10 Baseball Players who Played for Yankees and Twins
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 New York Yankees 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 the Yankees and the Twins. Here is a mix of well-known All-Stars and some hidden gems that you may have forgotten about.
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.
Chuck Knoblauch
Chuck Knoblauch was an infielder and had an accomplished career from 1991 to 2002. Known for his tenure with the Minnesota Twins and the New York Yankees, he was a significant contributor to four World Series-winning teams (1991 with the Twins and 1998, 1999, 2000 with the Yankees).
He achieved a .289 career batting average and amassed 1819 hits and 407 stolen bases. In addition, Knoblauch won the American League Rookie of the Year award in 1991 and was selected for the All-Star game four times.
Knoblauch Key Stats
- Rookie of the Year (Twins)
- All-Star (Twins)
- Golden Glove (Twins)
- Silver Slugger (Twins)
- 40+ Stolen Bases Season (Twins)
- .300+ Batting Average Season (Twins)
Joey Gallo
Joey Gallo is a baseball player known for his exceptional power at the plate. Playing primarily as a third baseman and outfielder, Gallo is one of the top home run hitters in the league.
Gallo began his professional career with the Texas Rangers after being selected in the first round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He made his Major League debut in 2015, and quickly gained a reputation for his impressive home runs.
In 2019, Gallo was named to his first All-Star team and won his first Gold Glove a year later. Despite a career marked by high strikeout totals, his power, plate discipline, and defensive versatility make him a valuable asset.
Gallo Key Stats
- All-Star (Rangers)
- Gold Glove (Rangers, Yankees)
- 40+ Home Run Season (Rangers)
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.
Colon Key Stats
- Cy Young (Angels)
- All-Star (Indians, Angels, Athletics, Mets)
- 20+ Win Season (Angels)
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.
Josh Donaldson
Josh Donaldson is in his 13th season in the majors and is currently playing third base for the Yankees. Prior to landing with the Yankees, Donaldson played for the Blue Jays, A’s, Twins, Guardians and Braves.
Donaldson is a 3x All-Star (A’s, Blue Jays) and a 2x Silver Slugger award winner (Blue Jays). In 2015, Donaldson led the league with 123 RBIs while hitting 41 home runs en route to winning the AL MVP with the Blue Jays.
*Donaldson was previously the most popular pick for this square (Grid 119)
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).
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.
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.
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.
