Buxton named Baseball America Minor League Player of Year

Byron Buxton wowed them when he played a little over half a season with the Cedar Rapids Kernels and didn't stop when he got promoted out of town.

Because of that, he has been named 2013 minor league player of the year by Baseball America magazine.

“The best minor leaguer I've ever seen,” one scout told Baseball America in a story announcing Buxton's award.

The 19-year-old Georgian hit .334 in 125 games combined for Cedar Rapids and high-Class A Fort Myers this season. He had 19 doubles, 18 triples, 12 home runs and 77 RBIs, adding 55 stolen bases.

Buxton hit .341 in 68 games to begin the season with the Kernels.

“Buxton was by far the best I have seen in a long, long time other than (Mike) Trout,” Palm Beach Manager Johnny Rodriguez said in the Baseball America story.  “Trout has more power, but Buxton probably does more (things). He has a better arm. He is a better defender than Trout, with better range and jumps.

“They're both so explosive, and Buxton probably is a better hitter. He has fewer holes than Trout had. That's what is so amazing, Buxton has very loose hands and has such bat speed, he just sits back on the ball and then explodes through it.”

Here is a link to the entire Baseball America story:

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2013-minor-league-player-of-the-year-byron-buxton/