Remembering Eddie's Biggest Moments as a Twin

[Matthew Lenz]

Not a surprise to many, it became unofficially official this week that Twins fans had seen the last of Eddie Rosario donning a TC Hat.. As a thank you to Eddie, who spent more than a third of his life with this franchise, let's look back at some of his biggest moments.Watching Eddie Rosario play was always exciting, as Seth Stohs would say, although not always in a good way. It seemed that for every time he made fans throw their hands up in excitement, he would also make them throw their hands up in disbelief as

. Whether it was base running errors, errant throws, or swinging at anything from his toes to the bill of helmet, you never knew what to expect while watching him play baseball. BUT, on the flip side, he also made a habit of

, and he arguably was one of the best “bad ball” hitters in the league over the last six seasons. His passion and energy were contagious to both teammates and fans alike, and he provided the franchise with lasting memories that will likely be added to his Twins Hall of Fame Highlight Reel in 20 years. [Author’s Note: Yes, if Michael Cuddyer is a Twins Hall of Famer, then so is Eddie]

 

It’s the aforementioned moments that has Twins fans divided and has left many with mixed emotions. Whether you’re ready to move on or wish the Twins had ponied up, there’s no arguing that Eddie provided some exciting moments over his six major league seasons and here are some of the best:

 

May 6th, 2015 v. Oakland Athletics

Eddie Rosario starts his career with a bang by hitting a 399 foot homer to the left field bleachers in his first big league at-bat.

 

September 13th, 2017 v. San Diego Padres

The Twins are surprisingly two games up on the Angels for the 2nd Wild Card spot and need every win they can get. Cue Eddie with the Walk Off blast.

 

October 3rd, 2017 @ New York Yankees

Like his first regular season at-bat, Rosario starts his postseason career off with a bang giving the Twins a 3-0 lead with a two-run shot in the first inning of a one-game playoff.

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[Doctor Gast]

Thanks Mat, nice article. Thank you Eddie for all those great memories. Sorry for you being one of the victims of covid. Again wish you well

[Squirrel]

I always qualify that home run on his first MLB at bat ... it wasn't just his first at bat, but the first pitch of his first at bat.

 

Also ... I like the 'forced balk' play, too, as a career highlight. I don't know if it's truly a career highlight, but it was an awesome, gamer move and he scored the tie-breaking, winning run of the game off that.

[IndianaTwin]

Dear Mr. Lenz: 

 

You missed one. 

 

Sincerely,

Mike Clevenger, Tyler Olson, and Cody Allen

Cleveland Baseball Team

 

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Eddie is an old fashioned “go big or go home” kind of player in a “just qualify for the playoffs baby” kind of league, with the unfortunate timing of covid and the CBA expiring on top of it to dampen his prospects for a nice contract. Boston seems like a good landing spot for him. He’s by no means done.

[Doubles]

One of the most frustrating Twins players to watch in recent memory. All the physical tools to be a phenomenal player. One of my favorite baseball coaches growing up always used to say, “Baseball’s a game of inches, boys. The six between your ears!”

 

So deflating to watch Rosey throw to the wrong base, or air-mail one over the cut-off man’s head, allowing runners to move up. For every great throw he would make to cut down a runner, it seems there would be three bad ones. Always a fine line with Eddie: is he gonna make a heads-up play, or is he gonna make us wonder what his head’s up?

 

Too bad to have let a guy go because you could never be sure if he was in the game or not. Sucks to give up on a guy with that much thunder in his bat, but I’ve been ready to move on from him for quite some time.

 

What does the barber say? “Next!”

[Doubles]

Boston seems like a good landing spot for him. He’s by no means done.

I have no doubt Eddie still has plenty of ball let in him. I wouldn’t be a lifelong Minnesota sports fan if I didn’t think he’d come back to haunt the Twins at some point.

 

Fenway fans would run Eddie out of town quicker than a hiccup the first time he blows through the third base coach’s stop sign only to be thrown out at the plate by 15 feet against the Yankees.

[PopRiveter]

Eddie is a star player early in his prime with natural hitting gifts like I've rarely seen in my 3 decades of watching the Twins. He's just developing discipline and has more untapped potential as a hitter than anyone else left on the roster.

 

What's more, he's one of the only players on the roster who is actually fun to watch. Gameplay across all teams keeps getting more and more boring and-like the highlights above remind us- we've been blessed to have an outrageously talented and equally unpredictable athlete playing in left field to wake us up just often enough to make games worth watching..

 

...but apparently he's not worth paying 40% of what they'll pay Josh Donaldson to nurse his injuries and sour all the leagues umpiring crews against us.

 

I haven't been this disappointed by a Twins move since the winter of 2002-03. The released my favorite Twin that year too with the same basic logic and I hope this one stings them just as badly.

 

I find my reasons for caring about this team dwindling as we enter next season.

 

Perhaps, next summer I just go fishing without my radio.

 

[PopRiveter]

 

I have no doubt Eddie still has plenty of ball let in him. I wouldn’t be a lifelong Minnesota sports fan if I didn’t think he’d come back to haunt the Twins at some point.

Fenway fans would run Eddie out of town quicker than a hiccup the first time he blows through the third base coach’s stop sign only to be thrown out at the plate by 15 feet against the Yankees.

They sure loved Manny.

Red Sox fans celebrate imperfect players.

You seem to have them confused with Yankees fans who hate everyone.

[Doubles]

They sure loved Manny.

Red Sox fans.

 

Two World Series Titles in four seasons will tend to bring a guy some accolades. Your version of a “star” is very different than mine. Manny Ramirez has one more World Series MVP Awards than Eddie has playoff wins. In GAMES.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Two World Series Titles in four seasons will tend to bring a guy some accolades. Your version of a “star” is very different than mine. Manny Ramirez has one more World Series MVP Awards than Eddie has playoff wins. In GAMES.

Okay true but this game could go sideways on you in a hurry, considering what the Twins have done (or not done) in the postseason.

[Nine of twelve]

 

I always qualify that home run on his first MLB at bat ... it wasn't just his first at bat, but the first pitch of his first at bat.

 

Also ... I like the 'forced balk' play, too, as a career highlight. I don't know if it's truly a career highlight, but it was an awesome, gamer move and he scored the tie-breaking, winning run of the game off that.

I totally agree about the balk play. It required perfect timing and execution and only someone with top-flight baseball instincts could pull it off. It was something Paul Molitor would have done.

 

[theBOMisthebomb]

Eddie Rosario in the Twins Hall of Fame is music to my ears. I hadn't thought of that scenario until you mentioned it. The highlights were great. So much fun to watch Eddie over the years and a gut punch to lose him. Time marches forward I guess. I think most downtrodden Twins fans expect Eddie to haunt the Twins in the future - either by beating the Twins or seeing success elsewhere. It was also great to see a packed Target Field with fans crammed in there for a sunny, glorious afternoon game. Hoping we can get back to that in 2021. My brother sent me a meme today that it's only 70 days until pitchers and catchers report.

[insagt1]

you hate to see a talented player go to one of your biggest rivals but such is life. will the Twins have erred in giving up on Eddie, a fan favorite? Will 2 fan favorites be gone? (Cruz)

Guess we'll find out.

I think any chance the Twins have this year in competing will depend on who stays healthy. If Donaldson and Buxton spend more time in the trainers room than on the field, Twins will be in real trouble...for starters.