The clip is so cartoonish that it almost seems fake. A harmless hit to center field that would result in a single for 99.9999999 percent of baseball players.
Byron Buxton represents the other .0000001 percent.
Buxton left a vapor trail on the basepaths as he turned a routine single into a ridiculous double at Detroit over the weekend. No matter how many times it gets replayed, it's still hard to grasp how a soft flare to the shallow part of the outfield with no misplay by the fielder can end up being a double.
"There are some times I actually think he hits a ground ball to second and he's thinking double," Twins Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey joked.
Buxton's highlight plays are becoming more common and showcasing more than just his defensive wizardry. We're seeing the player we've all heard about hypothetically for years starting to develop into a complete package.
One obvious disclaimer: The season is not even at the halfway mark. Buxton still must prove himself as a hitter over a longer period before concrete declarations are offered.
But something with Buxton looks different. He looks confident, relaxed. He looks like he steps into the batter's box with a plan and no longer appears overmatched.
Buxton's defense has always been A-plus, but now he's on pace for career highs in every offensive category. He is hitting for higher average with more power and creating havoc with his speed.