Twins Agree to Deal with Number 2 Pick Byron Buxton - East Idaho News
News

Twins Agree to Deal with Number 2 Pick Byron Buxton

  Published at

MLB?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1339519441464Major League Baseball(NEW YORK) — Heading into the 2012 MLB Amateur Draft, outfielder Byron Buxton was projected to be selected as high as number one overall. Instead, he was taken number two overall by the Minnesota Twins. The team and Buxton have agreed to terms on a contract according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Coming out of Appling County High School (GA), Buxton was considered the top player available in the draft. The exact amount of the deal is still unknown, but baseball’s recommended bonus for the second overall pick is $6.2 million.

Buxton was the 2012 Gatorade Georgia Player of the Year. He dazzled on the mound, going 10-1 with 154 strikeouts in 81 innings, but as talented as he is as a pitcher, he’ll make a living with the Twins playing outfield. At the plate, Buxton hit .513, batted in 35 runs, scored 68 runs, and stole 38 bases in 39 attempts.

“His work ethic is unbelievable,” Appling coach Jeremy Smith said. “We have an indoor batting cage and he’ll go up there late at night and hit for hours. He’s the first one to arrive and the last one to leave.”

The Twins were able to land Buxton following a disappointing 2011 season, going just 63-99.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

SUBMIT A CORRECTION