What the Addition of 32-Year-Old Outfielder Means for the Team USA Roster
Team USA has secured another outfielder for the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Byron Buxton. The 32-year-old outfielder joins his Minnesota Twins teammate, starting pitcher Joe Ryan, to become the second pair of MLB teammates on Team USA’s roster alongside New York Mets pitchers Clay Holmes and Nolan McLean. Before Buxton’s commitment, Team USA already had a stacked outfield with Corbin Carroll, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Aaron Judge. The addition of the 32-year-old could bring balance to the team in multiple aspects. Buxton and Judge serve as both veterans and righty bats, while the younger stars Carroll and Crow-Armstrong swing from the left side.
When healthy, Buxton is the cornerstone of the Twins franchise. He has stayed with the Twins since they selected him with the second overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, making him the longest-tenured player on their roster. The organization has also done the same, sticking with him despite a multitude of injuries over the years. Over the course of the 2025 season, he appeared in 126 games. In 11 MLB seasons, it was only the third time he had played over 100 games in a season, which is a testament to how injuries have prevented him from performing at the highest level throughout his career. Buxton hopes to pick up where he left off during the 2025 regular season and give Team USA a boost. In 2025, he posted his best all-around season since 2017, posting a .264 batting average, 83 runs batted in, and 24 stolen bases. Most notably, he had a power surge, going from a respectable 18 home runs in 2024 to an eyebrow-raising 35 home runs last season.
It remains to be seen exactly what role the 32-year-old outfielder will play. However, Team USA is set defensively in center field with Buxton, a former Gold Glove winner, and a reigning Gold Glove winner in Crow-Armstrong. Both players are coming off statement seasons. For Buxton, he bounced back and proved he still has plenty to give, while the younger Crow-Armstrong broke out and announced his arrival to MLB fans everywhere. The talent has been acquired, so the challenge now rests with Team USA’s coaching staff to organize and push the right buttons to send them deep into the tournament.
