Tag: Torii Hunter

Do you remember Torii Hunter

Torii Hunter


Torii Hunter (1975)

  • First-round draft pick (20th overall) in 1993 by the Twins and debuted on 8/22/1997
  • 19-year major league career, spanning from 1997-2015 with the Twins, Angels and Tigers
  • Five-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger award winner
  • “Spider-Man” was an elite defensive CF, taking home nine Gold Glove Awards.
  • Had 20+ HR 11 times, and between 18-23 SB six times
  • Overall had 353 HR, 1,391 RBI, 195 SB, a .277/.331/.461 slash line, and a 110 OPS+
  • Finished career with a WAR of 50.6
  • Inducted into Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame in 2016

The Senators/Twins big boppers

Harmon Killebrew
Kent Hrbek

Harmon Killebrew and Kent Hrbek. Here are the eight players who hit 200+ HR for the Senators/Twins franchise:

Assuming he can stay healthy, Byron Buxton will join this list soon as he has 193 career HR so far.

Twins Iron Men

When I watch MLB I always expect to see a good game and to me that means that the teams best players are going to be on the field. I am getting up there in age and over the years I could probably name the starting line-up for every team in the American League. Sadly that is no longer true as today’s style of play is such that most players seem to expect to get at least a day a week off. So when I watch a game I am no longer surprised when one of the teams is resting one or more of their starting position players.

I never played professional baseball so I don’t know how hard it is to play 6 games a week. But the umpire still starts the game with a “play ball” and not a “work ball” so how tough can it be? I can complain but that won’t change anything so I am just going to get right to the point of this post.

Zoilo Versalles

Who are the Minnesota Twins franchise “Iron Men”? By “Iron Men” for my purposes I am going to use 160 games played. As you can see by the attached B-R Stathead link the Twins have had just 11 players that have played in 160 or more games in a season over the last 65 seasons and they have accomplished this feat a total of 21 times. Zoilo Versalles, a shortstop did it four times between 1962 and 1967 and Harmon Killebrew who played first, third and the outfield and outfielder Kirby Puckett each did it three times.

Torii Hunter
Justin Morneau

Between 1961 and 1999 it was done 19 times and in the current century Twins players have done it just twice. Torii Hunter did it in 2007 and the last Twins player to play 160 or more games was Justin Morneau in 2008. Matter of fact, he is the last Twins player to appear in every game in a season which he did in the 2008 season when he played in 163 games.

A number of players over the years like Bob Allison, Rich Rollins, Bernie Allen, Versalles, Oliva, Ron Jackson and Puckett played in 159 games and just missed the 160 cutoff. So without further ado here is the list of Twins Iron Men that came to play ball day in and day out.

Rocco Baldelli Fired: A Turning Point in Minnesota Twins History

Manager Rocco Baldelli

The Minnesota Twins have reached a crossroads. After closing out the 2025 season with a disappointing 70-92 record, the team made the difficult decision to part ways with manager Rocco Baldelli. This move comes just weeks after Baldelli became the third winningest manager in franchise history, trailing only legends Tom Kelly and Ron Gardenhire.

Baldelli’s Legacy: Highs, Lows, and the Bomba Squad

Baldelli’s tenure began with a bang. In 2019, he led the Twins to an electrifying 101-win season, capturing the AL Central crown and setting a Major League record with 307 home runs. That “Bomba Squad” team brought new energy to Target Field and earned Baldelli the American League Manager of the Year award.

The Twins followed up with another division title in the COVID-shortened 2020 season and again in 2023. However, the momentum faded. Minnesota missed the playoffs four times in the last five years, and only the Nationals, White Sox, and Rockies finished with fewer wins in 2025. Baldelli’s overall record stands at 527-505 (.511 win percentage), a mark that cements his place in Twins history but also reflects the team’s recent struggles.

The Decision: Falvey’s Call and Fan Frustration

Twins President Derek Falvey explained the move:

“This game is ultimately measured by results, and over the past two seasons we did not reach the goals we set. After discussions with ownership, we determined that this is the right moment for a change in voice and direction.”

The timing raised eyebrows. Earlier this year, Falvey extended Baldelli’s contract through 2026, even after the team’s September collapse in 2024. Many fans are left wondering about accountability at the top, especially as Falvey remains in charge.

What’s Next? Searching for the Right Leader

The search for a new manager is underway, and the direction the Twins choose could shape the franchise for years to come. There’s a growing call among long-time fans for an experienced, old-school manager—someone who can lead without constant front office interference. While analytics are a valuable tool, baseball is still a game played by people, and the human element can’t be ignored.

Early reports suggest the Twins want a manager who can develop young talent. With an average age of 27.5, the team is younger than most in the league. Names like Don Mattingly, Joe Maddon, Mark DeRosa, David Ross, Joe Girardi, Skip Schumaker, as well as former Twin Doug Mientkiewicz are circulating among fans as potential candidates. Former Twins like Torii Hunter and Justin Morneau are also being mentioned although they have no managing experience. The big question: Will the front office allow a strong-willed manager to truly lead?

The Road Ahead: 2026 and Beyond

After two seasons of dashed hopes, fan interest and ticket sales are likely to drop. The franchise faces several pressing questions:

  • Who will be the new manager?
  • How much will ownership invest in payroll?
  • Will new minority owners influence team decisions?
  • Will the Twins continue their fire sale?
  • Is a team sale still on the table?

On the field, there’s reason for cautious optimism. If the Twins hold onto Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, and Bailey Ober, they’ll have a solid starting rotation, with more young arms ready to step up. The bullpen, however, is in dire need of a rebuild—something that could be addressed with smart, affordable free agent signings and by giving young pitchers big-league experience in relief roles.

Trades may be necessary to bring in younger position players, and while a true power hitter would be a welcome addition, big spending seems highly unlikely.

Final Thoughts

The current Twins roster isn’t far from being a .500 team. With the right additions—especially in the bullpen—and a manager who can inspire and develop young talent, Minnesota could be back in contention sooner than many expect.

What do you think about the Twins’ decision and the future of the team? Share your thoughts and memories in the comments below!

4 responses to “Rocco Baldelli Fired: A Turning Point in Minnesota Twins History”

  1. Robert Schulz

    Twins need a whole new set of hitting and pitching coaches. Can’t continue with poor situational approaches at the plate and too many strikeouts.

    Same for pitching. The starters need to go more than 4 + innings. Relief pitching is a mess right now. Need some high velocity arms.

    Reply
    1. Richard Monet

      What I don’t understand is there was a great hitting coach that was fired last year. Popkins sure worked some miracles with the Blue Jays!

      Reply
      1. John

        Somebody’s head had to roll after the Twins hitting late in 2024 and it wasn’t going to be Rocco so Popkins drew the short straw. To be fair Popkin’s had more to work with in Torronto than he had in Minnesota.

        Reply
  2. Les Smith

    Maybe whoever it is in the Pohlad family that’s running the team, fires Falvey and resigns Baldeli.
    Other than the owners, nobody’s job is safe and Falvey probably couldnt find the field with a map and directions.

    Reply

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Using dWAR to determine Twins best gloves over the years

What is dWAR? Defensive WAR (dWAR): this takes only the player’s defensive contributions and positional adjustment into account in a WAR calculation. dWAR was created by Baseball-Reference. I am using this tool to look at Minnesota Twins players from 1961 thru 2023 to see what it determines as the best defensive Twins players by position for their entire Twins career. A player has to have played at least 51% of his games at that position to qualify. According to dWAR, Greg Gagne is the best defensive player the Twins have ever had.

Minnesota Twins Greg Gagne (7) in action, 6/16/1991 CREDIT: Chuck Solomon (Photo by Chuck Solomon /Getty Images

Catcher – Butch Wynegar 9.0 Glenn Borgmann 4.1

First Base – Ron Jackson -0.4 C.J. Cron -0.4

Second Base – Chuck Knoblauch 8.6 Steve Lombardozzi 3.7

Third Base – Gary Gaetti 11.3 Nick Punto 8.6

Shortstop – Greg Gagne 12.4 Zoilo Versalles 8.6

Left Field – Lew Ford 2.0 Gary Ward 1.2

Center Field – Byron Buxton 7.6 Torii Hunter 6.2

Right Field – Max Kepler 3.0 Tom Brunansky 1.2

Pitcher – Camilo Pascual -0.1 Mudcat Grant -0.1

So what do you all think? Is dWAR a fair way to help determine the best defensive players? Here is a B-R Stathead link to the best defensive players in all of MLB from 1961 thru 2023, does this list make you a believer?

Twins Top 10 list for lowest batting average with 500+ AB’s

It is always fun to look back and see if former Minnesota Twins players were as good as you remember them.

Zoilo Versalles

Today we look back and see what Twins players had the lowest batting average in a season in which they had 500 or more at bats.  Not a great list for Zoilo to appear on just two years removed from winning the American leagues MVP award. I was surprised to see a current Twins player on this list. Some pretty good players on this list but you have to be a good player to get 500 at bats in a big league season.

Results
Rk Player BA AB Year Age G R H HR RBI
1 Zoilo Versalles .200 581 1967 27 160 63 116 6 50
2 Max Kepler .224 532 2018 25 156 80 119 20 58
3 Tom Brunansky .227 542 1983 22 151 70 123 28 82
4 Gary Gaetti .229 577 1990 31 154 61 132 16 85
5 Gary Gaetti .230 508 1982 23 145 59 117 25 84
6 Roy Smalley .231 584 1977 24 150 93 135 6 56
7 Brian Dozier .236 628 2015 28 157 101 148 28 77
8 Torii Hunter .240 521 2015 39 139 67 125 22 81
9 Zoilo Versalles .241 568 1962 22 160 69 137 17 67
10 Brian Dozier .242 598 2014 27 156 112 145 23 71
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 11/19/2019.

Play you best players, let them rest in the off-season

When I go to the ballpark or watch a baseball game on TV I always expect the teams best players to be on the field day in and day out during the baseball season. I am old school in that regard and it is disappointing to me when today’s managers rest players so frequently. I believe that players are paid to play and only an injury that does not physically allow them to play should keep them off the field and in the dugout. 

Justin Morneau

Apparently that is not how the Twins play baseball. Coming to the ballpark and playing every day is not how it is done in Minnesota. The last player to play 160 or more games in a season for the Minnesota Twins was Justin Morneau back in 2008, that was 12 years ago. Morneau put together a 318 consecutive games played streak that started on June 28, 2007 and ended on June 20, 2009.  

Zoilo Versalles

Over the years the Twins have had 21 instances when a player has appeared in 160 games or more. Eleven players have accomplished this feat with Zoilo Versalles leading the pack with four such seasons, Harmon Killebrew and Kirby Puckett each did it three times, Cesar Tovar, Leo Cardenas and Gary Gaetti did it twice while Tony Oliva, Roy Smalley, Paul Molitor, Torii Hunter and Justin Morneau each did it once. This past season the Twins “Ironman” was Jorge Polanco with 153 games played.

Looking at just the American League (due to no DH in the National League) this past season there were four players that appeared in 160 or more games and there have been no instances from 1961-2019 where there hasn’t been at least one players appearing in 160 games in a season, excluding strike shortened seasons.

Going back to 1961 the Twins have the third longest streak in the AL without a player appearing in 160 or more games. The last Cleveland Indians player to play in 160 or more games was Grady Sizemore in 2007 and the longest streak in the AL without a player playing in 160 games belongs to the Los Angeles Angels who had Garret Anderson and Troy Glaus qualify back in 2001. I found it interesting that the Texas Rangers who did not begin play until 1972 and play in the very hot Texas temperatures had 13 players play in 160 or more games between 1972-2019.

Twins leaders with two or more home runs in a game

No surprise here that it is Harmon Killebrew, right?

Results
Rk Player #Matching
1 Harmon Killebrew 35
2 Justin Morneau 20
3 Tony Oliva 18
4 Kent Hrbek 16
5 Bob Allison 15
6 Kirby Puckett 13
7 Gary Gaetti 13
8 Tom Brunansky 11
9 Don Mincher 9
10 Torii Hunter 9
11 Eddie Rosario 8
12 Corey Koskie 8
13 Jacque Jones 8
14 Jimmie Hall 8
15 Brian Dozier 8
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 5/1/2019.

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Eddie Rosario is climbing this list pretty quickly.

And he goes down swinging!

Harmon Killebrew

We all know that strikeout rates are up all across baseball for the last few years but today we will look at Minnesota Twins batters and their strikeout rates going back to 1961. We used B-R’s amazing Play Index to find what we were looking for.

The top two all time Twins leader in strikeouts are Harmon Killebrew with 1,314 and Joe Mauer with 1,034. Mauer? What the heck? Longevity can do strange things to numbers and the devil is in the details.

Continue reading And he goes down swinging!

Minnesota Twins Top 10 Right Fielders

Between 1961-2018 there have been 70 players that have played at least 10 games in left field for our Minnesota Twins. However, to qualify for this list which ranks them in Baseball-Reference WAR order the player must have played left field in at least 51% of their games while wearing a Twins uniform. This eliminates players like Kirby Puckett, Bob Allison, Torii Hunter and Cesar Tovar who played right field at different points in their careers. Tony O is the Twins all-time leader in games played in right field.

 

Tony Oliva

 

Results
Rk Player WAR/pos G AB R H HR RBI BA OPS
1 Tony Oliva 43.1 1676 6301 870 1917 220 947 .304 .830
2 Tom Brunansky 16.1 916 3313 450 829 163 469 .250 .782
3 Michael Cuddyer 12.8 1139 4072 606 1106 141 580 .272 .794
4 Matt Lawton 11.3 771 2672 423 739 72 384 .277 .808
5 Max Kepler 6.9 419 1446 199 337 56 190 .233 .730
6 Bobby Darwin 5.3 490 1817 210 467 70 282 .257 .735
7 Dustan Mohr 2.5 261 782 111 202 22 85 .258 .726
8 Bombo Rivera 2.5 257 627 85 167 8 64 .266 .699
9 Hosken Powell 2.3 442 1468 192 383 13 127 .261 .671
10 Roberto Kelly 1.8 173 569 80 175 11 84 .308 .808
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 12/22/2018.
 

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Twins Top 10 Catchers

Twins Top 10 First Baseman

Twins Top 10 Second Basemen

Twins Top 10 Third Baseman

Twins Top 10 Shortstops

Twins Top 10 Right Fielders

Twins Top 10 Center Fielders

Twins Top 10 Left Fielders