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Baseball is a very human game. Stats and numbers lead to titles and accolades, yet the core of our nation’s pastime is bound in the men who took the field. Men of all different backgrounds, positions, creeds, and personalities; some who cemented their name in baseball history and others who were lucky enough to dance with their childhood dream for just a short period of time. Maybe you grew up watching some of these names on television with your parents. Perhaps some are inked in some of your fondest memories that enriched a lifelong love of the game. Others you may just be learning of as you read this article. Regardless of knowledge, each of these individuals painted their own canvas in the history of a game and the Minnesota Twins organization that we all love. And while we miss them dearly, we smile at the memories and stories of how they impacted the game of baseball. Joe Altobelli (May 26, 1932- March 3, 2021) Outfielder and First Baseman for the 1961 Twins A son of Rochester, New York, Altobelli played in 41 games for the 1961 Twins. That tenure included 21 hits and three home runs. Even though Altobelli’s tenure for the Twins was brief, his impact on the game was massive. Most notably, Altobelli took over the Earl Weaver-led Baltimore Orioles in 1983 and managed the club to a World Series in his first season at the helm. Contrary to many managers at the time, Altobelli was known for his kindness and compassion towards players. After over a decade of coaching, Altobelli returned home in 1991 to serve as General Manager of the Rochester Red Wings for three seasons. In 1997, he became the color commentator for the Wings’ home games, a role that he would hold through the 2009 season. Altobelli became known as “Mr. Baseball” in Rochester. His number is the first to be retired in team history. Mike Bell (December 7, 1974- March 26, 2021) Bench Coach for the 2020 and 2021 Twins The Twins community mourned the loss of Bench Coach Mike Bell, who passed away after a courageous battle with cancer just prior to the 2021 season. Bell was coming off of his first season with the Minnesota Twins. A member of a family rich with baseball history, Mike was the true definition of a 'baseball man' according to Rocco Baldelli. Yet perhaps his greatest quality was the love that he had for those surrounding the game of baseball. “He brought that passion to the field as our bench coach. He was an amazing bench coach because he was amazing with people,” Baldelli said in an interview after Bell's passing. Mike's brother David is the current manager of the Cincinnati Reds. When the two teams met for an interleague game in June, a touching ceremony was held in honor of Bell. Twins' beat writer Do Hyoung-Park wrote a beautiful piece touching on the ceremony. You can read it here. The Twins wore patches on their jerseys throughout the 2021 season to honor and remember Bell. While Mike's time in Minnesota was brief, it is extremely clear that he touched the lives of so many throughout the baseball community. Jim 'Mudcat' Grant (August 13, 1935- June 11, 2021) Pitcher for Twins from 1964-67 A giant in baseball history, Mudcat Grant passed away in June at the age of 85. Grant broke barriers in the game, most notably becoming the first black pitcher to win 20 games in a season. That incredible milestone took place in 1965, where Grant went 21-7 with a 3.30 ERA and played an instrumental role in the Twins' journey to the World Series. That incredible season earned him all-star accolades and a sixth place finish in MVP voting (teammates Zoilo Versalles and Tony Oliva finished first and second in voting). Grant spent 14 seasons in the MLB amongst seven teams. His career stat line is impressive; 145-119 with a 3.63 ERA and 21.1 WAR. Yet his greatest legacy will be his advocacy for equality and representation in Major League baseball. His efforts will forever be remembered and honored as the game continues to strive to be more equitable. Mike Marshall (January 15, 1943- June 1, 2021) Pitched for the Twins from 1978-1980 Known for his screwball and incredible durability, 'Iron Mike' passed away at the age of 78. A perennial Cy Young candidate and eventual winner in the early 70's (the first reliever to win the award), Marshall was a bullpen staple for the Twins in the late 70's. The Adrian, Michigan, native's best season in Minnesota took place in '79, where he appeared in a league-leading 90 games and touted a league-leading 32 saves. Those numbers and a 2.65 ERA earned him MVP and Cy Young votes in what would be his last 'elite' season. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Marshall's career was that he completed his Doctorate of Philosophy in Exercise Physiology in 1978 while he was with the Twins. He was a huge advocate for eliminating arm-related pitching injuries and carried that with him as he demolished milestones in baseball. John Swol of TwinsTrivia.com chatted with Marshall about his unique tactics and excellent career, check it out! Ray Miller (April 30, 1945- May 4, 2021) Manager for the Twins in 1985 and 1986 Serving as a crucial olive branch after a miserable start to the 1985 season, Ray Miller passed away at the age of 76. Miller was named skipper of the Twins for the '85 season after the team fired Billy Gardner following a 27-35 start. Miller weathered the storm, leading the young Twins to a 50-50 record to finish the season. He lasted midway through the 1986 season and was replaced by Tom Kelly. Chuck Schilling (October 25, 1937 – March 30, 2021) Member of Twins Roster for the 1966 season A member of some high-quality Red Sox teams (and good friend to Carl Yastrzemski), Schilling was traded from the Sox to the Twins in exchange for Nimrod, MN, native Dick Stigman. And while Schilling never played a game for the Twins, he had an excellent tenure with the Red Sox, garnering team MVP status in his 1961 rookie season. Dwight Siebler (August 5, 1937 – June 16, 2021) Pitched for the Twins from 1963-67 A native of Platte Center, NE,, Siebler passed away at the age of 83. The RHP spent the entirely of his major league career with the Twins, garnering a 3.45 ERA in 48 appearances. Siebler appeared in just seven games during the '65 World Series run but pitched in a career-high 23 games the following season. Jim Snyder (August 15, 1932 – March 9, 2021) Second Baseman for the Twins from 1961-62, 1964 Best known as manager of the 1988 Mariners, Snyder played three seasons for the Twins in the early 1960's. And while he only tallied 103 MLB plate appearances, he achieved the dream that all youth ballplayers dream of; one MLB home run on July 16, 1964 in a 6-0 victory over the Washington Senators. Wayne Terwilliger (June 27, 1925 – February 3, 2021) Coach for Minnesota Twins and St. Paul Saints Veteran, player, and beloved coach. Known as 'Twig' by many, Terwilliger served as the Twins' first-base coach for both World Series titles in '87 and '91. Terwilliger began coaching with the Twins in 1986 under Ray Miller and stayed on the staff when Tom Kelly took over managerial duties. An excellent player in his own right, Terwilliger actually played for the St. Paul Saints in 1952 and would come full circle, serving as the Saints' first base coach from 1995-2002. Twig truly embodied the phrase 'love of the game.' After serving in World War II, Terwilliger spent 62 years in profession baseball. He was so well-liked that the Twins gifted him a fishing boat when he retired from the team in 1994. Loved by many, Terwilliger was a staple of baseball in the state of Minnesota and will be remembered for an eternity. Stan Williams (September 14, 1936 – February 20, 2021) Pitched for the Twins from 1970-1971 Nicknamed "Big Daddy" the 6'5 Williams spent two of his 14 MLB seasons with the Minnesota Twins. Williams posted an outstanding 10-1 record with an 1.99 ERA in 1970. A starting pitcher earlier in his career, Williams' 1970 season is cemented as one of the most dominant relieve pitching campaigns in Twins history. Have any fond memories of the players and coaches listed above? Share your story below!

Mike Bell, 1974-2021 The Twins announced today in an official statement that bench coach Mike Bell passed away this afternoon at the age of 46 after a six-week battle with kidney cancer. Bell spent 28 years in and around Major League Baseball as a player, coach, and player development expert. Bell’s tenure with the Twins was short – he joined the team prior to the 2020 season – but, by all accounts, he became a valuable and well-loved member of the coaching staff immediately. Dave St. Peter, Derek Falvey, and Rocco Baldelli each spoke of Bell’s importance to the club today. Mike Bell was from one of America’s greatest baseball families with his grandfather Gus, father Buddy, and brother David all having lengthy careers around the game. Mike was a baseball lifer in his own right, and surely would have contributed a lot more to the sport had cancer not taken his life so early. Tonight’s Spring Training game went forward as scheduled at the request of the Bell family and in honor of Mike. Both teams stood on the foul lines for a moment of silence before the game, and Bell’s #36 Twins jerseys were hung up in the Twins’ dugout. Also, Miguel Sanó, who was especially touched by Bell, was one of a few players to write his own tribute on the side of his hat: We at Twins Daily join the Twins organization and the baseball world in offering our condolences to the Bell family and all that were close to Mike. Final: Twins 6, Braves 7 Box Score ǀ Savant Twins Takeaways Standout Pitcher: Kenta Maeda (4 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 4 K) Standout Hitter: Miguel Sanó (1-2, BB, 1 very large HR) Fastest Pitch: Tyler Duffey (92.4 MPH) Max Exit Velocity: Miguel Sanó (110.7 MPH) Twins Blast Five Solo Homers, Ninth Inning Rally Comes Up Short If the Twins had any runners on for tonight’s five home runs this game would’ve been a blowout victory. But they didn’t, so they lost in a close one. Kyle Garlick, Willians Astudillo, Sanó, Jose Miranda, and David Banuelos each had a solo shot, and, until Aaron Sabato’s RBI single in the ninth, the homers represented all of the Twins’ runs. Sanó’s dinger was especially impressive as it traveled 458 feat and left the bat at a whopping 110.7 MPH. In the bottom of the ninth, after the Braves were erroneously given an insurance run on a tight play at the plate, the Twins, with one run already in, had the bases loaded with two out and Banuelos at the plate. However, 22-year-old Freddy Tarnok pumped three 96+ MPH fastballs past the young Twins catcher to finish the game with a resounding strikeout. Maeda Effective, Happ Much Less So With less than a week until he takes the mound on Opening Day, Kenta Maeda left little doubt that he’s locked in. Last season’s Cy Young runner-up sprinkled three hits over four scoreless innings and struck out four Braves. With his spring work likely finished, Maeda Grapefruit League numbers are a sight to behold – he’s allowed only one run on only eight hits in 18 1/3 innings with 22 strikeouts. It’s safe to say the Twins’ ace is ready to go. However, with just over a week until J.A. Happ is scheduled to make his first start, the Twins’ fourth starter got roughed up. Happ allowed five earned runs over 3 2/3 innings and had trouble avoiding hard contact throughout his outing. Happ entered spring camp late due to his bout with COVID-19 and has struggled on the mound. If the Twins decide he isn’t quite ready to go next week, Randy Dobnak should have no problem taking his spot for this first time through the rotation. Tomorrow: Rays at Twins, 12:05 CST, Glasnow vs. Thorpe Around the League Casey Mize, baseball’s 11th best prospect according to MLB.com, will make the Opening Day rotation with the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers won’t be good or particularly interesting in 2021, but every fifth day, it’ll be worth tuning in to watch Mize. Two-time All Star Todd Frazier opted out of his deal with the Pirates and will become a free agent. The corner infielder produced at a high level this spring and will look for a better deal elsewhere. MLB’s COVID-19 testing remains good. This weeks round of tests saw four new positive tests out of 13,978 tests for a 0.03% positive rate. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email

With Twins pitchers and catchers set to report to spring training in Ft. Myers on Thursday, manager Rocco Baldelli addressed the media on Wednesday morning to inform them that bench coach Mike Bell will miss spring training after being diagnosed with kidney cancer. Bell wasn't feeling well in mid-January, and when he went to the hospital, a growth was found on his kidney. On January 28th, the growth was removed surgically. He is out of the hospital and home with his family for his recovery. Baldelli said, "He's doing very well. I've been talking to him a lot." He added, "The situation is obviously serious, but Mike has handled this with great courage. As I said, he's recovering, doing great and looking forward to the next part of his recovery." From their discussions it is clear that Bell is where he needs to be, at home with his family, but that he is encouraged and hopeful to return to the team when he is ready. In the meantime, it sounds as though he will be given some work that he can do from home. For the time being, there will not be any staff adjustments, at least until they know a more definitive timeline. "We'll give Mike some tasks that he will take care of at home. During spring training, I'm sure he'll be watching all of our games and helping us in a lot of ways from home." The team has been talking to him about things like the roster, his opinion on players in the organization but also free agents. "He's been very eager. I know with everything going on, he's had his attention focused elsewhere. But I think the ability to talk some baseball and have some fun and get the competitive juices flowing have been good for him, and I know he looks forward to it. For now, that's a start." According to Derek Falvey, Bell will address the media in the next weeks. "He's really encouraged. His doctors are really encouraged. We're just excited for the time he can get back, but in the meantime, we are here to support him and his family." Baldelli pointed out that people throughout the organization have been supportive. "Our players, the staff, the organization have come behind Mike in every way. Guys were very eager to connect with Mike, talk to Mike, and I know on Mike's end how much that has helped him, helped his family. This has been an emotional time for everybody, but ultimately it comes down to just supporting Mike through this and getting him back to health, and ultimately getting back to where he wants to be and he's really looking forward to getting strong and getting back to things on the baseball side as well." We certainly wish Mike Bell the best through his recovery. We hope he is able to return to the team soon. Feel free to extend your well wishes to Mike Bell in the Comments below.

Travis Blankenhorn began the 2019 season at High-A Ft. Myers. After just 15 games, he moved up to Double-A Pensacola where he hit .278 with 18 doubles and 18 homers in 93 games. In his time with the Blue Wahoos, he had the opportunity to see several of his teammates move up and eventually debut with the Twins in 2019. “Seeing all those guys up there is awesome.” Blankenhorn said in a Get To Know ‘Em podcast last October. He said was excited to see teammates such as Luis Arraez, Randy Dobnak, Devin Smeltzer, and several other pitchers (as well as one of his best friends Jaylin Davis with the Giants) debut and contribute with the Twins. “Just watching them go up there and have success is awesome. We all love it. We’re all cheering for them. Obviously I think that’s a good motivation that we’re not too far away… It could happen like that.” Tuesday night in Chicago, it is Travis Blankenhorn’s turn to make his MLB debut. He batted seventh and played second base in a Twins lineup filled with its regulars. The lineup also included Ryan Jeffers behind the plate and Randy Dobnak on the mound. All three of them began the 2019 season together with the High-A Ft. Myers Miracle. 2020 has been a unique year, and that is true for players making their major-league debuts too. Normally, a player would be in a minor league clubhouse or a hotel room when their manager would call them to let them know they were needed in the big leagues. Blankenhorn was already in Chicago. For the second time this season, he was a part of the Twins taxi squad. He was also part of the taxi squad for the doubleheader in St. Louis. As a taxi squad member, he can work with the team before the game, take some BP, field grounders, etc., but when the game starts, he had to go into the stands. So on Monday, Blankenhorn was going about his game-day routine. He said, “I was already here. I was on the field. Took some ground balls. Went out to the outfield to shag and that’s when he (bench coach Mike Bell) came up and told me. So I definitely think it’s one of the more unique ways to find out.” Bell shared his version of telling Blankenhorn that something was up, “You know it’s going to happen. It’s really cool. It’s such a unique year. His family’s not here. Those things go through your mind. When it became official, I had to run out on the field. I just downplayed it. I said ‘Hey Rocco needs you. No big deal.” Who knows what he thought. He might have thought he had to drive back home to the alternate site.” Blankenhorn said that he ran in to talk to Baldelli. That’s when he got The Call. He was a big leaguer. He had some phone calls to make, but very quickly.He called his parents and his fiance. “I couldn’t talk long though because my BP group was up, and I wanted to hit. Short phone call.” All this happened about 90 minutes before game time. ------------------------------------------------- I tweeted about a week before the season that it sure would have been great if MLB had found a way to safely allow family at a player's MLB debut. https://twitter.com/SethTweets/status/1284940034341314564 Mike Bell agreed that it’s unfortunate, but obviously we understand. “One big thing that this whole year has taken away from some of these young guys making their debuts is their families aren’t in the stands. It’s unique. I’m sure they’ll never forget it. I hate it for them, but you just keep going back to what the world’s dealing with. Gosh, there’s just so much going on. We’re all pretty fortunate here.” Regardless, Monday was an exciting day for Blankenhorn. “There was actually a point in the game where I thought I could have gone in yesterday. Definitely an unreal moment. Just finding out an hour before the game that you’re not going to be sitting in the stands today. You’re actually going to be in the dugout. It was definitely a good feeling. Crazy. Crazy day, for sure.” -------------------------------------------------- So now to the actual baseball side of things. We all love the human element of a big league promotion and Major League debut, but why was Blankenhorn called up, and how can he contribute to the Twins over the final 11 games? First, on Monday, the Twins were without Eddie Rosario and Miguel Sano, and Marwin Gonzalez was a late scratch due to illness. The team needed an extra bench bat for the game, and they optioned lefty Devin Smeltzer to add him. It is possible that he could be the player optioned to make room for Jake Odorizzi, who will come off the Injured List on Wednesday and make the start. Twins Daily's Matthew Trueblood wrote earlier today that he'd like to see Blankenhorn play... everyday! ------------------------------------------------------ Blankenhorn debuted at second base on Tuesday night, and that has certainly been his primary position in the minor leagues the last couple of seasons. https://twitter.com/SethTweets/status/1278019202515861505 As you can see, he played a lot of third base early in his career. In 2019, he added left field to his positions played list. However, there is no question that he has mostly worked in the infield. He said that after getting his pre-game infield work done, he goes out to the outfield to shag fly balls and work on reads. At the Twins alternate site in St. Paul, however, Blankenhorn said he has worked exclusively in the infield. Before Tuesday night’s game in Chicago, Baldelli said of Blankenhorn, “I think Blank’s strength defensively is the fact that he can do a lot of different things for you. He’s worked really hard in the infield. He’s gotten to the point where he’s a very competent second baseman and you can feel really good about him getting the job done. Our ability to put him in the lineup comes down to him being very proficient in different spots. I’m looking forward to watching him go.” -------------------------------------------- Baldelli also gave a lot of credit to the the Twins minor league coaches and coordinators. He noted that a lot of good work is being done at CHS Field. “Our guys have done a tremendous job over in St. Paul. JP Martinez has run that camp over there flawlessly in a situation that is very, very challenging. Our guys have got a ton of work.” Baldelli continued, “ I know he’s spent a lot of time with our player development guys, with our coaches, with Billy Boyer on a lot of different spots all over the infield.” Billy Boyer is the Twins minor league infield and base running coordinator. He’s been working with the group in St. Paul this summer. Boyer said of Blankenhorn, “I feel great about where he is with his defense. Blank and our staff have put a ton of time, effort and focus on developing his defensive skill set both at second base and third base. Couldn’t be more proud of him, to see all the time and effort paying off for him.” 2020 has been a strange year. Being at the alternate site is not the same as playing a minor league season, but Blankenhorn said that he and the others in St. Paul are putting in a lot of good work. “We were all just grinding over there. Everyone knows that there’s a chance. We were all just trying to stay ready. Trying to get our at bats. Trying to get our work in. And going to the field everyday knowing that there’s an opportunity that if something would happen, we would be the guys to go over there (Target Field and the MLB roster). It was definitely a grind trying to stay ready over there.” ------------------------------------------------------ Blankenhorn was the Twins third round draft pick in 2015 out of high school in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. He was a great three-sport athlete who could have played any of three sports in college. He was a really good defensive back and kick returner on his high school’s football team. He was a big-time shooter on his team’s high school basketball team. And obviously, it appears, he made the right choice in going the way of baseball. But he was a raw, athletic kid when he was drafted. He has had to work hard. He has had to make several adjustments along the way. He has struck out a lot, and then made adjustments. He has added a lot of power to his game as he has matured physically and mentally. It’s all part of the (often quite non-linear) player development path of a prospect. “If you look at my swing from when I first got to the Twins until now, I think I’ve changed a couple of times. Picking and choosing what is best for me. I think last year I learned a lot about myself as a hitter and I’m just trying to continue going off of that.” In last year’s Get to Know ‘Em podcast, he talked about how valuable his experience in the 2018 Arizona Fall League was for him. He was able to pick people’s brains, get other thoughts and ideas and incorporate it into his game, into his approach, and into his swing. As for getting at bats in St. Paul, it certainly wasn’t a typical schedule, but as Baldelli notes, they have been able to get their work in and when they have come over from CHS Field, they have been ready to contribute right away. Because there are only so many pitchers there, there are different schedules. They don’t play regular games. Some days they may get a bunch of at bats. Some days maybe one at bat. Some days they may not get any at bats. “They’ve gotten a ton of at bats ultimately. Is it typical? Is it what we’re used to judging guys off of? No. But it’s certainly a spot where we’re getting our guys enough work where we feel really good putting them in major league games when they get over here. We have no hesitation getting Blank out there, and he’s ready to go too. I think you could actually look at it, not from the way we feel about it, but from the way the players feel about it. The players have shown up here throughout, ready to go. Those guys are ready.” Blankenhorn added, “If you look at the group of pitchers we had over there, the people that came over, I think we definitely had some quality at bats against some quality pitching. I think that was a big part of staying ready.” --------------------------------------------------------- Blankenhorn recently turned 24. If asked what type of player I think he can be, I would look to Marwin Gonzalez as a relatively good comp. Gonzalez is a switch-hitter. Blankenhorn is left handed only. But I can see a situation where Blankenhorn is a solid hitter with some power who is going to strikeout a bit. Defensively, he won’t be great at any one position, but he will be adequate at third base and potentially in the corner outfield spots, and I think he can be solid defensively on the right side of the infield. He could be a solid regular starter at second base if needed, but a large piece of his value comes from his versatility. It should allow him to play in the big leagues for a number of years. It’s a role that Blankenhorn has embraced over the last couple of seasons. He wants to play all over the diamond. “I’m just going to go wherever they tell me to.” ------------------------------------------------------- Blankenhorn's Debut (1-for-3, HBP, 2B) In his first at-bat, Blankenhorn popped up the first pitch to third base. The second at bat was a fly out to left field. In his third plate appearance, he was hit by a pitch in the elbow armor. In the ninth inning, Blankenhorn had that moment, connecting for a two-out double over the right fielder’s head. https://twitter.com/TFTwins/status/1306072858104340491 Following the game, his manager said, “It’s a huge moment for any player. Anyone that’s been in the big leagues and had an opportunity to have a first like that... It’s certainly a moment and an emotion that you always remember. Sometimes you don’t remember every aspect of your first game, or every aspect of your first hit, but there are certainly some snap shots that he will never forget, and he gets to take with him wherever he goes. We know he’s a good offensive player, a good young offensive player, and seeing him put a good swing on the ball like that is very nice.” Blankenhorn said later that it was "an unreal moment, getting on that field for the first time. That's what I've been dreaming about since Little League." He continued, "Getting that first hit out of the way on the first night was definitely nice. (I'm) going to find a case for that baseball and keep it somewhere safe!" More on Travis Blankenhorn Get to Know: Infielder Travis Blankenhorn (October 2015) Catching Up With Twins Infield Prospect Travis Blankenhorn (November 2016) 2017 Twins Daily Prospect #9 (February 2017) 2018 Twins Daily Prospect #17 (February 2018) 2018 Twins Daily Midseason Prospect #13 (July 2018) 2020 Twins Midseason Prospect #20 (June 2019) Episode 6: Get to Know Travis Blankenhorn, LaMonte Wade (October 2019) Duran Headlines Twins Roster Additions (November 2019) 2020 Twins Daily Prospect #18 (February 2020) 5 Questions with Twins Prospect Travis Blankenhorn (April 2020) Play Blankenhorn Everyday! (September 2020)

Duran signed with the Diamondbacks in February of 2015, shortly after his 17th birthday. That summer in the Dominican Summer League, he went 4-1 with a 3.25 ERA in 12 starts. The next year, he came to the States and pitched at two rookie-league levels. The Diamondbacks kept moving him slowly. In 2017, he played for Hillsboro in the advanced short-season Northwest League. He went 6-3 with a 4.24 ERA in 11 starts. The Diamondbacks didn’t move him up real quickly, and for good reason. Last month, the Twins announced that they had hired Mike Bell to be their new Bench Coach, replacing Derek Shelton who had been named the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bell has spent the past 27 years in professional baseball. He was a player who got a brief cup of coffee in the big leagues. He became a coach and a manager in the minor leagues upon his retirement as a player. However, he has spent the last eight seasons as the Vice President of Player Development for the Arizona Diamondbacks. In other words, he was their Minor League Director. Mike Bell was ultimately in charge of the development of each of the Diamondbacks minor leaguers, including Jhoan Duran. Bell said, “When we saw him, he had a real heavy sinker. We took some baby steps with him. We knew the kind of talent he was, so we were playing it pretty safe with him in rookie ball. We saw a fastball up to 99 with heavy sink, and he is around the strike zone with command.” He began 2018 with Kane County in the Midwest League. He was 5-4 with a 4.73 ERA in 15 starts. Then came July 27th, 2018. He found out that afternoon that he had been traded, along with outfielders Gabriel Maciel and Ernie de la Trinidad, in exchange for infielder Eduardo Escobar. Regarding the trade, Bell noted, “It was a painful trade, being on that side of it, watching him go.” He continued, “I was definitely in the room. I think it was a good trade for both teams. Escy’s a very good player, and a good teammate. I’ll tell you what, Duran is an incredible talent. I think he’s going to do a lot of good things here in the organization. I’m super-excited to reconnect with him.” From Duran’s perspective, it was something new. He had obviously never been traded before then. He said he knew no one in the Twins organization at the time of the trade. But he took it as a positive. He said (through Twins translator Elvis Martinez), “It was actually a good experience. I got to meet new people, new staff.” And he made a nice first impression in the new organization. In his first Kernels start, he threw seven no-hit, one-walk innings and struck out seven batters. He faced the minimum, 21 batters. In his fourth Kernels start, he struck out nine batters and gave up just one run over seven innings. The next start, he faced his old teammates from the Kane County Cougars. He gave up just one hit and struck out ten batters over 6 2/3 scoreless innings. In his six Kernels starts, he went 2-1 with a 2.00 ERA and had 44 strikeouts in 36 innings. Duran spoke of it being nice to get off to a good start in his new organization, “It was a learning process. I think it was more mental than physical. I was just trying to get better every outing.” Duran began the 2019 season in Ft. Myers. With the Miracle, he went just 2-9 despite an impressive 3.23 ERA. He also had 95 strikeouts (and 31 walks) over his 78 innings in the Florida State League. He never gave up more than three earned runs in any of his 16 outings. He moved up to Double-A Pensacola and made seven more starts. He went 3-3 with a 4.86 ERA. He struck out 41 batters, and walked just nine, over his 37 innings there. In his penultimate start of the season, he struck out 11 batters (and walked just one) over eight innings of two-hit, shutout baseball against the Jackson Generals. The soft-spoken Duran said of his 2019 season, “I felt really good overall, however, I feel I can do better.” The Twins obviously believe there is much more in there as well. In November, he was an easy choice to add to the team’s 40-man roster. Of course, it wasn’t as obvious to him. “Actually, it was something that took me by surprise, but I was really happy. I was not expecting it, but it was one of my goals.” Duran stands 6-5 and while he is lean, he is strong, weighing in at about 230 pounds. He has always been projectable. That 99 mph he was showing in rookie ball and now crept into the triple-digits often. His fastball averaged 97 mph in 2019. Duran briefly spoke about his best pitch and the pitches that he feels most comfortable with right now. “Obviously I feel most comfortable with my fastball, but I also have another pitch that I really like to use and feel really comfortable with, and that’s my sinker.” He also has a pretty good breaking ball or two that he continues to work on and hopes to make more consistent. Jhoan Duran is on the 40-man roster. He’s been to Twins Fest. He now has his Dominican high school diploma. And to top things off, he is on the cover of the 2020 Twins Prospect Handbook. As he looks toward 2020, Duran has a couple of goals in mind. “My main goal is to go out there and keep working, to get better and to try to make the team.” And being on the roster means he is just one phone call away from reaching a lifelong dream, the big leagues. He notes, “It will mean a lot. It will be a dream come true.” His former farm director Mike Bell could become his bench coach with that big-league promotion, and I think his final comments on Duran echo those of Twins fans. “I’m excited to see what he can do here.” No, I won't be giving away the whole book, but here is the Jhoan Duran profile page to show you what you will find in the pages of the 2020 Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook. It is available in paperback or PDF (for immediate download). Order your copies today!

Mike Bell has been in professional baseball for the past 27 years, but it’s fair to say that he has spent all 45 years of his life around the big leagues.On Tuesday, he is expected to be named the Twins new Bench Coach. His brother David Bell played for and is now the manager of the Cincinnati Reds. His father Buddy Bell spent 18 seasons in the big leagues and managed for nine seasons. His grandfather Gus Bell spent 15 seasons in the big leagues in the 1950s and 1960s. Mike Bell was the 30th overall pick in the 1993 by the Rangers out of nationally-renowned Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati. It took some time, but Bell eventually got to the big leagues too. He played in 19 games for the Reds in 2000. He had six hits over 31 plate appearances, but he did hit big-league homers off of Curt Leskanic and Steve Kline. Following his retirement as a player in 2005, he began a career in coaching and managing. He has spent the past eight seasons as the Vice President of Player Development for the Arizona Diamondbacks. In the role, according to the Diamondbacks website, he oversaw and maintained relationships with affiliates, managed the coordinators and coaching staffs and handled player acquisitions and transactions. He now joins Manager of the Year Rocco Baldelli’s coaching staff which is still missing one coach. The team has yet to hire an assistant pitching coach (and bullpen coach) to replace Jeremy Hefner, who left to become the Mets pitching coach. The Twins have now made the news official. Twins Current Coaching Staff Rocco Baldelli - Manager Mike Bell - Bench Coach Edgar Varela - Hitting Coach Wes Johnson - Pitching Coach Rudy Hernandez - Assistant Hitting Coach Tony Diaz - 3B Coach and Infield Coach Tommy Watkins - 1B Coach and Outfield Coach Bill Evers - Catchers Coach Assistant Pitching Coach - To Be Named Later