Last Wednesday Houston Astros 2B Jose Altuve went two for five in the Astros 5-2 win over the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. His single in the seventh inning was his 200th hit of the season. As of today, Altuve, a 2014 All-Star has 206 hits and the hitter closest to him in hits is Indians outfielder Michael Brantley with 180 hits. The 24 year-old five foot six inch second sacker who is in his fourth season with the Astro’s is showing everyone that he is a real good baseball player. In the last 10 seasons MLB hitters have had 200 or more hits on 36 occasions but last year there were none and this season Altuve may well be the only one. Is pitching taking over baseball?
So when was the last time the Minnesota Twins had a hitter with 200 or more hits in a season? Can’t remember? Maybe that is because it hasn’t happened for many a year. The last Twins hitter to have 200 or more hits in a season was 39 year-old DH Paul Molitor back in 1996. The amazing Kirby Puckett did it a total of five times including four in a row from 1986-1989 and he came up just short in 1985 with 199 hits. The Twins now in their 54th season have had only 13 hitters that have gotten 200 or more hits in a single season. The Twins have never had more than one hitter in a season get 200 or more hits but in 1977 Rod Carew had 239 hits and Lyman Bostock came up just short with 199 hits.
Twins hitters with 200 or more hits in a season
| Rk | Player | H | Year ? | Age | G | AB | R | HR | RBI | Pos | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul Molitor | 225 | 1996 | 39 | 161 | 660 | 99 | 9 | 113 | .341 | .858 | *D3/H |
| 2 | Kirby Puckett | 210 | 1992 | 32 | 160 | 639 | 104 | 19 | 110 | .329 | .864 | *8/DH45 |
| 3 | Kirby Puckett | 215 | 1989 | 29 | 159 | 635 | 75 | 9 | 85 | .339 | .843 | *8/HD |
| 4 | Kirby Puckett | 234 | 1988 | 28 | 158 | 657 | 109 | 24 | 121 | .356 | .920 | *8/H |
| 5 | Kirby Puckett | 207 | 1987 | 27 | 157 | 624 | 96 | 28 | 99 | .332 | .900 | *8/DH |
| 6 | Kirby Puckett | 223 | 1986 | 26 | 161 | 680 | 119 | 31 | 96 | .328 | .903 | *8/H |
| 7 | Rod Carew | 239 | 1977 | 31 | 155 | 616 | 128 | 14 | 100 | .388 | 1.019 | *3/H4D |
| 8 | Rod Carew | 200 | 1976 | 30 | 156 | 605 | 97 | 9 | 90 | .331 | .858 | *3/4H |
| 9 | Rod Carew | 218 | 1974 | 28 | 153 | 599 | 86 | 3 | 55 | .364 | .879 | *4/H |
| 10 | Rod Carew | 203 | 1973 | 27 | 149 | 580 | 98 | 6 | 62 | .350 | .881 | *4/H |
| 11 | Cesar Tovar | 204 | 1971 | 30 | 157 | 657 | 94 | 1 | 45 | .311 | .725 | *798/5H4 |
| 12 | Tony Oliva | 204 | 1970 | 31 | 157 | 628 | 96 | 23 | 107 | .325 | .878 | *9/8H |
| 13 | Tony Oliva | 217 | 1964 | 25 | 161 | 672 | 109 | 32 | 94 | .323 | .916 | *9/8H7 |