Minnesota Twins: The 40 Best Players In Team History (No. 31-35)

No. 34: Steve Braun (15.0 WAR)

Steve Braun was not a superstar by any stretch of the imagination. Braun played six different positions during his time with the Twins, mostly in the outfield. If fantasy baseball existed in the 1970s, he would have been sought after simply for his eligibility at many positions.

Braun played six seasons for the Minnesota Twins from 1971 to 1976. His best season came in 1975. That year, he hit a career-high 11 home runs and drove in 45 runs while batting .302 on the season. While Braun was never a big power threat, he was able to get hits and provide offensive spark. He only batted under .280 during one season while playing for the Twins.

In 1975, Braun had his best WAR putting up a 3.7 mark. It was one of three seasons he put up three or more wins above replacement. After leaving the Twins he wouldn’t put up more than 0.8 in a season. Braun’s career may not be remembered for his sexy stats, but his value is shown through his WAR numbers.

While his numbers may not show his true value in a regular box score, Braun did damage with the Twins. He was a reliable utility man who could hit a few home runs and drive in a few runs. Not to mention, he was giving the Twins wins by being in the lineup. His WAR is better than a lot of recognizable Twins names, and that says a lot about his playing days in Minnesota.