7 Baseball Players who Played for Twins and Giants
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 Minnesota Twins and San Francisco Giants.
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 in both Twins and Giants. Here is a mix of well-known All-Stars and some hidden gems that you may have forgotten about.
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.
Joe Nathan
Joe Nathan, one of the premier closers of his generation, played in the major leagues from 1999 to 2016. During his 16-season career, Nathan pitched primarily for the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers, but also had stints with the Giants, Tigers, and Cubs.
He finished his career with 377 saves, ranking him 8th on the all-time list. Nathan boasted an impressive career ERA of 2.87 and WHIP of 1.12, striking out 976 batters over 923.1 innings.
A 6-time All-Star (Twins, Rangers), Nathan twice led the American League in saves, in 2004 and 2009. He also won the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award twice, in those same years.
Chili Davis
Chili Davis was a switch-hitting designated hitter and outfielder who carved out a noteworthy Major League Baseball career from 1981 to 1999. Davis spent his career with several teams, including the San Francisco Giants, Minnesota Twins, and California Angels.
Known for his power at the plate, Davis hit 350 home runs in his career and drove in over 1300 runs, finishing with a .274 lifetime batting average.
He was a three-time All-Star (Giants, Angels) and played a pivotal role in the Twins’ 1991 World Series victory (he also won rings with the Yankees in ’98 & ’99). With his consistent offensive production, Davis was an integral part of every lineup he joined.
A.J. Pierzynski
A.J. Pierzynski, a left-handed hitter and catcher played from 1998 to 2016. He played for several teams including the Minnesota Twins, San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and Atlanta Braves.
Pierzynski ended his career with a batting average of .280, hitting 188 home runs and driving in 909 runs. His notable achievements include being a 2-time All-Star and winning the World Series with the White Sox in 2005.
Pierzynski Key Stats
- All-Star (Twins, White Sox)
- Silver Slugger (White Sox)
- .300+ Batting Average Season (Twins, White Sox)
Denard Span
Denard Span was a center fielder in the Major Leagues from 2008 to 2018. Span played for five teams, starting his career with the Minnesota Twins before moving on to the Nationals, Giants, Rays, and Mariners.
Over his 11-year career, he notched a .281 batting average, accumulated 1498 hits, 265 doubles, 72 triples and 185 stolen bases. One of the highlights of his career was his 2014 season with the Nationals where he led the NL with 184 hits.
LaTroy Hawkins
LaTroy Hawkins had a lengthy career in Major League Baseball as a reliable relief pitcher. Over his 21-year career from 1995 to 2015, he played for 11 different teams, including the Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, and Colorado Rockies.
Throughout his career, Hawkins made 1042 appearances, mostly from the bullpen, and recorded 127 saves. He accumulated a win-loss record of 75-94 with a respectable ERA of 4.31, and struck out 983 batters.
Even though he was never named an All-Star, his consistent performance and durability in a high-pressure role were valued highly by the teams he played for.
