Category: Major League debuts as Twins

Major League Debuts as Minnesota Twins – Mota, Romero, Brito, Mitterwald & Snyder

Major league debuts as Minnesota Twins on September 15th.

 

Danny Mota (Credit Getty Images)

Danny Mota (P) – September 15, 2000 – Traded by the New York Yankees with Brian Buchanan, Cristian Guzman, Eric Milton and cash to the Minnesota Twins for Chuck Knoblauch on February 6, 1998. Mota’s debut was at the Dome in a 16-5 loss to the Anaheim Angels. Mota pitched 2.2 innings of relief throwing 51 pitches and faced 16 batters allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and a walk while striking out one.

 

JC Romero (Credit: EPSON MFP image)

J.C. Romero (P) – September 15, 1999 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 21st round of the 1997 amateur draft. Debuted in a 8-3 Rangers win at the Dome pitching 1.1 scoreless innings and allowing one hit.

Bernardo Brito

Bernardo Brito (OF) – September 15, 1992 – Signed as a Free Agent with the Minnesota Twins on March 31, 1988. Debuted as a PH at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum and struck out. Brito was one of three consecutive pinch-hitter TK sent up to the plate in the 8th inning against Ron Darling and Darling retired all of them in a twins 2-1 loss to the Oakland A’s.

George Mitterwald (C) – September 15, 1966 – Signed by the Minnesota Twins as an amateur free agent in April 1965. The Twins were trailing the Tigers 8-5 when Mitterwald replaced Earl Battey as the catcher but had no PA’s in this game. Only 4,337 fans were at Tiger Stadium that day to witness Mitterwald’s debut.

Jim Snyder (2B) – September 15, 1961 – Purchased by the Minnesota Twins from Indianapolis (American Association) in 1961. This future Seattle Mariners skipper made his big league debut in Cleveland Stadium in the Twins 3-2 win over the Indians as the starting second baseman hitting eighth but he was 0 for 3 in the game.

You can check out other Major League Debuts as Twins that I have done by going here.

Major League Debuts as Minnesota Twins – Espinoza, Stanfield, & Hughes

Major League Debuts as Minnesota Twins on September 14th.

Alvaro Espinoza (SS) – September 14, 1984 – Signed as a Free Agent with the Minnesota Twins on March 18, 1982. Entered the game late as a replacement shortstop and had no PA’s in his big league debut at Arlington Stadium in a Rangers 9-2 win over Minnesota.

Kevin Stanfield (P) – September 14, 1979 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 7th round of the 1976 amateur draft (January). Debut was a relief appearance in the first inning that lasted just one batter after Twins starter Dave Goltz got off to a rough start. Stanfield retired the batter on an infield fly at Arlington Stadium in a Twins 5-3 loss to Texas.

Jim Hughes (P) – September 14, 1974 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 33rd round of the 1969 amateur draft. Hughes debuted as the Twins starter in the second game of a DH at Met Stadium against the Kansas City Royals and was pinned with the 13-3 defeat. He lasted just 1.1 innings allowing 6 run (4 earned) on 5 hits and a walk. He never actually recorded an out himself as the first batter he faced, Hal McRae walked and was caught stealing. Tough start indeed.

 

You can check out other Major League Debuts as Twins that I have done by going here.

 

Major League Debuts as Minnesota Twins – Mijares, Valentin, Perlozzo & Bethea

Major League Debuts as Minnesota Twins on September 13th.

Jose Mijares (P) – September 13, 2008 – Signed by the Minnesota Twins as an amateur free agent on March 2, 2002. Debuted at Camden Yards and closed out the 12-2 Twins win over the Orioles with one scoreless inning pitched (14 pitches) and one strike out.

Javier Valentin (C) – September 13, 1997 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 3rd round of the 1993 amateur draft. Debuted as replacement for catcher Terry Steinbach late in a Twins 9-3 setback to the Rangers at The Ballpark in Arlington but had no chances to swing the bat.

Sam Perlozzo

Sam Perlozzo (2B) – September 13, 1977 – Signed by the Minnesota Twins as an amateur free agent in August 1972. Debuted in the 7th inning at 2B in a Twins 6-1 loss to the Chicago south-side bunch at Comiskey Park.

Bill Bethea (2B/SS) – September 13, 1964 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins from the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1963 first-year draft. Debuted in Yankee Stadium as a replacement for Zoilo Versalles but had no PA’s in the Twins 5-2 loss to the Bronx Bombers.

You can check out other Major League Debuts as Twins that I have done by going here.

Major League Debuts as Minnesota Twins – Guth

Major League Debuts as Minnesota Twins on September 12th.

Bucky Guth (SS) – September 12, 1972 – Acquired from the Atlanta Braves in an unknown transaction in June 1970. Made his big league debut as a pinch-runner wearing a Twins uniform at Met Stadium in a 7-4 loss to the Oakland A’s.

You can check out other Major League Debuts as Twins that I have done by going here.

Major League Debuts as Minnesota Twins – Parks, Pettibone, Edwards & Clark

Major League Debuts as Minnesota Twins on September 11th.

Derek Parks

Derek Parks (C) – September 11, 1992 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1st round (10th pick) of the 1986 amateur draft. Parks debuted in the Dome when the Twins were  hosting the California Angels. The Twins were down 5-0 when Parks replaced Brian Harper at catcher and had a single in his first big league at bat and walked in his second plate appearance but the Twins came out on the short end of an 8-0 game.

Jay Pettibone (P) – September 11, 1983 – Signed as a Free Agent with the Minnesota Twins on February 23, 1981. Started the Twins versus Royals game on the mound at the Metrodome and pitched a complete game but took the loss in a 3-1 effort. Pettibone only allowed 6 hits but 2 were home runs and thus the 3 runs allowed with 2 walks and 4 strikeouts. Attendance at the Dome for the game? 4,820 is all.

Dave Edwards

Dave Edwards (OF) – September 11, 1978 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 7th round of the 1971 amateur draft. Debuted at Comiskey Park as the center fielder hitting sixth. Edwards went 1 for 4 with a double and an error. Twins beat the White Sox 3-1.

Ron Clark

Ron Clark (3B/SS/2B) – September 11, 1966 – Sent from the Los Angeles Angels to the Minnesota Twins in an unknown transaction in 1963. Debuted as a pinch-runner in a 11-6 Twins win over the Orioles at Met Stadium.

You can check out other Major League Debuts as Twins that I have done by going here.

Major League Debuts as Minnesota Twins – Beresford, Heintz, Bowyer, Becker, Hocking, Stahoviak, Jorgensen, Johnson, Adams, Morris, & Dotter

Lots of players that made their big league debut as a Minnesota Twin on September 10.

James Beresford

James Beresford (1B/3B/2B) – September 10, 2016 – Signed by the Minnesota Twins as an amateur free agent on August 13, 2005. Made his major league debut at Target Field as the starting third baseman hitting eighth. James was 1 for 4 with a sacrifice in 5 PA’s and helped celebrate a Twins 2-1 victory over the Indians.

Chris Heintz (C) – September 10, 2005 – Signed as a Free Agent with the Minnesota Twins on November 21, 2003. Heintz debuted as a replacement for Mike Redmond as the catcher with the Twins down 7-2 at Jacobs Field. The Twins ended up losing 7-5 and Heintz was in the on deck circle awaiting his first plate appearance when the game ended.

Travis Bowyer (P) – September 10, 2005 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 20th round of the 1999 MLB June Amateur Draft. Bowyer debuted in the same game as Chris Heintz but Bowyer entered the game in relief with no outs and the bases full of Indians. Bowyer got the first batter on a sac fly and then threw a wild pitch moving the runners-up before allowing a single to score another run and his night was over at Jacobs Field in the 7-5 loss to Cleveland after 7 pitches.

Rich Becker (OF) – September 10, 1993 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 3rd round of the 1990 amateur draft. Becker,  Hocking, and Stahoviak all debuted in the same game. Becker debuted in the lead-off spot while playing center field and went 2 for 5, both hits were doubles and he scored a run and struck out 3 times. Twins lost 3-2 in Arlington Stadium.

Continue reading Major League Debuts as Minnesota Twins – Beresford, Heintz, Bowyer, Becker, Hocking, Stahoviak, Jorgensen, Johnson, Adams, Morris, & Dotter

Major League Debuts as Minnesota Twins – Sampson, Koskie, Pierzynski, Casian & Oliva

Three of the five players listed below debuted in the bigs as Twins in one game on September 9th. What are the odds of finding them all on one card?

Benj Sampson (Credit: Getty images)

Benj Sampson (P) – September 9, 1998 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 6th round of the 1993 amateur draft. pitched one inning of scoreless relief at Edison Field throwing 15 pitches and allowing no hits but the Twins lost to the Anaheim Angels 10-8.

Corey Koskie

Corey Koskie (3B) – September 9, 1998 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 26th round of the 1994 amateur draft. Entered the game at Edison Field to play 3B with the Twins already down 10-3 and he struck out twice in two PA’s as the Twins lost to Anaheim 10-8.

AJ Pierzynski – 1998 Spring Training – Credit Getty images

A.J. Pierzynski (C) – September 9, 1998 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 3rd round of the 1994 amateur draft. The Twins were down 10-2 when A.J. entered the game to catch. He had two PA’s in the game and grounded out in his first at bat and then was hit by a pitch and came around to score on a bases clearing triple but the Twins still came out on the short end of a 10-8 loss at Edison Field the Anaheim Angels.

Larry Casian (P) – September 9, 1990 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 6th round of the 1987 amateur draft. Debuted at the Dome in a 12-9 loss to the Indians. Casian pitched the final 1.1 innings of the game allowing one run on two hits.

Tony Oliva (OF) – September 9, 1962 – Signed as an amateur free agent in 1961. Fifteenth player to make his big league debut in a Twins uniform. The Twins lost to the Tigers 10-9 at Tigers Field the day that Oliva debuted in the big leagues. The Twins scored 3 in the top of the ninth on a Bernie Allen home run to close the gap to just a run but then Zoilo Versalles grounded out for the first out, Tony Oliva then struck out against Bob Humphreys four the second out and then Lenny Green grounded out to end the game.

 

You can check out other Major League Debuts as Twins that I have done by going here.

Major League Debuts as Minnesota Twins – Morales, Durbin, Brede, Sorrento & Kusick

Still more major league debuts as Minnesota Twins on September 8.

 

Jose G. Morales

Jose G. Morales (C) – September 8, 2007 –  Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 3rd round of the 2001 MLB June Amateur Draft. Morales had a pretty cool big league debut at U.S. Cellular Field albeit in a Twins 8-7 loss to the White Sox. Morales started behind the plate hitting eighth and had a single, a double and another single before being lifted for a pinch-runner.

J.D. Durbin

J.D. Durbin (P) – September 8, 2004 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 2nd round of the 2000 MLB June Amateur Draft. The “Real Deal” as he liked to call himself saw his first big league action in Camden Yards in a Twins 9-0 blowout of the Orioles. Durbin pitched the ninth inning for the Twins and closed them out on one hit with 11 pitches.

Brent Brede (OF/1B) – September 8, 1996 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 5th round of the 1990 amateur draft. Brent got to wear his Twins uniform in a real game for the first time at The Metrodome but it was in a losing cause as the home team lost 4-2 to the California Angels. Brede appeared a s a PH in the ninth inning but Angels closer Troy Percival sent him back to the bench after swinging at strike 3.

 

Paul Sorrento

Paul Sorrento (1B) – September 8, 1989 – Traded by the California Angels with Rob Wassenaar (minors) and Mike Cook to the Minnesota Twins for Kevin Trudeau (minors) and Bert Blyleven on November 3, 1988. Sorrento played in the majors for the first time at Royals Stadium as a ninth inning PH and coaxed a walk from Royals closer Jeff Montgomery but it was in vain as the Twins lost 6-0.

Craig Kusick

Craig Kusick (1B) – September 8, 1973 – Signed by the Minnesota Twins as an amateur free agent in June 1970. Kusick’s first taste of the big leagues took place at the Met but he went 0 for 4, but at least he got to shake hands on the field after a 6-2 Twins victory.

 

You can check out other Major League Debuts as Twins that I have done by going here.

Major League Debuts as Minnesota Twins – Revere, Nettles and Haydel

September 7 big league debuts as Minnesota Twins.

 

Ben Revere

Ben Revere (OF) – September 7, 2010 –  Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1st round (28th) of the 2007 MLB June Amateur Draft. Debuted at Target Field  in a 10-3 Twins win over the Royals. Entered the game as a pinch-hitter and struck out in his only PA in this game.

Jim Nettles

Jim Nettles (OF) – September 7, 1970 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 4th round of the 1968 amateur draft. Entered the game very late as a defensive replacement and had no plate appearances on this day when the Twins beat the boys from Milwaukee at the Met 8-3.

Hal Haydel

Hal Haydel (P) – September 7, 1970 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins from the San Francisco Giants in the 1969 rule 5 draft. As you may have noticed, Haydel and Jim Nettles debuted in the same game. Haydel replaced Twins starter Luis Tiant after one inning and pitched the next 5 innings of relief allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and was awarded the win. The thing that Haydel was most proud of however; was the fact that he was 2 for 3 with the stick with a double and a home run, RBI, and 2 runs scored. He is the first and only Twins pitcher to get a home run in his first big league game. 

You can check out other Major League Debuts as Twins that I have done by going here.

Major League Debuts as Minnesota Twins – Parmelee, Benson, Hendriks, Faedo & Poepping

Major League Debuts as Minnesota Twins on September 6. Note that Chris Parmelee, Joe Benson and Liam Hendriks all debuted in the same game on the same day and all started. The Twins lost the game 3-0 at Target Field

Chris Parmelee (OF/1B) – September 6, 2011 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1st round (20th) of the 2006 MLB June Amateur Draft. Debuted at first base hitting fifth. Parmelee had singles in his first two at bats and finished the day 2 for 4.

 

Joe Benson

Joe Benson (OF) – September 6, 2011 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 2nd round of the 2006 MLB June Amateur Draft. Benson played center field and hit lead-off and finished the game 0 for 3 with a walk.

 

Liam Hendriks

Liam Hendriks (P) – September 6, 2011 – Signed by the Minnesota Twins as an amateur free agent on February 25, 2007. Debuted as the starting pitcher and went 7 innings (99 pitches) and allowed three runs on 4 hits, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts.

Lenny Faedo (SS) – September 6, 1980 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1st round (16th pick) of the 1978 amateur draft. Debuted in Tiger Stadium at “short” hitting ninth and was 1 for 3 with a run scored in a Twins 4-0 win.

Mike Poepping (OF) – September 6, 1975 – Signed by the Minnesota Twins as an amateur free agent in 1969. Debuted in White Sox Park in a Twins 5-2 loss as the starting right fielder and was 0 for 4.

You can check out other Major League Debuts as Twins that I have done by going here.