Minnesota Twins Spring Training Countdown: 1, Hudson and Castillo
By Nate Palmer
The Minnesota Twins start spring training today! As we celebrate the return of the game we love, let’s look at the #1’s place in team history.
The Minnesota Twins are preparing for a 2018 season with expectation after making the playoffs in 2017 as a Wild Card team. We will be highlighting numbers from team history that represent the number of days until spring training from now until when pitchers and catcher report on February 13th. That is TODAY!
We have made it all the way to the last day of our countdown, to the number one. To celebrate we will take a look at two second basemen who both wore the number one for the Twins and were acquired with hopes of boosting the Twins success.
Luis Castillo
December 2, 2005, the Twins acquired Luis Castillo from the Florida Marlins for Scott Tyler and Travis Bowyer. Castillo was brought to the Twins with the hopes that he would not only defensively man second base but also be able to be a steady bat towards the top of the Twins lineup.
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In Castillo’s first season with the Twins he was able to slash .296/.358/.370 and hit 22 doubles, 6 triples, and stole 25 bases. That helped him act as a catalyst and spur the Twins onto an American League Central first place finish and 96-66 record. Castillo started in the lineup in the two hole behind Shannon Stewart before Stewart battled injury and missed a good portion of the season pushing Castillo into the leadoff spot.
2007 was a much different season for the Twins second baseman. Castillo was able to slash .304/.356/.352, but with the Twins struggles they looked to capitalize on the second baseman’s value and traded him at the trade deadline to the New York Mets. In return, the Twins received Dustin Martin and defensive minded catcher Drew Butera.
Orlando Hudson
Orlando Hudson signed as free agent with the Twins before the 2010 season. His signing signalled the need for an upgrade over Alexi Casilla at second base. Even though the Twins were able to finish first in 2009 they needed to try to find an edge to be able to advance through the playoffs.
In his lone season with the Twins, Hudson hit .268/.338/.372 with 6 home runs, 24 doubles, and 5 triples and a 2.8 WAR on the season. Hudson was certainly a catalyst for the Twins through the 2010 season as they went 94-68 and finished first in the AL Central, but then, of course, they ran into the New York Yankees and were swept out of the first round of the playoffs.
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That’s it! Spring training is here! Hope you have enjoyed our journey to #1 as we have awaited this day in which pitchers and catcher report.