9 Baseball Players who Played for Cleveland and Minnesota
There is a good chance that if you’ve found this page then you’re playing the Immaculate Grid.
That also means that today’s grid has asked for players that have played for both the Cleveland Guardians and the Minnesota Twins.
And, it also means that you’re probably stuck on this particular box and you’re looking for a little help. Sound about right so far?
Well, good news, you’re in the right place.
I’ve done some research and have found players who played for both Cleveland and Minnesota.
Popular Choices
Jim Thome
If you’re like me, you picture Jim Thome in a Cleveland Indians uniform. And while Thome did play 13 seasons with Cleveland, his career spans 22 years and 6 different teams.
In addition to Cleveland, Thome played for the Phillies (where he hit a league-leading 47 home runs in 2003), White Sox, Twins, Dodgers and Orioles.
He is also one of 28 players to hit over 500 home runs in his career (another grid item that you may see). His single-season best was 52 home runs in 2002 with the Indians (now the Guardians).
Thome Key Stats
- Hall of Fame (Indians, Phillies, White Sox, Twins, Dodgers, Orioles)
- All-Star (Indians, Phillies, White Sox)
- Silver Slugger (Indians)
- 500+ Career Home Rus (Indians, Phillies, White Sox, Twins, Dodgers, Orioles)
- 40+ Home Runs Season (Indians, Phillies, White Sox)
- 100+ RBI Season (Indians, Phillies, White Sox)
- .300+ Average Season (Indians)
Bert Blyleven
Bert Blyleven, who pitched from 1970 to 1992, is best known for his time with the Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians (now Guardians). Blyleven had a terrific career, amassing 287 wins, a 3.31 ERA, and striking out 3,701 batters.
He was a two-time All-Star (Twins, Guardians) and won two World Series titles, one with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1979 and another with the Twins in 1987. His best season arguably came in 1973, when he posted a 20-17 record with a 2.52 ERA and led the league with 9 shutouts.
Known for his devastating curveball, Blyleven’s impressive career was recognized with his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011.
Rare Choices
Dave Winfield
When you have an amazing 22-year career, you usually find your way onto multiple teams over the course of that time.
Dave Winfield played for 6 different teams over the course of his Hall of Fame career – the Yankees, Padres, Twins, Angels (California Angels at the time), Indians (now Guardians) and Blue Jays.
Winfield led the league in RBIs with 118 in 1979 with the Padres (finished 3rd in MVP voting that year). He finished with over 1800 RBIs over his career.
Steve Carlton
Steve Carlton, nicknamed “Lefty”, was a legendary pitcher in baseball from 1965 to 1988. He is best remembered for his success with the Philadelphia Phillies, but he also played for the Cardinals, Twins, Giants, Indians (now Guardians) and White Sox.
Carlton was a big part of the 1980 World Series win for the Phillies.
He had over 300 wins and struck out more than 4,000 batters. Plus, he was a four-time Cy Young Award winner. Carlton was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994. In short, Lefty was a pitching powerhouse and left a huge footprint in the sport.
Bartolo Colon
Bartolo Colon, affectionately known as “Big Sexy”, was a fixture on the mound in baseball from 1997 until 2018. He played for a whole bunch of teams (11), which makes him an extremely versatile player for the Immaculate Grid.
Colon’s career stops included the Indians (now Guardians), Dodgers, Mets, Athletics, White Sox, Twins, Braves, Red Sox, Rangers, Montreal Expos and Yankees.
Colon was a 4-time All-Star and even bagged a Cy Young Award in 2005. He had over 240 wins and more than 2,500 strikeouts.
Ultra Rare Choices
Otis Nixon
Otis Nixon was a speedy outfielder whose career went from 1983 to 1999. Over those 17 seasons, Nixon played for 9 different teams – Braves, Indians (now Guardians), Montreal Expos, Blue Jays, Twins, Red Sox, Rangers, Dodgers and Yankees.
Nixon wasn’t a big hitter, but he was a whiz on the basepaths, stealing over 620 bases during his career and maintaining a respectable .270 batting average. He’s best remembered for his daring steals and spectacular catches, including an unforgettable game-saving grab in 1992 while with the Braves (video above).
Carl Pavano
Carl Pavano, a right-handed pitcher who started his career in 1998, had a somewhat uneven MLB journey, punctuated by moments of brilliance. He notably shone with the Florida Marlins in 2004 (his lone All-Star appearance), securing 18 wins with an impressive 3.00 ERA.
Over his career, he racked up 108 wins and 1091 strikeouts while maintaining a 4.39 ERA. Pavano played for the Montreal Expos, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, and Minnesota Twins, displaying admirable resilience in the face of recurrent injuries.
Rich Hill
Rich Hill is an Immaculate Grid beast. The left-handed pitcher has played for 13 different clubs over his incredible 19-year career – one that is still ongoing as I’m writing this (he’s currently pitching with the Padres).
Hill’s MLB journey began when he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2002. After making his major league debut in 2005, he had initial success with the Cubs, particularly in 2007 when he had a standout season. However, injuries, inconsistency, and command issues led to him bouncing around the minors and various MLB teams for several years.
After refining his pitching approach and mechanics, he experienced a career resurgence starting in 2015. At an age when many players see diminished returns, Hill became one of the most effective starters in baseball. This late-career renaissance led to stints with the Red Sox, Athletics, Dodgers, Twins, and Rays.
Jason Kubel
Jason Kubel was an outfielder and designated hitter who spent most of his 9-year MLB career with the Minnesota Twins. Known for his power, he hit 139 home runs and drove in 551 runs, posting a career .262 batting average.
His best season came in 2009 with the Twins, where he hit .300 with 28 home runs and 103 RBIs. A standout moment in his career came on April 17, 2009, when Kubel hit for the cycle, becoming the eighth player in Twins’ history to achieve the feat.
Immaculate Grid FAQ
Can I Use Cleveland Indians players for Cleveland Guardians?
Yes. Players that played for the Cleveland Indians (Jim Thome for example) will be accepted on Cleveland Guardian grid squares.
