It’s been a banner week for former Minnesota Twins player.
That’s sort of been a running gag among Twins fans over the years. If you want to play in the World Series, do a tour of duty in Minnesota and your wish will be granted. Guys like. Brian Dozier, Kyle Lohse, Nick Punto, Doug Mientkiewicz, and so many others have gone from playing for the Twins to playing in World Series games and it’s a trend that continues.
Rather than look at it as a bad thing, Twins fans should — and some do — look at it as a point of pride. Not only is it an endorsement of the team’s ability to find talent but once someone plays for the Twins they become one of our guys no matter where they go.
Case in point being A.J. Pierzynski going to the hated South Siders and still being welcomed back with open arms.
Eddie Rosario is on that list of former Twins who fans still love, and a player who continues to strive elsewhere in the league.
Even though he hasn’t played for the Twins since 2020, he hasn’t forgotten about his roots.
Eddie Rosario shouts out Twins after hitting game-winning home run for Braves
Rosario hit what ended up being a game-winning home run in the eighth inning of Atlanta’s game against Cincinnati on Wednesday night. After the game, he spoke to the media and credited his time with the Twins in helping him know what pitch was coming from reliever Buck Farmer.
“It was a high fastball,” Rosario said through an interpreter. “I faced him a lot when he was with Detroit, and I was in Minnesota and I knew that he likes to throw high heat on a 2-2 fastball, so I was kind of ready for it.”
That’s pretty cool.
It’s been a pretty big week for former Twins players, as Rosario’s heroics are joined by even greater efforts from Luis Arraez.
Arraez hit for hte cycle on Tuesday agains the Philadelphia Phillies, something that had never happened before in Marlins franchise history. It came on the same night the Pablo Lopez was on the mound for the Twins, who turned in a stellar performance in what ended up being an extra innings win over the White Sox.
Lopez wasn’t credited for the win, as Jhoan Duran stunningly blew a save in the top of the ninth inning. Instead, the Twins walked off the Sox in the 10th inning on a Michael A. Taylor bunt that turned into an error.
Still, Lopez pitched 7.2 innings, struck out 10 batters and recorded 23 straight outs before being taken out of the game. It’s safe to say that not only are former Twins player thriving, but the ones who are here are doing as well if not better.