Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves

Georgia native Byron Buxton announces participation in Home Run Derby

The Twins center fielder hails from Baxley, Georgia.
Byron Buxton announced he will participate in MLB’s annual Home Run Derby, taking place July 14 at Truist Park. (Bruce Kluckhohn/AP)

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

Byron Buxton announced he will participate in MLB’s annual Home Run Derby, taking place July 14 at Truist Park. (Bruce Kluckhohn/AP)
By Olivia Sayer
4 hours ago

Twins center fielder Byron Buxton announced he will participate in MLB’s Home Run Derby, taking place July 14 at Truist Park as a part of All-Star Week.

Buxton is the first participant this season hailing from the host state of Georgia.

The Twins outfielder earned his second All-Star appearance Sunday, being voted in as an American League reserve by MLB players and the Commissioner’s Office. He is batting .270 this season with 20 home runs and ranks second — only behind Aaron Judge — in fWAR for AL outfielders.

Buxton is from Baxley, Georgia, and attended Appling County High School. The 31-year-old was committed to play baseball for the University of Georgia before the Twins selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft.

He is the fourth player to announce their involvement in the Derby, along with Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, Nationals left fielder James Wood, and Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr.

About the Author

Olivia Sayer joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in May 2025 as an intern on the sports beat. She is earning a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia with a minor in sport management and a sports media certificate. Olivia previously held the titles of digital and assistant sports editor at The Red & Black.

Follow Olivia Sayer on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani rounds third base before scoring on a double hit by Freddie Freeman, not pictured, during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Monday, June 9, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez)

Credit: AP

Freeman, Smith join Ohtani to give Dodgers 3 All-Star starters. Tigers also have 3

Nationals slugger James Wood joins Ronald Acuña Jr., Cal Raleigh as participants in Home Run Derby

George Springer homers twice, Blue Jays sweep Yankees to take AL East lead

The Latest

Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies hit a single on Sunday. Yay.

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez/AJC

Braves Report: Yikes, Part 89

Four takeaways from the Braves’ being swept by the Orioles

Braves fall to season-worst 11 games under .500 after 2-1 loss to Orioles

Featured

Scott Jackson (right), business service consultant for WorkSource Fulton, helps job seekers with their applications in a mobile career center at a job fair hosted by Goodwill Career Center in Atlanta. (Ziyu Julian Zhu/AJC)

Credit: Ziyu Julian Zhu/AJC

Unemployment in Georgia is down, but so is the labor force. Why?

Georgia’s labor force has declined by nearly 30,000 compared to May last year. Here are some reasons why.

Georgia appeals court rules election boards must certify results

The Georgia Court of Appeals ruled that election board members are required to certify election results even when they have concerns about fraud or errors.

Atlanta crypto biz owner caught up in fraud says it’s ‘like living in a James Bond movie’

Prosecutors say North Korean IT specialists are 'infiltrating' tech companies in the U.S. as remote workers to steal money from businesses and funnel it back to North Korea.