TWINS TRIVIA is hopefully a fun and informative site that will help you to better enjoy the Minnesota Twins and their wonderful history. “History never looks like history when you are living through it” – John Gardner, former Secretary of Health
We have one player making his major league debut as a Minnesota Twin on June 22
Kyle Lohse (P) – June 22, 2001 – Traded by the Chicago Cubs with Jason Ryan to the Minnesota Twins for Rick Aguilera and Scott Downs on May 21, 1999. Lohse’s debut was a start at Comerica Park against the Tigers and he pitched into the 7th inning but after 106 pitches and the scored tied at 4-4, Twins skipper Tom Kelly had seen enough.
A couple of players had their major league debuts on June 20th.
Chad Moeller (C) – June 20, 2000 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 7th round of the 1996 amateur draft. Debut not too memorable, 0 for 3, hit into a double play and didn’t get the ball out of the infield in a Twins 5-2 loss in Arlington to the Rangers.
Mark Davidson (OF) – June 20, 1986 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 11th round of the 1982 amateur draft. His debut was as a defensive replacement for in the 7th inning of a 9-8 Twins win at the Dome over the Indians.
Only the one player made his major league debut in a Twins uniform on June 19th.
Yohan Pino (P) – June 19, 2014 – Signed as a Free Agent with the Minnesota Twins on December 12, 2013. Debut was a nice 7 inning start in a Twins 4-2 win over the White Sox allowing only 2 runs on 5 hits and a walk while striking out 7.
Three major league debuts as Minnesota Twins on June 17 ranging from 1964 to 2004.
Matt Guerrier (P) – June 17, 2004 – Selected off waivers by the Minnesota Twins from the Pittsburgh Pirates on November 20, 2003. Guerrier’s debut was as the Twins starter at Olympique Park at Montreal in a Twins win but Guerrier received a ND for his efforts that day. Turns out that starting was not Guerrier’s forte.
Mark Wiley (P) – June 17, 1975 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 2nd round of the 1970 amateur draft. Wiley’s debut took place in the middle of an eight run outburst by the Oakland A’s at the Met.
Bill Whitby (P) – June 17, 1964 – Signed as an amateur free agent in 1961 and debuted in relief in a 5-0 loss at Cleveland Stadium pitching 1.1 innings and allowing 2 hits and 1 run (a home run by Pedro Ramos).
Two players made their major league debuts as Twins on June 16, both a few years ago.
Darrell Jackson (P) – June 16, 1978 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 9th round of the 1977 amateur draft. Jackson was originally drafted by Minnesota as a sixth round selection in 1973 out of high school but chose to go to Arizona State University where he had the opportunity to play in three College World Series while he attended school there. Jackson debuted in pro ball with the Orlando Twins in 1978 and in his first professional game pitched nine innings of no-hit ball against the Jacksonville Suns. Unfortunately, the game was tied after nine innings, and Jackson was relieved by fellow future Twin Jeff Holly. Orlando won the game, 1–0, in 12 innings. After just 10 starts in the minors, Jackson was called up to the Twins.
Rich Rollins (3B) – June 16, 1961 – Signed as amateur free agent in 1960. Rollins was the sixth player to make his major league debut as a Minnesota Twin. Rollins debuted against the White Sox going 1 for 4 off pitchers Don Larsen and Early Wynn. In his first full season with Minnesota in 1962 he was selected to both All-Star games and finished 8th in MVP voting behind winner Mickey Mantle.
The only player to make his major league debut in a Twins uniform did so just two years ago today.
Byron Buxton (OF ) – June 14, 2015 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1st round (2nd) of the 2012 MLB June Amateur Draft. This high school draftee made his Twins debut just two years after being drafted second overall in 2013.
Two players again today making their major league debuts as Minnesota Twins on June 13 but 10 years apart.
Eddie Guardado (P) – June 13, 1993 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 21st round of the 1990 amateur draft. “Every Day” Eddie debuted as a starter but even though the Twins scored four times for him in the bottom of the first inning, Guardado could not get out of the fourth inning at the Dome against the A’s. Eddie can still be found in the Twins bullpen today, as the bullpen coach.
Houston Jimenez – (SS) – June 13, 1983 – Signed as a Free Agent with the Minnesota Twins on October 28, 1980. Jimenez went 1 for 5 in his debut at the Dome with a double off Steve Renko in his second big league at bat.
Two players, both pitchers made their big league debut wearing the uniform of the Minnesota Twins on June 12.
Mike Kinnunen (P) – June 12, 1980 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 10th round of the 1979 amateur draft. Mike struck out his first big league batter but than a walk and a home run by Champ Summers became part of his debut. Kinnunen appeared in 21 games for Minnesota without getting a win, a loss or a save, as a matter of fact he didn’t get any wins, losses, or saves in his entire 48 game career. Mike held the MLB record for this stat until a few years ago when it was broken.
Gerry Arrigo (P) – June 12, 1961 – drafted from White Sox in 1960 first year draft. Only the fifth player in Twins history to make his big league debut wearing Minnesota across his chest. His debut was a start against the Red Sox at Fenway Park with only 2,984 fans in the stands. Arrigo pitched a scoreless first, then in the second inning he allowed a single to Frank Malzone, he hit Jim Pagliaroni with a pitch, Vic Wertz advanced the runners with a ground out to second. Don Buddin drew a walk and Red Sox pitcher Ike Delock singled to plate one run, than Chuck Shilling singled to score two more runs and Arrigo found himself with an unplanned early shower after just 1.1 innings.
The big league debuts as Minnesota Twins on June 11th. These two guys debuts were 30 years apart in more ways than one.
J.T. Chargois (P) – June 11, 2016 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 2nd round of the 2012 MLB June Amateur Draft. Pitching in the ‘bigs” isn’t easy as J.T. found out in his big league debut.
Allan Anderson (P) – June 11, 1986 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 2nd round of the 1982 amateur draft. Anderson’s debut was very interesting, he started for the Twins in the Metrodome against Charlie Hough and the Texas Rangers. The Rangers scored single runs in the first and third innings and the Twins scored single runs in the fourth and fifth inning and the game turned into a pitchers duel. Allan Anderson was pulled after 10 innings with the score still tied at 2-2. Anderson had allowed 8 hits and 4 walks and struck out three while allowing the 2 earned runs. The game remained scoreless until the top of the 16th inning when the Rangers broke through for 4 runs off Roy Lee Jackson and the Twins ended up losing 6-2. Texas starter Charlie Hough went 13 inning but he too left with a no decision and Texas reliever Mitch Williams pitched the last three innings to get the win.
Another one of my all-time favorite Twins debuted on June 10th a few years back.
Justin Morneau (1B) – June 10, 2003 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 3rd round of the 1999 MLB June Amateur Draft as a catcher. Morneau debuted at the Dome in a 5-0 loss to the Colorado Rockies. Rockies starter Jason Jennings pitched 7.2 innings against the Twins that day and allowed just three hits, Mr. Morneau had two of them. Morneau hit clean-up in his big league debut and was the DH. Hard to believe it has been 14 years.