Twins Spring Training 2019: By the numbers

With all the Twins players reporting to camp by Monday, the team website has been updated with the jersey number of every roster player, non-roster invitee, and coach. Since fields full of unknown players wearing unknown numbers can be confusing, here is a quick guide to this year’s February Twins personnel, number by number.

There is also some fun to be had here, as we take the metaphorical DeLorean for a spin, and check out some previous guys to wear each number.

1. Nick Gordon, SS
Prev. worn by: OF Jordan Schafer, 2015

Unsurprisingly for a first-round pick, Gordon will be wearing No. 1 for the second straight camp. The Twins’ more recent first-round shortstop, Royce Lewis, is in his first camp and will be wearing a much higher number, as seen further below.
(A quick note: unless otherwise stated, “Previously worn by” will always refer to the most recent player in the regular season.)

2. Luis Arráez, 2B
Prev. worn by: 2B Brian Dozier, 2018

One of three players added to the 40-man roster before the Rule 5 draft (along with Gordon and outfielder LaMonte Wade), Arráez has entered the surprisingly unoccupied land of Twins’ single-digit numbers and stepped into a vacancy. (To be fair to single-digit numbers, two are retired in Minnesota, and another is soon to be retired.)

3. Harmon Killebrew (retired)

5. Rocco Baldelli, manager
Prev. worn by: SS/3B Eduardo Escobar, 2018

In donning his former number as a Rays outfielder, Baldelli has become the second consecutive Twins manager to wear a single-digit number, after Paul Molitor’s No. 4.

6. Tony Oliva (retired)

7. Joe Mauer (retired during this season)

8. Zack Granite, CF
Prev. worn by: C Kurt Suzuki, 2016

After a handful of games in the majors in 2017, Granite was unable to return to Minnesota’s active roster last season, spending the year in Rochester, but remains on the 40-man.

9. Derek Shelton, bench coach
Prev. worn by: P Matt Belisle, 2017

While Shelton may annoy me by taking a single-digit number away from some player, he has been considered for a managerial position, so I suppose he’s earned it.

10. Tom Kelly (retired)

11. Jorge Polanco, SS
Prev. worn by: SS/OF Jason Bartlett, 2014

OH NO that aged-Bartlett experiment... why did I have to look this up?

12. Jake Odorizzi, SP
Prev. worn by: C John Ryan Murphy, 2016

And now I have to be reminded of the Aaron Hicks trade. Why must this article bring such regrets to mind?

13. Ehire Adrianza, SS
Prev. worn by: 3rd base coach Gene Glynn, 2018 / OF Jason Kubel, 2014

Putting aside more bad memories of 2014, Adrianza has changed his number from 16, opening those digits for new second baseman Jonathan Schoop.

14. Kent Hrbek (retired)

15. Jason Castro, C
Prev. worn by: P Glen Perkins, 2017

2017 was the only season in his career where Castro did not wear No. 15, having worn that number for seven years as an Astro. With Perkins’ retirement after that season, Castro reclaimed his familiar number.

16. Jonathan Schoop, 2B
Prev. worn by: SS Ehire Adrianza, 2018

Schoop had worn No. 6 throughout his Orioles tenure; with the Twins having retired that number, he at least reclaims it as a trailing digit.

17. José Berríos, SP
Prev. worn by: SS Doug Bernier, 2015

This number looks really sharp on him. Good choice.

18. Mitch Garver, C
Prev. worn by: bullpen coach Eddie Guardado, 2018 / C Ryan Doumit, 2012

As addressed last week, this is Garver’s third number in three seasons. Perhaps this one will stick long-term; we’ve yet to see how it looks on him under catcher’s gear.

19. Ronald Torreyes, 3B
Prev. worn by: 1B Kennys Vargas, 2017

Torreyes wore No. 74 as a Yankee, but drops into the more popular range of numbers in Minnesota. The previous wearer, Vargas, was significantly larger than Torreyes’ 5-foot-8 frame; perhaps Vargas could make a cameo for an Aaron Judge-like comparison.

20. Eddie Rosario, LF
Prev. worn by: 1B/OF Chris Colabello, 2014

I did not remember Colabello wore No. 20. I do remember his out-of-nowhere April 2014, when he drove in 27 runs to break Kirby Puckett’s franchise record for RBIs in a month. But I had forgotten he’d changed digits from the No. 55 he wore in 2013.

21. Tyler Duffey, RP
Prev. worn by: C Jason Castro, 2017

As seems to happen, one player changing numbers triggered another. In this case, Duffey vacated his old No. 56 prior to last season for Fernando Rodney and took the number Castro had just exchanged.

22. Miguel Sanó, 3B
Prev. worn by: P Tim Stauffer, 2015

Baseball Reference states that Stauffer pitched in 13 games for the Twins in 2015, his final season. If you remembered that, I’m impressed and also not sure I believe you.

23. Nelson Cruz, DH
Prev. worn by: C Mitch Garver, 2018

Cruz wore No. 23 during his four-year tenure in Seattle, and keeps the number in Minnesota, triggering Garver’s most recent number change.

24. C.J. Cron, 1B
Prev. worn by: 2B Logan Forsythe, 2018

Forsythe was the second Twin to wear this number last year, as outfielder Ryan LaMarre started the year in No. 24. (Yes, there are people who remember this; I saw a girl in a LaMarre shirsey at Target Field last August.) Cron re-claims his Angels number after spending his season in Tampa Bay wearing No. 44.

25. Byron Buxton, CF
Prev. worn by: SS Pedro Florimón, 2014

Florimón is still in the league, currently playing on a minor league deal in the Braves organization, but has not worn No. 25 since leaving Minnesota.

26. Max Kepler, RF
Prev. worn by: C Eric Fryer, 2015

“Hey, did you know Kepler’s from Germany? And that his parents were ballet dancers?”

27. Lucas Duda, 1B (non-roster)
Prev. worn by: P John Curtiss, 2018

The most recognizable of the Twins’ non-roster invitees, Duda was signed on February 9. While the Twins have had a NRI break camp with the big-league club each of the past two seasons (Chris Gimenez two years ago, LaMarre last year), Duda has significant competition at first base in the form of Cron and Tyler Austin.

28. Bert Blyleven (retired)

29. Rod Carew (retired)

30. Michael Reed, CF
Prev. worn by: coach Jeff Pickler, 2018 / IF James Beresford, 2016

A late-October waiver claim, Reed is in the mix for the job of fourth outfielder, and gets a number that has not been worn long-term since Scott Baker’s 2012 departure.

31. Tyler Austin, 1B
Prev. worn by: P Lance Lynn, 2018

Lynn’s 2018 is still inexplicable.

33. Martin Pérez, SP
Prev. worn by: hitting coach James Rowson, 2018 / P Tommy Milone, 2016

Of course, the most famous No. 33 in Twins history is first baseman Justin Morneau, the other half of the M&M Boys. Morneau was my favorite player growing up, and after his departure via trade, I hoped his number would be retired. Pérez is the third person to don No. 33 since Morneau, but I still hope.

34. Kirby Puckett (retired)

35. Michael Pineda, SP
Prev. worn by: P Dillon Gee, 2017

Before Gee, the last player to wear No. 35 for the Twins was Steve Bedrosian back in 1991. Of course, a large reason for that gap is named Ron Gardenhire.

36. Adam Rosales, SS (non-roster)
Prev. worn by: OF Robbie Grossman, 2018

I think the “OF” stands for “occasionally fields.” (Sorry Robbie.)

37. Tim Collins, RP (non-roster)
Prev. worn by: 1st base coach Jeff Smith, 2018 / C Juan Centeno, 2016

Let’s look at the Minnesota catching corps in 2016:

• Kurt Suzuki, in his last and worst year as a Twin
• John Ryan Murphy
• Centeno

No wonder they lost 103 games.

38. Blake Parker, RP
Prev. worn by: P Matt Belisle, 2018

Belisle makes the “previously worn by” line twice!

39. Trevor Hildenberger, RP
Prev. worn by: P Adam Wilk, 2017

Wilk’s time as a Twin was a three-appearance interval between Danny Santana’s time in No. 39 and Hildenberger’s.

40. Tommy Watkins, 1st base coach
Prev. worn by: 2B Gregorio Petit, 2018

And the player before Petit? Bartolo Colón. Ah, memories....

41. Dean Anna, SS (non-roster)
Prev. worn by: pitching coach Garvin Alston, 2018 / C Drew Butera, 2013

We may grumble about some of our backup catchers, but I don’t know a Twins fan who isn’t still fond of Drew Butera. (Except for when he hit an inside-the-park home run against Minnesota last year. That, we can grumble about.) And yes, I can confirm fans with Butera jerseys exist, as I spotted one while leaving a game at Target Field last August. (Okay, that’s a small sample size.)

42. Jackie Robinson (retired across the MLB)

43. Addison Reed, RP
Prev. worn by: C Mitch Garver, 2017

And Garver also makes the “previously worn by” line twice. At least all these number changes make things interesting.

44. Kyle Gibson, SP
Prev. worn by: C Chris Herrmann, 2013

Herrmann mostly wore No. 12 in Minnesota, but he first wore 23 then 44 before settling on his regular number. And while 44 is around the league more commonly a number for sluggers, Gibson did lead the Twins in OPS last year.

45. Jeremy Hefner, assistant pitching coach
Prev. worn by: IF/OF Taylor Motter, 2018

This number was also worn by two players last year, with Motter taking the number after Phil Hughes was DFA’d. Motter did not last nearly as long as Hughes.

46. Tony Diaz, 3rd base coach
Prev. worn by: C Chris Gimenez, 2018

Another duo! Gimenez took the number from backup catcher Bobby Wilson, for whom he was traded.

47. Wes Johnson, pitching coach
Prev. worn by: P Dietrich Enns, 2017

47 is like 17 - a lot of sharp straight lines and corners. The right person needs to wear it. Hmm... can someone coax Jack Morris out of retirement?

49. Adalberto Mejia, SP
Prev. worn by: P Kevin Jepsen, 2016

Jepsen’s tenure can be summarized by “we still make jokes about him.”

50. Justin Nicolino, SP (non-roster)
Prev. worn by: P Aaron Slegers, 2018

Nicolino is 6-foot-3. That’s tall, but it’s not Slegers-tall.

51. Mike Morin, RP (non-roster)
Prev. worn by: OF Johnny Field, 2018

51 has mostly been a pitcher’s number in Minnesota. Before Field, the last position player to wear the number as a Twin was catcher Corky Miller, for five games in 2005. Before Miller? Surprise - Doug Mientkiewicz, in his first call-up in 1998.

52. Zack Littell, SP
Prev. worn by: 1B ByungHo Park, 2016

I saw a man in a Park jersey at Shea Stadium in 2016, long after Park had been demoted. I felt bad for him. (The game also did not end well.)

53. Kohl Stewart, SP
Prev. worn by: P David Hale, 2018

Hale’s 2018 Twins statistics: 1 game, 3 innings, 4 hits, 4 walks, 4 runs, 12.00 ERA.

54. Preston Guilmet, RP (non-roster)
Prev. worn by: P Ervin Santana, 2018

In retrospect, Santana’s four years in Minnesota were less “ace pitcher” and more “hold down the #1 spot in the rotation until Berríos becomes the ace.”

55. Taylor Rogers, RP
Prev. worn by: P Neal Cotts, 2015

This is still the best moment produced by a Twin wearing No. 55, and there is no debate.

56. Tomás Telis, C (non-roster)
Prev. worn by: P Fernando Rodney, 2018

I think we can agree the Fernando Rodney Experience was as advertised.

57. Luke Raley, RF (non-roster)
Prev. worn by: P Ryan Pressly, 2018

All 11 players to wear this number for the Twins during the regular season have been pitchers. What this means for Raley’s roster chances, I will leave up to you.

58. Gabriel Moya, RP
Prev. worn by: P Tim Melville, 2017

Melville started one game for the Twins. He left with a 13.50 ERA and the loss.

59. Stephen Gonsalves, SP
Prev. worn by: P Michael Tonkin, 2017

Another number nearly exclusive to pitchers, No. 59 has been worn by only two Twins position players: outfielder Chris Latham and catcher Mike Maksudian. That latter name may be an unfamiliar one, but it’s one that deserves a deeper look than a mention in a paragraph.

60. Jake Cave, CF
Prev. worn by: P JT Chargois, 2016

There is a Twins No. 60 jersey on display in the Baseball Hall of Fame. It’s part of the exhibit showing the 6-foot-11 height of Jon Rauch, the tallest player in major league history.

61. Chase De Jong, SP (non-roster)
Prev. worn by: P Tyler Kinley, 2018

De Jong may no longer be on the 40-man roster, but he ends up back in Twins camp and keeps his number.

62. Andrew Vasquez, RP
Prev. worn by: P Buddy Boshers, 2017

Only four Twins have worn No. 62, all pitchers and all since 2011: Liam Hendriks, J.R. Graham, Boshers, and Vasquez.

63. Rudy Hernandez, assistant hitting coach
Prev. worn by: P Yohan Pino, 2014

No Twins player has worn No. 63 for more than a season. 2019 will be Hernandez’s fifth season as assistant hitting coach. Whatever works.

64. Willians Astudillo, C
Prev. worn by: P Randy Rosario, 2017

Before Rosario, No. 64 was worn by spoonerism maestro Pat Dean... I mean Dat Pean. Although recently the number has been worn by pitchers, I think its clumsy blend of curves and straight lines makes it perfect for an unorthodox tortuga.

65. Trevor May, RP
Prev. worn by: —

Believe it or not, May is the only Twin in history to wear No. 65. However, he is not the only Twin in history to kill Ninja in Fortnite.

66. Brent Rooker, OF (non-roster)
Prev. worn by: C Juan Graterol, 2018

I accidentally typed his first name as “Brank.” I don’t know how that can be mangled that badly.

67. Bill Evers, catching coach
Prev. worn by: P Alan Busenitz, 2018

Now the Twins need to hire coaches named Tinker and Chance to complete the trifecta.

68. Matt Magill, RP
Prev. worn by: —

Magill hasn’t been discussed much in the Twins’ 2019 bullpen plans, but he did come out of nowhere last year to stick on the 25-man roster, so he’s got a good track (though not a lock) on a place in the bullpen.

70. Ryne Harper, RP (non-roster)
Prev. worn by: —

“Ryne Harper” is the most Tennessee name in the history of Tennessee.

71. Lewis Thorpe, SP
Prev. worn by: P Joe Roa, 2004

Thorpe spent last year on the 40-man roster but did not advance above AAA-Rochester. (Also, “hey, did you know Thorpe’s Australian?”)

72. Randy César, 3B (non-roster)
Prev. worn by: P Pat Neshek, 2006

LaMarre wore No. 72 last year as an NRI before making the 25-man roster. When it was announced he’d been re-assigned No. 24, I was very disappointed.

73. LaMonte Wade, LF
Prev. worn by: —

Wade reclaims his number from last spring, though now as a member of the 40-man roster.

74. Jake Reed, RP (non-roster)
Prev. worn by: —

I was partially expecting Torreyes to be assigned this number, since as mentioned he wore No. 74 in New York. But no, it goes back up into the realm of non-roster players.

75. Nate Dammann, bullpen catcher / Royce Lewis, SS (non-roster)
Prev. worn by: —

Lewis gets the focus (and rightly so), but bullpen catchers are people too.

76. Ben Richardson, bullpen catcher / Alex Kirilloff, RF (non-roster)
Prev. worn by: P Félix Jorge, 2017

Richardson isn’t even listed on the Twins’ website. I found his name on the roster template on Wikipedia and confirmed his position upon finding a 2018 roster sheet online.

77. Fernando Romero, SP
Prev. worn by: 3B Tony Batista, 2006

You may be wondering if Romero will remain a starter or be moved to the bullpen. I’m now remembering Batista’s batting stance.

78. Ben Rortvedt, C (non-roster)
Prev. worn by: —

For some reason, the Twins like assigning the highest of their high numbers to non-roster catchers.

79. Brian Navarreto, C (non-roster)
Prev. worn by: —

See?

80. Ryan Eades, RP (non-roster)
Prev. worn by: —

80 is actually one of the four numbers that have never been worn in the regular season by any major leaguer. The others are 86, 89, and 92. (Before 2018, this list was two numbers longer, but Adam Cimber taking 90 and Neshek donning 93 removed them from the club of the unworn.)

81. Wynston Sawyer, C (non-roster)
Prev. worn by: —

Another catcher finishes off the NRIs. Perfect.

82. James Rowson, hitting coach
Prev. worn by: —

Okay, how did Rowson end up all the way in the 80s? He wore No. 33 for the last two years and gave it up for Pérez, but No. 32 is right there and nobody is wearing it. I’ve thought this over and still can’t wrap my mind around it.

And with that, the roster is, for now, complete.

Baseball is coming.