Byron Buxton's Health is Clearly the Twins X-Factor

What makes the Minnesota Twins such a compelling club is that they aren't a compilation of superstars. Their roster, top to bottom, is perfectly balanced as all things should be.

Everybody executes their singular role that contributes to winning games and they normally aren't reliable on any one individual to carry the load.

However, we have come across a telling (and shocking) stat that literally suggests that Byron Buxton is the one player the Twins can't triumph without. When the budding star is in the lineup, Minny wins close to 70% of their contests. Without him, they don't even manage to crack a 45% clip.

Twins are 48-23 (.676) when Byron Buxton is in the lineup this season compared to 11-14 (.440) when he isn't.

Combined over the past three seasons, the Twins have played at a 95-win pace (133-95) with Buxton in the lineup and a 75-win pace (89-103) without Buxton in the lineup.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) July 20, 2019

It's a befuddling reality because Buxton's bat has been mediocre-at best in 2019. Where his worth cannot be understand, however, is on defense. The outfielder has a Gold and Platinum Glove to his name and even took home the Wilson Overall Defensive Player of the Year Award back in 2017.

The major problem with Buxton is his availability. In four complete seasons in the big leagues, the most games he's played in is 140. The next highest? Just 92 games. And his health has once again been a headache for the club this year.

Of a possible 96 games, Buck's has appeared in just 75, as he's hit the IL for brief stints on two separate occasions.

Byron Buxton will catch it or die trying. Every time.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) July 14, 2019

Aaron Gleeman is spot on here. Buxton is currently serving a seven-day stint on the IL because of a concussion. Care to guess how he suffered the ailment? Making a spectacular diving catch last Saturday against the Indians.

The Twins better hope to have the 25-year-old patrolling center fielder back in time for their upcoming series against the slugging Yankees which starts on Monday. He could just be the difference maker.