15 for 15: Ranking the Top 15 Minnesota Twins from the Last 15 years
Top 15 Minnesota Twins from the Past 15 Years: No. 15-No. 11
No. 15: Denard Span (2008-2012)
From 2008-2010 Denard Span played a key role in teams contending for division titles. He was an extremely exciting player with game-changing speed. When the Twins officially started rebuilding, Span was one of the first pieces moved after back-to-back losing seasons. He may not have been here as long as others on this list, but his defense and running ability earn him a spot.
No. 14: Jason Kubel (2007-2011, 2014)
For five seasons in the late 2010s, Jason Kubel was one of the most underrated offensive players in baseball. Slashing .273/.339/.466, Kubel was the perfect sixth man to follow the Mauer-Morneau-Cuddyer meat grinder. Kubel averaged 19 homers and 79 RBI during his first stint here, and with not many options to choose from, he stands out well.
No. 13: Eddie Rosario (2015-2020)
Believe it or not, Eddie Rosario was a very productive player over his time with the Twins. Slashing .277/.310/.477 and hitting 20 homers a year is really solid for a corner outfielder. With this being said, the Twins made the right call in moving on from him, as his defense and ill-advised base-running kept him from being a key part of the team.
No. 12: Max Kepler (2015-Present)
Though Max Kepler’s recent struggles have brought up major questions, his defense gives him the edge over Kubel and Rosario (whose Minnesota offensive numbers are similar). On top of being a good defender, his overall likeability help land him in this spot, though there’s no telling what comes next for him.
No. 11: Miguel Sanó (2015-Present)
Defensive woes and personal opinions from some fans aside, Miguel Sanó‘s first seven seasons with the team have been good. He has a career 119 OPS+ and even though some fans bemoan his constant strikeouts, he’s still provided countless memories like this:
He’s an easy call for this list.
Top 15 Minnesota Twins from the Past 15 Years: No. 10-No. 6
No. 10: Francisco Liriano (2007-2012)
Francisco Liriano’s best season with the Twins came in 2006, which is just outside of the fifteen year range. Regardless of that, Liriano still lands in the Top 10 based off of his ace-level 2010, his no-hitter, and his impact on the franchise.
No. 9: Taylor Rogers (2016-Present)
As Taylor Rogers prepares for free agency this upcoming offseason, it’s clear that he’s put up some of the best numbers by a reliever in Twins history. He may not be a tried and true closer, but his 3.15 ERA (3.00 FIP), 361-76 K-BB ratio, and somehow continually improving K/9 and BB/9 numbers earn the All-Star a spot on this list.
No. 8: Glen Perkins (2007-2017)
The only reliever from the last fifteen years that’s better than Rogers, Glen Perkins was well-deserving of a spot on this list. The 3-Time All-Star was a lights-out reliever once the Twins made the decision to move him to the pen. Injuries ended his career prematurely, but the Minnesota native was excellent here. He belongs on the list.
No.7: Eduardo Escobar (2012-2018)
Eduardo Escobar might not have put up the best numbers of his career in Minnesota, but the versatile fielder was loved by the fans, the organization, and his teammates. He was a joy to watch play, and was one of the lone bright spots from a very dark point for the organization.
No. 6: Byron Buxton (2015-Present)
The only reason Byron Buxton is this far down on the list is that he hasn’t been able to prove as much as the five players ahead of him. His resume so far on the other hand, that’s quite impressive. A Platinum Glove, and solid averages despite a slow start to his career mean he’s just getting started.
Top 15 Minnesota Twins from the Past 15 Years: No. 5-No. 1
No. 5: Brian Dozier (2012-2018)
Now we’re getting to the best of the group. From 2015-2017, Brian Dozier was one of the best second basemen in baseball and made some truly bad teams watchable. The slugger is one of the best second basemen in franchise history too, so there was no way he didn’t make the list.
No. 4: Jorge Polanco (2014-Present)
Another second baseman, Jorge Polanco has been the most consistent hitter in the Twins lineup for the past half-decade. He couldn’t quite cut it at shortstop, but he looks like he’s found a permanent home where he can flourish on defense. If he continues to produce on offense, there’s a very real chance he could end up in the Twins Hall of Fame one day.
No. 3: Jose Berrios (2016-2021)
The best pitcher the Twins have drafted and developed in decades, Jose Berrios was a two-time All-Star here for a reason. He consistently produced (even if it wasn’t ace caliber). With him now in Toronto, he won’t pass the next two guys on our list.
No. 2: Justin Morneau (2007-2013)
Immediately after his MVP win in 2006, Justin Morneau peeled off four All-Star appearances, a Silver Slugger award, and two Top-20 MVP finishes. Injuries derailed his career as we all have seen, but there’s no denying his impact.
No. 1: Joe Mauer (2007-2018)
One of the Top 3 Twins of all time, Joe Mauer is a future Hall of Famer and is the only Twins player to win an MVP award in the past fifteen years. He’s easily the greatest Twin since Kirby Puckett was forced to retire nearly 30 years ago.
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