Twins fans will always be haunted by their organization releasing David Ortiz in 2002. After spending his first six MLB seasons with Minnesota, Ortiz went on to become one of the greatest hitters this sport has ever seen. He won three World Series rings, went to the All-Star Game 10 times, and garnered seven Silver Slugger Awards on track to a Hall of Fame induction — all without wearing a Twins uniform.
Though Ortiz is not a legend with the Twins, the start to his illustrious career was born with Minnesota. Traded to the Twins in 1996 from the Mariners, Ortiz played a couple of minor league seasons within the Twins' organization.
Part of that stint included a 1997 campaign with the New Britain Rock Cats, a Double-A Team in the Eastern League. Ortiz was a .322 hitter in 69 games with New Britain, hitting 16 home runs, 22 doubles, and two triples. It was a marvelous season for a developing 21-year-old Ortiz under the Twins' minor league umbrella, but for some reason, the Rockies are stepping and using Ortiz's likeness as if he was a prospect with Colorado.
This New Britian team was a Twins affiliate all the way through 2015, until the Rockies took over and moved/rebranded the organization as the Hartford Yard Goats. So while Ortiz was never part of the Rockies, they are trying to capitalize on him playing for the team that existed before Colorado came around.
The Yard Goats are doing a promotion this season, giving away 1,000 David Ortiz bobbleheads. What uniform is he wearing? A Hartford Rock Cats jersey — a team that never existed under that specific name.
#BREAKING For the first time ever… the David Ortiz Hartford Rock Cats bobblehead! May 28th the first 1,000 fans will receive a David Ortiz Rock Cats bobblehead, presented by Performance Pump & Well Services. The team will take the field as the Rock Cats that same night. Tickets… pic.twitter.com/y7AfKfIo7m
— Hartford Yard Goats (@GoYardGoats) February 4, 2026
The Yard Goats will be changing their team name to the Hartford Rock Cats for two games this season for promotion's sake, but this one is a bit off-putting. It's great that they want to remember their roots and honor one of the greatest players to ever suit up for that team, but he was never a Rockie. There was never a team called the Hartford Rock Cats. It feels a little forced, but hey, Minor League Baseball teams have to do everything they can to get people to show up to games.
That much we can respect, but Twins fans will be curious to see if the Yard Goats will offer any idea that Ortiz was actually a Twin when he played his minor league ball in Connecticut back in the 90s. Hopefully they don't take credit when this giveaway rolls around. Either way, Ortiz is a legend of the game, so how can you not run with a marketing activation with him if the opportunity is there?