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Minnesota Twins Star Demanding Center Field from Team USA?
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- Minnesota Twins Star Demanding Center Field from Team USA?
Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Byron Buxton joined the Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers for the beginning of Spring Training hoping to replicate the standout season he had in 2025. Per usual, the production will be there as long as Buck is on the field.
Before he puts on a Twins uniform and runs out to center field for the first time in Baltimore on March 26, Byron Buxton will leave MLB teammates to represent Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, which the the United States hasn't won since 2017.
Credit: Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily News/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
What position the MN Twins All-Star center fielder will play for Team USA remains unknown to the general public. The 2026 American squad has only four outfielders on the roster so Buck will undoubtedly be on the lineup card regularly.
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The other three USA outfielders are Roman Anthony — who was recently called upon to replace Corbin Carroll ( D-Backs – broken hamate bone), Aaron Judge ( Yankees ) and Pete Crow-Armstrong ( Cubs ).
MN Twins star Byron Buxton playing CF only in WBC?
While Team USA has been quiet about their outfield arrangement leading up to the WBC, most baseball people assumed that 23-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks CF Pete Crow-Armstrong — who won the NL Gold Glove in 2025 — would be the Americans' No. 1 choice to roam center field.
But according to Aaron Gleeman (The Athletic) on the latest Gleeman and the Geek episode , the Minnesota Twins are being led to believe that Byron Buxton will play center field in the WBC, and that when he isn't he'll be DH only, not in the corner outfield.
"I asked Shelton yesterday, if there's been any sort of agreement put in place or understanding put in place. He said no, there's not like anything in writing like this is the only way you're allowed to use our player or something like that. He did indicate that their expectation is that when Byron Buxton is on the field for Team USA, he will either be the center fielder or the DH."
Looking at the Team USA roster, it's hard to see many opportunities where you'd use Buxton as the designated hitter. Kyle Schwarber is on the squad, and that is his sole position… because he's insanely good at it.
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So what does that mean for Buxton, if he's only willing to play CF? It means that either Byron or Pete Crow-Armstrong will start in CF and the other will likely be the fourth outfielder, which means Buck better hit if he wants to play because he's not the quality of outfielder at 32 years old, that a decade-younger PCA currently is.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is coming off a gold glove and is currently considered one of the top two or three center fielders in Major League Baseball. Last season, PCA posted a 15 DRS (defensive runs saved , while Buxton put up a -5 DRS.
"Pete Crow-Armstrong has never played anywhere but center in the majors and if people haven't watched him with the Cubs — any Cubs fans listening to this are just shaking their head, I'm sure — but he's absurd. Like, he is absolutely incredible."
Pete Crow-Armstrong was the best defensive OF in baseball in 2025.
24 OAA
19 5-Star Catches
59.4% conversion on 5-Star chances
Here are some of his least probable grabs pic.twitter.com/jaYtYizBJh— Carson Wolf (@TheWrigleyWire) February 11, 2026
What does 'CF Only' mean for Byron Buxton and Team USA?
Obviously, Byron Buxton is still a really good defensive outfielder. He still posted 3 outs above average and 2 fielding value runs in 2025 and the Twins have no plans of moving him to a corner, for that reason. However, he's not the same guy he was at 23, before suffering 10 careers worth of injuries over the past decade.
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That said, Pete Crow-Armstrong is not the offensive player, at this point in his career, that Buxton is. In 2025 Byron finished No. 11 in MVP voting (4.6 WAR), thanks to 35 HR, 83 RBI and 97 R in 126 games for the Minnesota Twins, posting a .247/.287/.768 slash line (.768 OPS, 118 OPS+).
PCA finished No. 9 in 2025 MVP voting (6.0 WAR), which speaks to his incredible defense. Offensively, his totals were similar to Buck, because he played 157 games on a good team (31 HR, 95 RBI, 91 R). His .264/.327/.551 slash line (.878OPS, 136 OPS+) show Buck's offensive superiority, however.
THE HOME RUN THAT COMPLETED BYRON BUXTON'S CYCLE!!!! pic.twitter.com/bhFUoSYDaT
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 12, 2025
Shelton didn't indicate anything to Gleeman that would hint at feelings being hurt if Byron Buxton were used outside of center field. That said, it wouldn't make a kit if sense for Team USA manager Mark DeRosa to limit one of his outfielders to a single position, meaning it's Buck who's essentially refusing to play anywhere else.
Aaron Judge is locked in as the Americans' right fielder, but there is no question a Buxton (LF) + PCA (CF) combination on the other side would be much better than Roman Anthony next to either center fielder.
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Don't look for Buxton to move out of CF for Minnesota Twins either
Judge, PCA, and Buxton from right to left would give Team USA its best outfield configuration and it sounds like we will not get it. Moving to a corner is in Byron's future, eventually. But whether playing for his country or the Minnesota Twins, he's not trying to make that move anytime soon.
I asked Byron Buxton if he ever sees himself anywhere but in center field?
His response was very Byron, and very true. pic.twitter.com/kioW6iExE8— Alec Ausmus (@A_TwiceKSTP) February 19, 2026
"No, not really. I mean, somebody else come here and they faster than me, I'll move over. But until then, I ain't going nowhere. That's home for me."
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