Minnesota Twins centerfielder Byron Buxton etched his name in MLB history by hitting for the cycle in today’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The two-time All-Star completed it with a monstrous solo home run off Andrew Heaney in the seventh inning to accomplish this feat, seen below.
Buxton started the day with an infield single in the bottom of the first inning. The Twins batted around in the second inning with the 31-year-old legging out a triple on a hit to centerfield. He then hit a ground-rule double in the third inning and added another single in the fifth inning. Buxton then completed the cycle with a 427-foot home run in the seventh inning to expand the lead to 11-3 (also cashing one of DK Network’s HR picks for the day courtesy of Zach Thompson). Buxton finished the day a perfect 5-for-5 with three runs and two RBIs.
He is the first Twins player to hit for the cycle since 2019 and just the second player in the MLB this season. Buxton joins Carson Kelly of the Cubs on the list of players to achieve this in the 2025 season. This also marks the 350th cycle in MLB history and the first of Buxton’s career.
Buxton has battled some injuries in his career but his level of production speaks for itself. He entered the game slashing .273/.340/.543 on the season and is now up to 21 home runs and 55 RBIs. The former Gold Glover is making his second All-Star appearance this season and will be looking to help this Twins team in the second half of the campaign.
Currently, Minnesota is 47-48 on the year and is three games out of a Wild Card spot. With the Detroit Tigers running away with the division and having climbed to -3500 favorites to win it on DraftKings Sportsbook, the Wild Card feels like Minnesota’s only pathway to the postseason.
Minnesota is tied for the eighth-best odds to win the American League at +3000 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
