Weight Room Won’t Help Buxton Hit the Curve or Stop Hitting Walls

From all accounts, it’s been a very good offseason for the two most important Minnesota Twins currently on the roster. There are rumors that Sano looks great physically and that he seems focused. And now, Byron Buxton has reportedly put on 21 pounds of pure muscle baby.

Though he still feels the sting from the end of 2018, Byron Buxton, who has added 21 pounds of muscle this winter and has been hitting since October, is doing everything in his power to move on and look forward to 2019. https://t.co/v927sb6Xo8

— Dan Hayes (@DanHayesMLB) January 24, 2019

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So, are we all going to pretend now like putting on 21 pounds of muscle has anything to do with Byron Buxton’s issues at the MLB level?

I don’t care how much bulk and/or manliness you have, hitting walls like Byron Buxton does isn’t going to be conducive to a productive MLB career.

CRASH TEST DUMMIES DON’T LIVE LONG

One of Byron’s best traits in the outfield (and he has a lot of good ones) is fearlessness. This guy doesn’t fear the wall. The wall fears him.

However, once physical contact actually takes place, Buxton always loses. You can’t expect to stay healthy and in rhythm at the plate when you destroy your body in the outfield. Something has to change with this or Buxton will never complete a season with over 100 games played.

While his biggest issue on defense looks attractive and exciting on its face, Byron’s deficiencies at the plate are ugly from all angles.

Everyone knows the problem so let’s not dance on the subject. He can’t hit a breaking ball to save his life. Another issue that can’t be fixed in the weight room.

I love Byron Buxton. I love him as a person and I love the way he plays baseball when healthy and confident.

Not only do I like Byron, but I also need him to succeed. I need the Twins back in my life. I need the MLB Playoffs back in my life. It’s funny that we talk about the constant decline of baseball over the last 20 years, yet many of my favorite memories involve the Twins. Unfortunately, seeing as I was just 2 years old in 1991, most of those happy memories are from game 163’s and early-round exits.

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However, I need to see Byron Buxton succeed to believe it at this point. I need to see that he is over the mental hurdle he hasn’t been able to jump yet. He needs to believe that he can play in the MLB. That he can hit those curveballs and face off against the best in the league successfully.

Our favorite baseball team is currently looking down two different paths and Buck will be the deciding factor on which path is taken. We’ll know where we are going very soon too. The fanbase is tired of the losing and tired of hearing about the future of Buxton and Sano and the front office knows it. In 2019, the chips are all on the table.

BACKPEDALING AND POSITIVITY TO FINISH

Though hitting the weight room and adding that manly muscle doesn’t seem like it would fix his issues with walls and breaking balls, there could be positive impact mentally.

Deion said it best.

Also, as mentioned at the beginning of this article, Byron Buxton isn’t the only key to the Minnesota Twins’ future, and to a successful 2019. 

From all reports, Miguel Sano is looking lean, mean, and has bought into the professional offseason unlike he ever has in the past. With Sano, the problem isn’t mental. At least not in the same way as Buxton

Sano doesn’t lack self confidence. If he’s bought in and focused, the league is in for the arrival of Miguel Sano in a massive way.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan