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Minnesota Twins: The All-Target Field Team (2010-Present)

By Jackson Bruce

Sep 2, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; A general view at Target Field during the third inning between the Minnesota Twins and the Chicago White Sox. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 2, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; A general view at Target Field during the third inning between the Minnesota Twins and the Chicago White Sox. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 24, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Phil Hughes (45) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Phil Hughes (45) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Starting Pitchers

Phil Hughes (2014-Present)

Phil Hughes has played well with the Twins, for the most part, since coming to Minnesota as a free agent in 2014. In his Twins debut season, he posted a 16-10 record with a 3.52 ERA which helped him finish 7th in Cy Young voting. He has started the current campaign with a slick 3-1 record.

Overall, Hughes is 31-27 as a member of the Twins, even with his rough 1-7 season last season. With Twins pitching being iffy during the Target Field era, Hughes has done a pretty fine job. If he stays healthy, he is very effective and he is showing it this season.

Ervin Santana (2015-Present)

Ervin Santana’s time in Minnesota has had its ups and downs, but he has managed to find himself on top recently. His start to 2017 is bringing back flashes of a different Twins pitcher with the same last name, Johan Santana, and it has helped Minnesota start on the right foot. He is currently 4-0 with a 0.77 ERA in four starts, along with 26 strikeouts.

To date, Santana is 18-16 overall in 52 starts in a Twins uniform. In his first two seasons in the Twin Cities, Santana posted ERAs of 4.00 and 3.38 respectively. If this season stays true, Santana will be in the running for the Cy Young, which could make him the first Twins pitcher to win it since the other Santana.

Scott Baker (2010-2011)

Scott Baker played only two years at Target Field, although he had many other good years at the Metrodome, but his two years were good ones. During those two seasons, Baker pitched to the tune of a 20-15 record and 271 strikeouts in 52 appearances (50 starts). In 2011, his ERA was an impressive 3.14.

Unfortunately in 2012, while on rehab assignment with the Ft. Myers Miracle, Baker injured his elbow after throwing just eleven pitches. He would miss the rest of the season due to Tommy John surgery, ending his time in Minnesota. He would only win three more games the rest of his career.

Carl Pavano (2010-2012)

Carl Pavano pitched well to start his time at Target Field, going 17-11 with a 3.75 ERA in 32 starts. More impressive was the 221 innings he pitched to go along with a league-leading seven complete games. Pavano was a workhorse in 2012, and it would end up catching up to him the next two seasons.

After his awesome first season at the next ballpark, Pavano would pitch an incredible 222 innings in 2011 before making only eleven starts in 2012. He would never pitch again after 2012 in the majors. His two seasons of 220 plus innings were impressive, and should not be forgotten.

Francisco Liriano (2010-2012)

Francisco Liriano was electric when he first came up to the Twins prior to the opening of Target Field. In the first year at the current stadium he went 14-10 with a 3.62 ERA in 31 starts. He also struck out 201 batters in 191.2 innings.

The next two seasons were not as friendly, as he posted a record of 12-20 with an ERA over five. He would be traded to the White Sox in 2012 in the trade that acquired Eduardo Escobar. He would revive his career later in Pittsburgh and currently pitches for the Toronto Blue Jays.

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