Kent Hrbek Position: First BasemanBats: Left • Throws: Right6-4, 200lb (193cm, 90kg)Born: May 21, 1960 (Age: 60-164d) in Minneapolis, MNDraft: Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 17th round of the 1978 MLB June Amateur Draft from Kennedy HS (Bloomington, MN).High School: Kennedy HS (Bloomington, MN)Debut: August 24, 1981 (Age 21-095d, 12,102nd in MLB history)vs. NYY 5 AB, 2 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SBLast Game: August 10, 1994 (Age 34-081d)vs. BOS 5 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 3…
The Minnesota Twins inaugurate their new outdoor ballpark, Target Field, with a 5 – 2 win over the Red Sox. A host of former Twins greats, including Hall of Famers Harmon Killebrew and Rod Carew, joined by Tony Oliva, Kent Hrbek and Frank Viola, among others, are on hand to witness the historic game. Carl Pavano picks up the win while Joe Mauer and Jason Kubel pace the offence with three hits and two RBI each.
August 14, 1995 The Minnesota Twins retired Kent Hrbek’s number 14. He grew up less than a mile from Met Stadium and won 2 World Series titles with the twins.
The Twins lose, 4 – 3, to the Royals and also lose Kent Hrbek, who dislocates his left shoulder diving for a ball. He’ll be out till June 26th. Before the injury, Hrbek hits his 7th homer of the year.
1985 – Minnesota Twins first baseman Kent Hrbek signs a new contract making him the club’s first million dollar player.
At Minnesota‚ the Yanks put runners on first base (Graig Nettles) and second base (Bobby Murcer) with no outs. When Roy Smalley strikes out on a wide 3-2 pitch from Terry Felton‚ Murcer attempts to steal third base. But Sal Butera’s throw beats him so badly he retreats to second, only to find Nettles there. Gary Gaetti tags Murcer who is standing safely alone on the base‚ and then throws to Kent Hrbek to catch Nettles heading back to first. Murcer then tries for third and Hrbek’s throw to Felton, covering the bag, completes the triple play. Alas‚ Felton‚ 0-8 coming into the game gets a no-decision‚ and will lose another 5 to finish his career with an 0-16 record.
In his first major league game, first baseman Kent Hrbek hits a twelfth-inning homer, giving the Twins a 3 – 2 victory over the Yankees.
1978 – Bob Horner, the College Player of the Year, is selected first in the free-agent draft by the Atlanta Braves. He will go straight to the major leagues, the first number one overall pick to do so.