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Buxton and Joe Ryan return as Twins’ representatives for 2026 All-Star Game
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Sports/The Apex Times/Jul 4, 8:20 PM EDT

Buxton and Joe Ryan return as Twins’ representatives for 2026 All-Star Game

Byron Buxton, an American League starting outfielder for the second time after his 2022 appearance, and Twins right-hander Joe Ryan were named to the 2026 Midsummer Classic, giving Minnesota two All-Stars for a second straight year.

By The Apex Times Newsroom3 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The Minnesota Twins will send the same two recognizable faces to the 2026 All-Star Game that they did last year. Byron Buxton and Joe Ryan have both been selected for the Midsummer Classic at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, continuing a run of midseason visibility for a franchise that has leaned on elite individual production even while seeking deeper postseason outcomes.

Buxton’s selection was tied to the American League starting lineup portion of the All-Star voting process. The Twins center fielder earned a starting nod after winning 20 percent of the fan vote, which MLB noted put him among the league’s most popular outfield choices. Buxton joins Mike Trout and Aaron Judge in the outfield in the voting recap MLB provided, though those two players were listed as being on the injured list at the time of the announcement.

On the field, the Twins’ centerpiece earned his promotion to All-Star starter status through a season that MLB characterized as one of the best of his career. In the 32-year-old Buxton’s age-32 season, MLB reported he leads all qualified American League outfielders with a.898 OPS and has 25 home runs, numbers that positioned him among the Major League leaders for power. The club also pointed to his defensive impact, describing his center-field work as elite.

The other half of Minnesota’s All-Star duo is Ryan, the Twins starting pitcher who will be headed to the Midsummer Classic for a second consecutive year. MLB’s release framed it as a “run it back” moment, with Ryan discussing how the idea surfaced internally as the season moved deeper. For a starting pitcher, repeating an All-Star selection can be a meaningful form of validation because it usually reflects a consistent ability to miss bats, limit damage, and keep the innings organized through the season’s grind.

Buxton, for his part, made clear what the repeat selection means to him in context. MLB’s announcement included his remarks about representing Minnesota, and it also gave background on how quickly the All-Star experience can evolve. Buxton previously started the Midsummer Classic in 2022 at Dodger Stadium, and MLB noted that as a reserve in 2025 he got the chance to play 190 miles from where he grew up in Baxley, Georgia, at Truist Park in Atlanta.

With the rosters set for July 14, the Twins’ focus shifts from team recognition to how each player fits into the All-Star showcase itself. Buxton’s combination of power and center-field defense will be tested against a talent-rich group of American League batters and managers’ lineup decisions, while Ryan’s second-straight appearance makes his follow-through a central storyline for Minnesota’s pitching identity entering the season’s final stretch.

Why It Matters

  • The Twins will again feature two of their most prominent All-Star-caliber performers, reinforcing a core identity built around impact at premium positions and front-line starting pitching.
  • Buxton’s starter status keeps him in the spotlight not just for popularity, but for two-way value that includes power output and center-field defensive importance.
  • Ryan’s consecutive selection highlights a pitching consistency that can become a reference point for Minnesota’s broader rotation planning as the season approaches its playoff push.
  • The repeat Twins duo provides a storyline around continuity, something the league often treats as a barometer of how well teams develop and retain talent through the year.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Byron Buxton and Joe Ryan were both named to represent the Minnesota Twins at the 2026 All-Star Game.
  • Buxton earned an American League starting spot through fan voting, with MLB listing 20 percent of the fan vote for him.
  • MLB reported Buxton leads qualified AL outfielders with a.898 OPS and has 25 home runs during the 2026 season.
  • Joe Ryan was selected for the All-Star Game for a second consecutive year.
  • The 2026 All-Star Game is scheduled for July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.