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
Two players made their major league debuts as Minnesota Twins on September 2.
David Ortiz
David Ortiz (1B) – September 2, 1997 – The Seattle Mariners sent David Ortiz to the Minnesota Twins to complete an earlier deal made on August 29, 1996. Debuted as a pinch-hitter at Wrigley Field and flew out to deep left center field in a Twins 9-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs.
Herman Hill
Herman Hill (OF) – September 2, 1969 – Signed by the Minnesota Twins as an amateur free agent in 1966. Made his debut at Met Stadium as a pinch-runner for Harmon Killebrew and was caught attempting to steal second base in a Twins 5-2 win over Cleveland.
As you would expect, a fair number of big league debuts as Twins on September 1, three of them were catchers.
Josmil Pinto (C) – September 1, 2013 – Signed by the Minnesota Twins as an amateur free agent on February 14, 2006. Debuted at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in a 4-2 Twins win. Pinto was the starting catcher hitting 8th in the batting order and was 2 for 4 with a double, also scoring once and knocking in a run.
Alexi Casilla
Alexi Casilla (2B/SS) – September 1, 2006 – Traded by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to the Minnesota Twins for J.C. Romero on December 9, 2005. First game took place in Yankee Stadium II in a Twins 8-1 loss to New York. Casilla entered the game as a pinch-hitter and drew a walk.
Terry Tiffee (3B/1B) – September 1, 2004 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 26th round of the 1999 MLB June Amateur Draft. Debuted in the Dome in a 4-2 Twins win over the Rangers. Tiffee entered the game in the sixth inning to play 3B and he had 2 at bats and he had a single and a double which knocked in two runs (tieing and winning).
Rob Bowen (C) – September 1, 2003 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 2nd round of the 1999 MLB June Amateur Draft. Bowen debuted as a sub for A.J. Pierzynski in the 9th inning of a 10-2 Twins loss at the Metrodome going 0 for 1.
Pedro Munoz (OF) – September 1, 1990 – Traded by the Toronto Blue Jays with Nelson Liriano to the Minnesota Twins for John Candelaria on July 27, 1990. Debuted at the Dome in the Tigers 9-5 win over Minnesota as the DH hitting in the seven hole. Tough debut going 0 for 4 with 2 strike outs.
Lenny Webster (C) – September 1, 1989 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 21st round of the 1985 amateur draft. Webster debuted in the 9th inning in the Skydome as a defensive replacement at catcher in a Twins 7-3 defeat at the hands of the Blue Jays.
The Twins beat the White Sox on yesterday afternoon when Juan Minaya hit Max Kepler with a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning. It was the second time since the Twins franchise moved to Minnesota in 1961 that they won a game on a walk-off hit-by-pitch. The other walk-off hit-by-pitch for the Twins was when their current manager, Paul Molitor, was hit by Jeff Montgomery of the Royals in the bottom of the tenth inning on May 1, 1996.
It was the first walk-off hit-by-pitch in the major leagues this season.
Players that made their big league debuts as Minnesota Twins on August 31st.
Jason Kubel (OF) – August 31, 2004 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 12th round of the 2000 MLB June Amateur Draft. Debuted as a PH and grounded out to the second baseman at the Dome in a 8-5 loss to the Texas Rangers.
John Hobbs (P) – August 31, 1981 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins from the Seattle Mariners in the 1980 rule 5 draft. Debuted at the Met in a 7-0 loss to the Yankees in relief and he pitched 2 innings allowing one run on 2 hits and two walks.
This weeks Twins Minor League Player of the Week is Rochester Red Wings (AAA) third baseman Leonardo Reginatto. In 7 games the 27 year-old Reginatto hit .391 (9 for 23), with 3 doubles and scored 4 runs. Reginatto has played 81 games for Rochester this season appearing at third base and second base and has hit .296 in 260 at bats with 3 home runs and 36 RBI. Reginatto was a non-roster Twins spring training invitee this year.
Reginatto, a Brazilian native was originally signed by the Tampa Rays as a non-drafted free agent in February 2009 and signed with the Twins as a minor league free agent in December 2015.
Double-A Chattanooga Manager Jake Mauer has been named the Southern League Manager of the Year. Mauer is the first Lookouts manager to win this award since Jayhawk Owens in 2004.
Southern League Postseason All-Stars have been announced and the Twins will be represented by four players from Double-A Chattanooga: infielder Nick Gordon, outfielder Edgar Corcino, designated hitter Jonathan Rodriguez and relief pitcher Gabriel Moya.
Rookie-Level Elizabethton recently clinched their Division Title and will open the playoffs on Saturday against Greenville or Johnson City. Elizabethton currently has a record of 41-26. This marks their 12th time in postseason play since 2003.
GCL Twins also recently clinched a playoff berth and will open their postseason play on Sunday (opponent TBD).
Jose Berrios pitched seven scoreless innings in the Twins’ win over the White Sox last night. It was the ninth time this season that a Twins starting pitcher did not allow a run in an outing of seven or more innings, tying them with the Red Sox and Indians for the most such games in the American League.
Kevin Slowey
Berrios is 7-0 with a 2.45 ERA over his last seven home starts. Only one other Twins pitcher over the last 20 seasons won each of seven consecutive home starts within one season. Kevin Slowey did it in 2009.
Ervin Santana earned his 14th win of the season and teammate Jorge Polanco homered from each side of the plate in the Twins’ 6-4 triumph over the White Sox. Santana has a 14-win season with three different teams (three such seasons with the Angels, one with the Braves, and now one with the Twins). Two other active pitchers have had at least one season of 14-or-more wins with three different teams: Bartolo Colon (five different teams) and Zack Greinke (four teams). The last pitcher to win at least 14 games for the Twins was Phil Hughes who won 16 games in 2014.
Jorge Polanco
Polanco is the third player to homer from each side of the plate as a shortstop in a game this season, joining Francisco Lindor (April 5) and Freddy Galvis (June 4). Polanco joins a select group of Minnesota Twins (Roy Smalley, Chili Davis, Ryan Doumit, and Kennys Vargas) to hit a home run from each side of the plate in a single game.
Major League debuts as Minnesota Twins on August 30.
Todd Walker (2B/3B) – August 30, 1996 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1st round (8th pick) of the 1994 amateur draft. This first rounder debuted at County Stadium against the Brewers and hit sixth playing 3B before moving to 2B. Walker went 1 for 5 with a run scored but the Twins lost 5-4 in 12 innings on a walk-off home run by Marc Newfield off Twins reliever Jose Parra.
Curt Wardle (P) – August 30, 1984 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 3rd round of the 1981 amateur draft. Wardle debuted at the Metrodome in a 9-3 Twins beat-down by the Red Sox. Wardle went one inning allowing a home run and striking out one.
Dustan Mohr (OF) – August 29, 2001 – Signed as a Free Agent with the Minnesota Twins on April 1, 2000. Debuted as the starting right fielder at the Dome in a 10-8 Twins win over the Rangers hitting 8th and going 1 for 3 with a Sac fly and 3 RBI.
One big league debut as a Minnesota Twin on August 28.
Tim Laudner (C) – August 28, 1981 – Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 3rd round of the 1979 amateur draft. Debuted as the starting catcher at the Met against the Tigers and hit in the 8 spot. Laudner must have thought that the big leagues were easy when he had a single in his first at bat, then a walk and then a home run before fouling out in his final at bat.
