Zelous Wheeler, called up from the minors by the Yankees on Thursday when slumping Yangervis Solarte was sent down, made a big splash in his major-league debut when he hit a home run in the fifth inning against the Twins’ Phil Hughes. Wheeler is the eighth player to hit a home run for the Yankees is his first major-league game and the first since Marcus Thames in 2002. The most notable player to homer for the Yankees in his big-league debut is Yogi Berra, who did so against the Philadelphia A’s in the first game of a doubleheader in the Bronx on Sept. 22, 1946.
So how many Minnesota Twins players have hit a home run in their first game?
| Rk | Player | Year ? | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke Hughes | 2010 | Ind. Games | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Andre David | 1984 | Ind. Games | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Gary Gaetti | 1981 | Ind. Games | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 4 | Kent Hrbek | 1981 | Ind. Games | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 5 | Tim Laudner | 1981 | Ind. Games | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 6 | Dave McKay | 1975 | Ind. Games | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | Eric Soderholm | 1971 | Ind. Games | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | Hal Haydel | 1970 | Ind. Games | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 9 | Rick Renick | 1968 | Ind. Games | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
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How about if we look to see who has hit a home run in his first game when the opponent was the Minnesota Twins?
| Rk | Player | Year ? | PA | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | Tm | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zelous Wheeler | 2014 | Ind. Games | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | NYY |
| 2 | Chris Richard | 2000 | Ind. Games | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | STL |
| 3 | Jay Bell | 1986 | Ind. Games | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | CLE |
| 4 | Dave Machemer | 1978 | Ind. Games | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | CAL |
| 5 | Bert Campaneris | 1964 | Ind. Games | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | KCA |
| 6 | John Kennedy | 1962 | Ind. Games | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | WSA |