Meet the 2017 Twins: Fun facts about your favorite players
Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier chases down teammate Eddie Rosario during a drill during a spring training workout.
Spring training is underway and soon the regular season will begin. With that will come the inundation of statistics — batting average, home runs, ERA and so on.
Since you’ll be getting enough baseball stats about the Minnesota Twins to fill any void you might have, we thought we’d take a look at the lighter side of things.
We scoured through the Twins media guide and came up with some different and interesting facts about a number of players. While your friends are dishing out the number of Brian Dozier's home runs last season, you can enlighten them on which player graduated from Yale, who listens to American music to help him learn English, who is part-owner of a bat company and more.
Read on, enjoy and be prepared to dazzle your buddies with your inside knowledge of Twins players.
Ehire Adrianza: In 2014 with San Francisco, had seven at-bats in a game he didn't start, which tied a Giants franchise record with Art Fletcher, who did it in 1909.
Matt Belisle: Had the most pitching appearances in Colorado Rockies history with 392.
Jose Berrios: At 21 years, 336 days old, was the youngest Twins player to make his debut since Pat Mahomes (21 years, 247 days) in 1992.
Craig Breslow: Graduated from Yale with degrees in molecular biophysics and biochemistry.
Byron Buxton: Played football in high school and was an all-state defensive back and wide receiver as a senior.
J.T. Chargois: Graduated high school summa cum laude.
Brian Dozier: One of just three Twins to hit a home run in an All-Star Game (Kirby Puckett, Harmon Killebrew).
Eduardo Escobar: Listens to American music to help improve his English.
Kyle Gibson: Annually hosts a fantasy football league to benefit various charities.
Chris Gimenez: His wife played volleyball at Nevada-Reno (where he also played baseball for three years).
Gene Glynn: In 1975, was named the first "Mr. Basketball" in the state of Minnesota.
Robbie Grossman: Has never been placed on the disabled list in his major-league career.
Phil Hughes: In 2000, was the youngest pitcher to begin a season in the Yankees rotation since Bill Burbach in 1969.
Max Kepler: Was given a tennis scholarship to the Steffi Graf Tennis Foundation in Berlin.
Brandon Kintzler: In 2008, worked in the front office of the Winnipeg Goldeyes independent team he pitched for that season and the previous year. In 2009 offseason, worked as a limo driver for the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas.
Joe Mauer: Tied a national high school baseball record by homering in seven consecutive games.
Trevor May: Produces music and enjoys DJing in his spare time.
Paul Molitor: He is one of 10 players from Cretin High School to be drafted by a major-league team. The list includes longtime Twin Joe Mauer as well as former NFL quarterback Chris Weinke.
John Ryan Murphy: Co-founder of a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization named "I Am More".
Glen Perkins: In 2004 became the first Big Ten pitcher in history to win all his conference starts (8-0).
Jorge Polanco: Was third Twins player to have a triple as his first major-league hit and first since Jimmy Hall in 1963.
Taylor Rogers: Pitched in 57 games in 2016, seventh-most by a Twins rookie and fourth-most by a lefty.
Eddie Rosario: His 15 triples in 2015 where the most by a rookie since St. Louis' Ray Lankford had 15 in 1991.
Miguel Sano: In 2013, hit 35 home runs combined, most by a Twins minor leaguer since 1983.
Ervin Santana: Changed name from Johan in 2003.
J.B. Shuck: Brother-in-law is Giants reliever Mark Melancon.
Michael Tonkin: Brother-in-law is former Twins player Jason Kubel.
Kennys Vargas: One of four players in Twins history to hit a home run from both sides of the plate in the same game.
Ryan Vogelsong: Has been a part-owner of the Marucci Bat Company since 2004.
Alex Wimmers: First pitcher to throw a perfect game in school history at Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati.
