Minnesota Twins: The 40 Best Players In Team History (No. 21-25)
Wins Above Replacement has become a powerful stat to measure the value of a player. Here are the all-time best Minnesota Twins based on WAR (numbers 21-25).
The Minnesota Twins have had some good players in their history. From Hall of Famers to fan favorites, there are plenty of big names that have come through to play in the Twins Cities. In an effort to figure out who is the best Twins player of all-time, we have taken a look at the Twins career leaders in Wins Above Replacement (WAR).
WAR is a sabermetric tool to help determine the overall value of a baseball player. It is a way to calculate a player’s total contribution to the team, which shows how truly valuable they are. Position player WAR is complex to calculate, as is pitching WAR.
Without all of the calculations, the concept is fairly simple. Position player WAR is meant to show how many more games the team wins with that certain player in the lineup instead of his replacement. The same concept roles into pitching. It is meant to reflect how many more wins that pitcher is responsible for during innings they pitch compared to someone else.
With that said, the 40 players on this list have the best WAR numbers during their Twins careers. Only their WAR during their time with the Twins is included. So that means there is no David Ortiz, Carlos Gomez or anyone else that had more success elsewhere. This list is strictly who was the best in a Twins uniform.
The next five (numbers 21-25) will begin with a player who had a hand in both World Series championship wins in Minnesota.
Greg Gagne (17.9 WAR)
Greg Gagne was known for his slick fielding and being a Twins fan favorite. Gagne was a valuable member of two of the best Twins teams of all-time during his tenure in Minnesota, which spanned from 1983 to 1992.
While Gagne’s value was shown through WAR, he didn’t always get the recognition he deserved. He was never an All-Star or a Gold Glove winner. He did, however, contribute to the Twins’ success in 1987 and 1991.
In 1987, he posted his second-best WAR total with 3.9. His best was 4.1 that came in 1989. Gagne was a great defensive player during his career, ranking 57th all-time in career defensive WAR. While his trophy case doesn’t have much for individual awards, Gagne was able to rack up value statistics because of his ability to do the little things.
In four separate seasons during his career, Gagne placed in the top ten in sacrifice hits. He could provide pop when needed, hitting double digit home runs in three straight seasons from 1986 to 1988. He ranks ninth all-time in Twins history with 35 triples, which showed his speed on the base paths.
While Gagne didn’t get any big individual awards during his playing days, he did earn enshrinement into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame in 2010. He may not have had the flashiest career or the individual accolades, but Gagne’s WAR numbers have proven how valuable he was to the Twins and their two World Series championship teams.
No. 24: Brian Dozier (18.9 WAR)
Since moving to Target Field, the Twins have had some trouble getting production from players. That has not been the case with second baseman Brian Dozier. Dozier has been one of the best at his position since coming up to the majors in 2012, and he continues to be a force in the Twins lineup.
His last three seasons have been phenomenal. In 2014, he hit 23 home runs and drove in 71 runs while posting 5.2 wins above replacement. In 2015, Dozier made his first All-Star team during a season when he hit 28 home runs and drove in 77 runs. But he saved his best for last season.
In 2016, Dozier had an incredible power surge. His 42 home runs ranked third in the American League and he had an American League tenth best 6.5 wins above replacement. To make the season more impressive he drove in 99 runs. His production hasn’t stopped in 2017.
This season, Dozier has six home runs and 16 RBIs in 39 games, along with seven stolen bases. His stolen bases rank tenth in the American League currently. His stolen bases have been an overlooked part of his game. He has 81 career stolen bases since coming into the league.
If Dozier keeps up his pace, he could crack the top 20 of this list by the end of the season. He has been dangerous in the Twins lineup for years and has been, arguably, their most valuable player in that time. If he stays with the Twins through the year, he will catapult up this list. If he stays beyond that, he could be looked at as one of the best in club history.
No. 23: Kevin Tapani (19.2 WAR)
The Twins had some stellar pitching during the 1991 season with the likes of Scott Erickson and Jack Morris. Another pitcher had a great season during that championship run and ended up pitching well throughout the early 1990s. Kevin Tapani would end up recording five double digit win seasons from 1990 to 1994 in Minnesota.
His best season came during that magical year in 1991. During that season, he would go 16-9 with a 2.99 ERA to go along with 6.8 wins above replacement. He finished seventh in Cy Young Award voting that year, five spots behind his teammate Erickson.
He would go on to win 16 games again in 1992, but did not have the incredible WAR that he had the previous year. His ERA was almost a full run higher with a 3.97 mark, which was still respectable. It wasn’t just about the double digit wins that made him a valuable pitcher.
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Tapani was a workhorse, pitching over 200 inning three times as a Twin, once pitching 244 innings in a season. His ability to work through games helped him record 19 complete games when he was in Minnesota. He ranks 9th all-time in Twins history with 1171.1 innings pitched.
Along with his incredible amount of innings, Tapani is ninth all-time in wins as a Twin with 75 and seventh in games started with 180 starts in a Twins uniform. He was able to win ballgames for the squad and eat innings while doing it. While he may not have made an All-Star team, Tapani proved his worth with value statistics.
No. 22: Shane Mack (19.6 WAR)
A combination of power and speed helped outfielder Shane Mack become a productive player for the Twins from 1990 to 1994. He was able to hit home runs and steal bases, while also hitting for average. He was also a key contributor to the 1991 World Series championship winning squad.
Mack has his best year in 1992, which surprisingly didn’t get him much recognition. He hit .315 with 16 home runs and 75 runs batted in. His speed helped him swipe 26 bases to go with his power numbers. His year was great from a value standpoint, as well. He tallied 6.5 wins above replacement, a career-high.
In 1991, he had a similarly productive year. He hit 18 home runs and drove in 74 runs to go along with 13 stolen bases. He also tallied 5.0 wins above replacement for the World Series champions. His production spilled over into the playoffs, as he hit .333 in the ALCS against Toronto.
Mack currently ranks third in batting average in Twins history with a .309 mark. His average combined with his power and speed made him a threat to score and produce runs. His value was shown through his WAR numbers during his five years in Minnesota.
Mack played on one of the best Twins teams in history and was able to stand out as a multi-dimensional player. That made him a dangerous threat in a lineup that included incredible talent. His contributions and ability to win games for his team helped him rack up WAR, and that truly shows his value.
No. 21: Roy Smalley (20.8 WAR)
Roy Smalley played a productive career in a Minnesota Twins uniform, which spanned ten years over two different stints. Smalley had a good eye at the plate and was an All-Star talent that could pop a ball over the fence.
He had power, hitting double-digit home runs in five of his seasons in Minnesota. His best power year was in 1979 when he hit 24 home runs and drove in 95 runs while batting .271. He made the All-Star team that season and received MVP votes. He had 4.3 wins above replacement, which was the second best single season total of his career.
His most valuable season according to WAR was the year before, in 1978. He tallied 5.9 wins above replacement while hitting 19 home runs and driving in 77 runs. He also batted .273. His WAR that season was the fourth best among American League position players.
Smalley will be remembered as a Twin for his production, and for being a part of the 1987 World Series championship team. He would retire on top after that season. He also is sixth in club history in career walks with 549.
Next: Top 40 Greatest Twins No. 26-30
His ability to hit for power, get on base and make putouts in the field (he was first in the AL in assists each year from 1977 to 1979) made him a valuable member of the Minnesota Twins. His place on the list is proof of his value during his two stints in Minnesota.