Minnesota Twins: The Top 8 Greatest Left-Handed Hitters in Twins History

Minnesota Twins Greatest Left-Hander No. 8: Roy Smalley (1976-1982, 1985-1987)

We’re actually going to start this list off with a switch-hitter. Roy Smalley played for the Minnesota Twins for ten of his thirteen big league seasons, working through two different stints with the Twins. His high point came in 1987, when in his final year as a player, he was part of the World Series-winning Twins team.

He was a one-time All-Star, and he hit 110 home runs and drove in 485 RBI with the Twins. He also was named AL Player of the Week twice. Considered an average fielder at shortstop, he actually led the league in assists and led all shortstops in putouts in 1979.

You can still hear Roy on Fox Sports North as an analyst on Minnesota Twins games, and he continues to work with the organization he spent most of his playing career with. Smalley was a great place to start this list at.

Minnesota Twins Greatest Left-Hander No. 7: Corey Koskie (1998-2004)

Corey Koskie was a solid two-way third baseman for the Twins for 7 seasons. He ended his Twins career with 101 home runs and 437 runs batted in and he was also considered one of the best fielding third baseman in baseball.

In his first two full major league seasons with the Twins, he hit .300, but he had his best year in 2001. Koskie turned the power on, hitting 26 home runs coupled with 103 RBI and 100 runs scored, a season that landed him 25th in MVP voting.

Corey ended up signing a 3-year, $17 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2005, making his Twins career one of the shortest ones on this list. Unfortunately, Koskie suffered from numerous injuries in the latter part of his career, including post-concussion syndrome, and he ended up retiring in March of 2009. None of that takes away from his incredible talent.

Minnesota Twins Greatest Left-Hander No. 6: Lyman Bostock (1975-1977)

Some might be surprised by this pick, as Lyman Bostock only wore a Minnesota Twins uniform for  three years, but it was an incredible three years. In those three years, Lyman hit .318 with 250 RBI’s and 30 stolen bases. That’s a really great stretch for a pretty offense starved 1970s.

He was also a great run producer and a player that many people considered to be one of the best defensive center fielders in the league. The Twins thought they had an excellent center fielder for the next decade, one that Nolan Ryan at one point called “one of the few natural hitters in the American League.” Unfortunately, we know the end of this story.

Financially-strapped Minnesota Twins owner Calvin Griffith was not able to come to terms with Bostock and he became a free agent. An incredible young talent hitting the open market opened up a bidding war between the Yankees, Padres, and Angels, leading to the Angels coming out on top and signing Lyman to a 5-year $2.3 million contract.

Lyman started out slowly for the Angels at the beginning of the 1978 season. He felt so bad about his performance and demanded that Angels owner Gene Autry keep his money until he started earning it. Autry still wanted to pay him, so Bostock instead donated $50,000 to a charity.

Bostock caught fire later in the year and was having a very productive year as the Angels went to Chicago to play a late season game against the White Sox where tragedy struck. After one of the games, Lyman was driving in Gary, Indiana with his uncle on a family visit. While he was in the car, a dispute occurred and the driver in the other vehicle ended up shooting into the car, killing Lyman.

It was a truly heartbreaking moment in baseball, and the baseball world was crushed by the loss of a bright young star and excellent human being. Bostock’s Twins career and life was cut terribly short, but his talent was truly incredible.

Minnesota Twins Greatest Left-Hander No. 5: Justin Morneau (2003-2013)

The pride of New Westminster High in Canada, Justin Morneau became a regular part of the Twins lineup in 2005 and proceeded to enjoy an epic run of five seasons of baseball with the Twins, where he became one of the best players in the MLB.

Justin was a prolific hitter during this time, eventually ending his Minnesota Twins career with 221 home runs and 860 RBI. The peak of his career was during the 2009 season where he drove in 100 runs and added 30 home runs. For his accomplishments that year, Justin was named the 2006 American League MVP.

Concussions and other injuries took a toll on Justin, and the what could have been for Morneau is obvious. Even at age 33, Morneau went on to win the National League Batting title for the Colorado Rockies. If he had stayed healthy through his career, we might be looking at one of Twins all-time greats.

Minnesota Twins Greatest Left-Hander No. 4: Kent Hrbek (1981-1994)

The first local boy on this list who found success playing Major League Baseball, Kent Hrbek was hard-hitting kid from Bloomington Minnesota who started his career with the Twins in 1981. Kent went on to become the rock of the two World Series champion Minnesota Twins teams and he regularly hit close to 20 home runs and drove in 80+ runs during the majority of his Twins career.

Herbie was probably the best player in big league history to never win a Gold Glove. His stretches at first base saved the Twins innumerable runs and his back to the plate catches are legendary. He was, in my mind, the best fielding first baseman of his era.

Besides his prestigious hitting and remarkable fielding, Kent was known as a wonderful clubhouse prankster and affable team player. All that combines to help the lefty with one of the sweetest swings ever land at four on this list.

Minnesota Twins Greatest Left-Hander No. 3: Joe Mauer (2004-2018)

Joe Mauer is another local kid who made good. I first heard of Joe when he was 13 and playing for his dad and a buddy of mine. I asked my friend how good Joe was. My friend told me that he will make the big leagues, but probably as a first baseman. It’s kind of funny how things work out.

The pride of Cretin-Derham Hall went on to become an incredibly accomplished major league hitter. Joe would won three batting titles, three Gold Gloves, and was named the MVP of the American League in 2009. He was simply the best catcher in the game for several years, and has an argument as one of the best hitting catchers ever.

This 6-time All-Star had one of the most perfect swings of any big-league player ever, helping him maintain a positive impact on the Twins, even as he got older. Joe ended his 15-year major league baseball career with a .306 batting average, which is one heck of a career number.

Minnesota Twins Greatest Left-Hander No. 2: Tony Oliva (1962-1976)

Tony Oliva was a five-tool player during his first several seasons with the Minnesota Twins. Possessing both power and speed, Tony ripped up the American league, winning 3 batting titles, while also hitting for power and becoming a run producing machine.

Tony was also a prodigious fielder with a great arm as evidenced by the reticence with which base runners would attempt to take an extra base with him patrolling right field. The combination of these skills led Oliva to being selected for the All-Star Game 8 times.

Knee injuries robbed him of a brilliant second act, but for several years, Tony was one of the most feared and respected hitters in the game and still is a terrific ambassador for the team to this day. He belongs in the Hall of Fame.

Minnesota Twins Greatest Left-Hander No 1: Rod Carew (1967-1978)

As many of you who have read my pieces before know, Rod Carew is my favorite Minnesota Twin of all time. I watched him many times in my youth and I was always mesmerized by his combination of talent and gracefulness. He truly was an artist with the bat.

I will start with a quote from Catfish Hunter regarding Mr. Carew. “He has no weakness as a hitter. Pitch him inside, outside, high, low, fast stuff, breaking balls-anything you throw he can handle. He swings with the pitch; that is why he’s so great, He has no holes.”

“Mr. Smooth” was selected to the All-Star game 18 times throughout his illustrious career. He won 7 batting titles and finished his playing days with a .328 batting average and 3,053 hits. He was also named American League Rookie of the Year in 1967 and the MVP of the American League in 1977. Did I mention, he stole home 7 times in the 1969 season?

Rod Carew is regarded as one of the single greatest hitters of all time for his ability to constantly put the ball in play. It makes sense that he lands on top of our list of best lefties in Twins history. What a special player he was.

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my choices? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section. Thanks for reading the article and following Puckett’s Pond.