ball. I’m going to go get it no matter what it takes. My dad is the same way. I tried to tell him to sit back, relax. He said, “I’m not doing that.” That’s where I get it from.

You hear it all the time: Lay off the wall. In reality, it’s just instincts. That’s built into me from my dad.

MLB.com: Speaking of laying off the wall: I’ve seen you get hurt because you hit the wall so many times. Have you thought about laying off the wall?

Buxton: There is no point in it. If you are going to come out here and you want to win, you do what you have to do to help your team win. You have but one life. I’m going to make the most of it while I can.

MLB.com: I remember in the Wild Card Game against the Yankees in 2017, you were hurt because you ran into the wall. I said, "Man, he should take it easy." But you are not going to take easy, are you?

Buxton: No, I’m not. I’m going to play my way. That’s me going out there playing reckless. I like playing aggressive. I like challenging people. Defense is a big part of me. My dad told me that defense wins championships. So I take a lot of pride in it.

MLB.com: Have you figured it out at the plate?

Buxton: I’m still learning. I’m learning every day, but I have a little bit better approach. I'm just kind of taking it from there. I don’t try to do too much.

MLB.com: No more going for the home runs?

Buxton: Just make solid contact. The ball will do what it does once it hits contact.

MLB.com: I’ve watch the Twins the last two weeks and I’m saying, "Man, they have pitching and the offense is coming around, especially the way the team handled Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom." Is this team good enough to win the Central Division?

Buxton: Yeah, we are good enough. That’s the whole point of it. Me, personally, I’m glad people don’t think we are what we are. It makes more people mad. That’s how we like it.