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Buxton On Pace for 50 HRs, Boosts Durability

6/12/2026

44 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Byron Buxton is on pace to hit 50 home runs in 2026.
He has played 57 of the Twins’ 69 games this season, improving durability after injuries.
Buxton has 20 homers, the third Twin ever to reach that mark through 69 games.
His .493 slugging percentage ranks 22nd among active qualified players.
He leads with a 56.5% fly-ball rate and a 23.8° launch angle, up from 17.7° last season.

History

Historical Context

After the 1994 strike left fans disillusioned, the 1998 home-run race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa revived MLB interest, culminating on September 8 1998 when McGwire hit his 62nd homer to break Roger Maris’s record and finished with 70. That surge of power now echoes in the Twins’ 2026 projection of Byron Buxton’s 50-home-run season, influencing power expectations and contract valuations.

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Story summary

Byron Buxton is on pace to hit 50 home runs in 2026.
He has played 57 of the Twins’ 69 games this season, improving durability after injuries.
Buxton has 20 homers, the third Twin ever to reach that mark through 69 games.
His .493 slugging percentage ranks 22nd among active qualified players.
He leads with a 56.5% fly-ball rate and a 23.8° launch angle, up from 17.7° last season.

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