When the Twins traded both Ben Revere and Denard Span in the offseason leading up to 2013, they willingly created two immediate voids with an eye toward better days ahead. Not only did they deal away two men who could play center field, they traded away two guys who naturally fit as leadoff hitters.

The Twins had drafted their center fielder and possible leadoff man of the future in the summer of 2012 in the speedy, patient, rangy and powerful Byron Buxton.

And it had not felt like they had a true leadoff hitter since 2012 … until Buxton filled that spot Monday night.

hope yet Alex Meyer, acquired in the Denard Span trade, has allowed one earned run in 16 1/3 innings with 19 Ks since moving to the Rochester bullpen.

self-promotion My wife and I wrote a marathon blog for startribune.com, and our final post after Grandma's Marathon is now online.