Byron Buxton hit a ball just past Astros starter Hunter Brown. By the time the pitcher got off the mound and fielded the ball, he spun around, looked toward first and thought better of throwing the ball. Not with Buxton running. Buxton was blazing down the line, nearly at the bag by the time Brown p icked up the ball. Two pitches later, Buxton took off for second. Catcher Victor Caratini didn’t even attempt a throw. And on Trevor Larnach’s single, Buxton cruised home from second with the Astros not bothering to try to get Buxton at home because, well, that wasn’t happening, either. Buxton is off to the races on the bases this season, a sign of how he’s feeling after a full offseason and spring training that was spent healthy, not going through days, weeks and months of rehab like previous seasons. “(It’s) good to be healthy. When you’re healthy, it gives you that piece of mind to just go out there and play the game, and you want to play and have fun doing it,” Buxton said. “To be able to have that back in the arsenal is obviously fun. It puts a little more pressure on the defense. … That’s my job. Cause a little chaos over there and try to get us that run.” The Twins have gotten to see all facets of Buxton’s game in the past few days. He hit a home run in Wednesday’s contest, has made some nice defensive plays and has started to cause havoc on the bases with his speed. And, most importantly, he’s started every game, playing every inning but a few as he was removed early from two games when the Twins were getting blown out. “He’s moving well. He’s playing aggressively,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “When he’s running the bases like that, he really changes the game for us. … He’s obviously not just explosive — he’s one of the most exciting players in the game.” Bader making early mark against righties Harrison Bader knows what the numbers say — he has, historically, hit lefties better than righties. He is a career .239 hitter with a .675 OPS against righthanders. “But I know the type of player I am,” the Twins outfielder said. “There’s obviously more to it than just pure numbers.” It’s still early, too early to draw any meaningful conclusions from the sample size, but Bader — who actually hit righties better than lefties last season — has hit three home runs this season, all against righties. A standout defender in the outfield, Bader has drawn starts in five of the Twins’ first seven games. He should see time in center when Buxton needs a day off and in the corners when there’s a lefty on the mound — both Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach hit left-handed — but continued success against righties would equate to more playing time for the veteran. “Any time you get a chance to put on a big league uniform and be in a starting lineup, or off the bench, you get a chance to change those numbers and change that preconceived perception,” Bader said. “I know what the numbers are. But I think sticking with the process, staying focused on it and waiting for the game to present itself to me is what allows me to go out and do some damage off righties.” Briefly Bailey Ober will be on the bump when the Twins return to action on Saturday at 1:10 p.m. against the Astros. … Saturday’s game will be the first of 12 games in as many days. The Twins do not have another off day until April 17. … The Double-A Wichita Wind Surge began their season on Friday. Twins top prospect, Walker Jenkins, who is among Major League Baseball’s top five prospects, begins his season at that level. Related Articles Twins pitchers combine for rare feat against Astros star Jose Altuve Balk, missing offense haunts Twins in home opening loss to Astros Carlos Correa feels “relief” after snapping season-opening hitless streak Twins salvage series on rain-soaked day in Chicago Twins get in the win column with five-run sixth inning ...read more read less