Wrapping It Up
Introducing “Twins Top Ten”
Over the past few months, I’ve been taking a weekly look at the history of each position on the diamond and figuring out who is the best of the best since the franchise moved to Minnesota. This means that only players from 1961-on will be considered, but I will be taking into account their entire tenures with the franchise for those who moved along with the team. You can find prior entries in the series linked below. Bringing this to an end, we’ll be forming a lineup made up of the best of the best from each entry in the series.
- Starting Pitchers
- Relief Pitchers
- Catchers
- First Basemen
- Second Basemen
- Third Basemen
- Shortstops
- Left Fielders
- Center Fielders
- Right Fielders
- Designated Hitters
The Best Lineup in Twins History
Let’s go around the diamond and look at the top guys from each list, along with their stats and what I’d written about them.
Starting Pitcher: Johan Santana (2000-2007)
8 Years – 175 Starts – 35.8 bWAR – 141 ERA+ – 9.5 K/9 – 3.79 K/BB – 3x All-Star, 2x Cy Young
“Bert had a strong case for the top spot on this list, but ultimately it’s my list and so I’m giving the nod to my all-time favorite Twins pitcher. Johan Santana and his “Bugs Bunny” change-up put up three of the best pitcher seasons in Twins history- he should rightfully have a third Cy Young in his trophy case. As a whole, his rate stats blow everyone else on this list out of the water and had he been able to stay healthy for a few more years with the Mets, we may be talking about him as one of the best left-handed pitchers of all time.”
Relief Pitcher: Joe Nathan (2004-2011)
7 Years – 460 Appearances – 18.4 bWAR – 204 ERA+ – 10.9 K/9 – 4.19 K/BB – 0.956 WHIP – 4x All-Star
“Number 1 on the this list, and the Twins All-Time Saves list, is the big Texan Joe Nathan. Nathan is 10th in saves in MLB history and was as dominant as anyone not named Mariano Rivera during his time with the Twins. Hall of Fame voting for relievers has always been tricky, and maybe Nathan doesn’t deserve the honor of being inducted, but the lack of consideration he got, much like with Johan Santana, personally offended me.”
Catcher: Joe Mauer (2004-2018)
15 Years – 1858 Games – 55.2 bWAR – 124 OPS+ – 143 HR – 5.8 CS%AA – .996 Fielding % – Hall of Fame, MVP, 6x All-Star, 3x Gold Glover, 5x Silver Slugger, 3x Batting Champion
“Yes, he wasn’t able to stay at catcher his whole career. But it is Mauer’s production as a catcher that made him a first-ballot Hall of Famer this past summer. Peak Mauer is on the short list of best batters to ever play the position along with Johnny Bench and Mike Piazza, and his excellent defense sometimes is overlooked in historical arguments. The St. Paul kid and lifelong Twin gave fans a great guy and Hall of Fame player to root for throughout his 15-year career.”
First Base: Harmon Killebrew (1954-1974)
21 Years – 2329 Games – 60.4 bWAR – 145 OPS+ – 573 HR – 18 SB – .992 Fielding % – Hall of Fame, MVP, 13x All-Star
“This comes as no surprise to anyone. Killer is one of the greatest home run hitters that MLB has ever seen, much less the Twins. The country-strong Idaho native was a Hall of Fame player and person, and an obvious choice for the best first baseman in Twins history. Everyone who knew him seems to have stories upon stories of what a great guy he was.”
Second Base: Rod Carew (1967-1978)
12 Years – 1635 Games – 63.8 bWAR – 144 OPS+ – 74 HR – 271 SB – .973 Fielding % – Hall of Fame, MVP, Rookie of the Year, 12x All-Star
“Carew isn’t just the greatest second baseman in Twins history- he’s in the conversations for greatest Twin period, as well as being one of the greatest hitters in MLB history. The WAR leader for position players in team history is also the only Twin to be mentioned in a Beastie Boys song, and if that’s not an indication of greatness, I don’t know what is.”
Third Base: Gary Gaetti (1981-1990)
10 Years – 1361 Games – 27.1 bWAR – 100 OPS+ – 201 HR – 74 SB – .965 Fielding % – 2x All-Star, 4x Gold Glover
The most decorated third basemen in Twins history deservedly earns the top spot on this list, mashing more home runs than any primary third bagger in team history while playing sterling defense at the hot corner and winning a World Series.
Shortstop: Roy Smalley (1976-1982, 1985-1987)
10 Years – 1148 Games – 20.9 bWAR – 104 OPS+ – 110 HR – 15 SB – .964 Fielding % – All-Star
“Roy Smalley wasn’t spectacular, although he did approach it in 1978 and 1979. He was just really good, year in and year out, for a lot of years. Longevity with the stats to back it up? That’s an all-time Twin. Smalley was by all accounts a great guy, and served the organization for 22 years as a broadcaster before hanging up the headset this offseason. We wish the Greatest Twins Shortstop of All Time well wishes in his retirement!”
Left Field: Larry Hisle (1973-1977)
5 Years – 662 Games – 17.2 bWAR – 127 OPS+ – 87 HR – 92 SB – 31 A – -1.9 dWAR – All-Star
“This was one of the toughest calls to make at the top of any of these lists. Mack and Hisle are essentially neck-and-neck, but Hisle’s superior power and speed numbers, along with the All-Star accolade, pushed him over the top. Hisle played an excellent stretch during some very mediocre Twins seasons.”
Center Field: Kirby Puckett (1984-1995)
12 Years – 1783 Games – 51.1 bWAR – 124 OPS+ – 207 HR – 134 SB – 110 A – -0.3 dWAR – Hall of Famer, 10x All-Star, 6x Gold Glove, 6x Silver Slugger, Batting Champion
“What can I say about Kirby that the long list of accolades doesn’t? He’s truly one of the greatest to ever play. He didn’t look the part, but he had every tool you’d want, and he delivered two World Series titles and a Hall of Fame career to the people of Minnesota.”
Right Field: Tony Oliva (1962-1976)
15 Years – 1676 Games – 43.0 bWAR – 131 OPS+ – 220 HR – 86 SB – 70 A – -4.4 dWAR – Hall of Famer, 8x All-Star, Rookie of the Year, Gold Glove, 3x Batting Champion
“One of the most decorated players in franchise history, Tony O was one of the better pure hitters in MLB history. The Gold Glover held his own in the field as well, although debilitating leg injuries make you wonder what could’ve been had the DH position been introduced earlier in his career.”
Designated Hitter: Jason Kubel (2004-2011, 2014)
8 Years – 798 Games – 7.7 oWAR – 110 OPS+ – 105 HR – 434 D.A.
“Jason Kubel was never a star, but his long tenure boosted him to the top of this list. He actually played more defense than DH, but he had more appearances at DH than any single defensive position. Kubel also has the second-best OPS against Mariano Rivera of any batter, including a landmark moment in my baseball-watching time when he walked him off with a Grand Slam. Check out this batting line:
5-9, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 1 SO, .556 BA, .600 OBP, .889 Slugging, 1.489 OPS
Let’s also not forget the important footnote that he is former and current Twin Michael Tonkin’s brother-in-law.”
That’s a pretty good-looking lineup. Realistically, the outfield and designated hitter slots would look different if you allowed some positional flexibility- think Kirby in Left, Torii in Center, and Tony O in Right with Kent Hrbek or Bob Allison filling the DH slot. Similarly, Carlos Correa would probably be my pick for “Best” Twins shortstop over Smalley, but it’s my belief that there’s more to consider when talking about “Greatest”, which is why Smalley got the nod originally. Five Hall of Famers at the top of the order with different, appropriate hitting profiles for each of their slots paired with a multiple-Cy Young-winning lefty and a closer who can slam the door would make this team the Dodgers unbeatable!
In any case, I hope you all enjoyed this offseason exercise as much as I did, and I’ve appreciated the comment section feedback throughout! Now let’s all get ready for Opening Day!