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2026 – On the first full day of Spring Training Pablo Lopez hurts his elbow throwing live batting practice. After an MRI the next day it is determined he has a severely damaged elbow ligament and will need Tommy John surgery, his second such surgery. I had watched him in the bullpen just before that and he looked fine. That is real bad news for the Twins.
1973 – The Twins announce that shortstop Danny Thompson is found to have chronic granulocytic leukemia. A club spokesperson said that the disease was found in an early stage and it should not affect him for five years. Thompson continued to play for the Twins in 73, 74, 75 and for 34 games in 1976 before he was traded to Texas where he played in 64 more games. Danny Thompson passed away at the age of just 29 at the Mayo Clinic on December 10, 1976. The book about Danny, “E-6: The Diary of a Major League Shortstop” is an interesting read.
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