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MLB Home Run Derby 2019: A history of the Minnesota Twins in the Home Run Derby

By Chris Schad

NEW YORK - JULY 14: Justin Morneau #33 bats during the 2008 MLB All-Star State Farm Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium on July 14, 2008 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - JULY 14: Justin Morneau #33 bats during the 2008 MLB All-Star State Farm Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium on July 14, 2008 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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ANAHEIM, CA – OCTOBER 13: Torii Hunter #48 of the Minnesota Twins hits against the Anaheim Angels in Game five of the American League Championship Series on October 13, 2002 at Edison International Field in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeated the Twins 13-5 and won the Series 4-1 to advance to the World Series. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – OCTOBER 13: Torii Hunter #48 of the Minnesota Twins hits against the Anaheim Angels in Game five of the American League Championship Series on October 13, 2002 at Edison International Field in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeated the Twins 13-5 and won the Series 4-1 to advance to the World Series. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

2002: Torii Hunter

After Gaetti’s donut, it would be a long time before a Twins player would enter the Home Run Derby. As the team bottomed out through the 1990s, there just weren’t many players that were worthy of stepping into the field. As the Twins were reborn during the early 2000s, one of the most popular players on the team was Torii Hunter. In 2002, he would be asked to take part in the derby at Miller Park in Milwaukee.

Hunter would hit 20 home runs in the first half of the 2002 season and join an impressive field that included Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Paul Konerko and Sammy Sosa. Hunter hit three home runs and missed the cut for the second round along with Rodriguez, Bonds and Lance Berkman.

Jason Giambi would win the derby with a total of 24 HR, but Hunter’s moment would come the following night when he would rob Bonds of a home run in the All-Star Game.

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