Buxton will struggle some, but excite always

Byron Buxton hit a routine pop-up to second base. Not a moonshot, not a line drive. Just a pop-up.

As the ball landed in the second baseman's glove, Buxton was closing in on second base. He ran very fast and very far along the base paths to make even a routine play look interesting and kind of exciting.

That particular play in a minor league game a few weeks ago came to mind with the news Saturday afternoon that Buxton had been called up for his debut with the Twins.

Buxton will endure his share of struggles just like every other young player getting his first taste of Major League Baseball. He's going to hit pop-ups, and he's going to strike out. But he's sure the heck going to make things more exciting and interesting this summer.

The Twins unwrapped their prized prospect as their deflating regression to reality continued in Texas. Their fun ride has come to a screeching halt so the organization finally gave fans what they have been pining for since Buxton became the crown jewel of a highly regarded farm system in 2012.

No more tease. No more wait. No more checking Chattanooga Lookouts boxscores to see how many triples the Buxton Blur has to hit before the organization gives him a shot.

A new era begins Sunday.

Buxton isn't naïve, though. He knows what to expect. He knows what's been said and written about him and Miguel Sano and how those two represent the future face of the organization and how they are viewed as saviors who will lead the Minnesota Twins out of an abyss.

But hey, no pressure, kid. Try and breathe, if possible.

"You don't want to pressure yourself [and think], 'Oh, you've got to do this to get up there,' " Buxton told me during a recent trip to Chattanooga. "Just play your game and come out here and have fun."

Hopefully, he is able to keep that same focus and mindset on the big stage because that will be his best path to success.

Buxton is a generational talent. He's so physically gifted in different areas — hitting, fielding, running — that scouts believe he has superstar potential.

But Buxton's time is finally here and now the Twins can begin to put the puzzle together as their nucleus of young talent starts to filter in.

Paul Molitor should be happy that he can write down Buxton's name in the lineup in center field and let him grow and learn on the job day after day after day. The future is now.

Buxton will make his biggest impact right away on defense and with his speed on the base paths. His speed is unique. You just don't see guys that fast.

He hit 12 triples and an inside-the-park home run in 59 games for Class AA Chattanooga. He's so fast that he occasionally beats out routine grounders if the infielder isn't alert.

Twins fans will marvel at Buxton's speed on hits to the gap. I asked Buxton recently about his proclivity for hitting more triples than doubles.

Buxton's promotion also gives the Twins an opportunity to field one of the fastest outfields in baseball with a lineup that features Buxton in center, Aaron Hicks (assuming he's healthy) in right field and Eddie Rosario in left.

Torii Hunter remains their regular right fielder. But Molitor has better and more intriguing options now.

That's a good thing because the Twins desperately need a jolt. They need something to stop this slump from snowballing into another lost summer.

Buxton's arrival alone might not stop this freefall, but the Twins had to give him his chance. He's ready.

Now, it's time to see it in person.

Chip Scoggins • chip.scoggins@startribune.com