Byron Buxton Advances in MLB Home Run Derby, but Can’t Hang

Minnesota Twins All-Star centerfielder Byron Buxton came into the Home Run Derby with odds that put him in the lower half of potential winners. The Georgia native was excited for an opportunity to perform in Atlanta, and his Brixton was all about the Gatorade and towel.

After a slow start to his first round, Buxton called a timeout and regrouped with third base coach and pitcher Tommy Watkins. It resulted in a nice explosion that had him staring down the leaders. After advancing past the first round though, the slugger tired out.

Second round does Minnesota Twins Byron Buxton in

The Home Run Derby requires both power and athleticism. It’s difficult to swing that hard, that consistently, for that long. The 31-year-old Byron Buxton finished his first round with 20 dingers. That was good for third place behind just Oneil Cruz and Junior Caminero.

Talk about a second half adjustment 😂 pic.twitter.com/0lUkYWH0yw

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 15, 2025

Buxton got to take time off and rest prior to coming back out for the second round. He was the first batter in the head-to-head pairings while taking on the Tampa Bay Rays Caminero. Unfortunately Buxton and Watkins couldn’t find the same rhythm and his seven home runs came up short.

Tommy Watkins throwing brushback pitches at Buxton 😂 pic.twitter.com/CKWYnrolmD

— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) July 15, 2025

Typically Buxton crushes balls thrown up and away in the strike zone. Watkins threw an unintentional brushback pitch to open the second round, and the need to keep swinging tired the Twins centerfielder out. After Cruz hit just 13 home runs in round two, he was eliminated by Cal Raleigh. His 513 foot blast was easily the furthest tank of the night.

THINGS ARE GETTING OUT OF HAND 🤯

ONEIL CRUZ HITS THIS BASEBALL 513 FEET and 118 MPH 🚀 pic.twitter.com/2mtVUCSyEn

— MLB (@MLB) July 15, 2025

Raleigh launched 18 home runs to begin the final round, and Caminero stepped in looking to take the title. As he did against Buxton, the Rays slugger came out on fire and blasted 11 home runs in his first minute but finished with just 14 going into his bonus round. He hit only one more and had Buxton losing to the eventual runner-up.

Minnesota’s slugger wanted to join the event because of the experience it provided for his sons. He did that and then some while advancing past the first round. Unfortunately the MN Twins won’t have a derby winner, but Buxton could make a mark on the All-Star Game Tuesday as he did in 2022 at Dodgers Stadium.