1996 Minnesota Twins season

The 1996 Minnesota Twins season was the 36th season for the Minnesota Twins franchise in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, their 15th season at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome and the 96th overall in the American League.

Prior to spring training, the Twins were projected to be a contending team. The team's chances significantly worsened on March 28, 1996. Kirby Puckett, the team's franchise player, had been tattooing the Grapefruit League (spring training) for a .360 average, but that morning woke up without vision in his right eye. He was eventually diagnosed with glaucoma. Several surgeries over the next few months could not restore vision in the eye. Puckett announced his retirement from baseball on July 12. After beginning the season under the melancholy cloud of the Puckett situation, Manager Tom Kelly's team finished the year with a 78–84 record, which put it in fourth place in the American League Central.

Offseason October 9: Luis Rivas was signed as an amateur free agent by the Twins.Luis Rivas at Baseball Reference December 5: Paul Molitor was signed as a free agent by the Twins.Paul Molitor at Baseball Reference January 29: Signed Roberto Kelly as a free agent.

Regular season

On April 24, the Twins crushed the Detroit Tigers 24–11. The total of runs—both the Twins' 24 and the game's total of 35—were new highs in Twins history for a nine-inning game. Only second baseman Chuck Knoblauch was selected from the Twins for the All-Star Game at Veteran's Stadium in Philadelphia. Entering in the eighth inning as a reserve, he singled. His was just one of seven American League hits in the National League's 6–0 victory. On July 25 at the Metrodome, seven Twins hit eight doubles to set a new mark. The Twins drubbed the Boston Red Sox 16–6. By season's end, several other offensive records had been set: Chuck Knoblauch scored 140 times, besting Rod Carew's previous club high of 128. Chip Hale had nineteen pinch hits on the year. New season highs were set for most runs scored (877) and most runs allowed (900). In addition, new club season highs were set in most hits (1663), most RBI (812), most doubles (332) and highest team batting average (.288).

Offense

Individual players on the team did excel. Paul Molitor had a standout year in his first year with his hometown team, playing as the regular designated hitter and winning a Silver Slugger Award at that position. He played in all but one game and hit .341 with 113 RBI and a league-best 225 hits. On September 16 in Kansas City, he collected his 3,000th hit, a triple off of José Rosado. He is the only player to obtain his 3,000th hit via a triple. Along with Molitor, Chuck Knoblauch also hit .341. Among the hits were 35 doubles. He also stole 45 bases. Marty Cordova had a respectable year, driving in 111 runs.

+ Team Leaders Statistic Player QuantityHR Marty Cordova 16RBI Paul Molitor 113BA Paul Molitor and Chuck Knoblauch .341Runs Chuck Knoblauch 140

Pitching

The pitching did not match the offense. Brad Radke, Frank Rodriguez, and Rich Robertson (the three R's) all spent the whole season in the starting rotation and had losing records. The team's experiment moving Rick Aguilera from the closer's role to the starting rotation was not a successful one, as he started only 19 games. Scott Aldred also started 17 games for the team. Radke had the lowest ERA among the starters at 4.46. The rest were over five. Dave Stevens got the most saves at 11, but he was not an effective closer. Mike Trombley and Dan Naulty had effective seasons out of the bullpen, but nobody else had an ERA under five. Epitomizing the pitching woes, Mike Milchin had an ERA of 8.31 but the team still let him pitch in 26 games.

+ Team Leaders Statistic Player QuantityERA Brad Radke 4.46Wins Frank Rodriguez 13Saves Dave Stevens 11Strikeouts Brad Radke 148

Defense

The only truly regular starters in the field were Knoblauch at second base, Pat Meares at shortstop, and Cordova in left field. In a less-than-encouraging sign for the team's postseason prospects, Scott Stahoviak saw a majority of the time at first base. Dave Hollins played 116 games at third, with Jeff Reboulet and Todd Walker also seeing time. Greg Myers and Matt Walbeck platooned at catcher. Rich Becker had the unenviable task of replacing Puckett in center field and played 121 games there. Right field was a mish-mash, with Matt Lawton playing 60 games at the position, Roberto Kelly 54, Denny Hocking 33, and Ron Coomer 23.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 1 || April 1 || Tigers || 8–6 || Radke (1–0) || Lira || Stevens (1) || 30,185 || 1–0 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 2 || Tigers || 6–10 || Sodowsky || Robertson (0–1) || — || 20,164 || 1–1 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 3 || April 3 || Tigers || 16–7 || Mahomes (1–0) || Aldred || — || 12,256 || 2–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 4 || April 5 || Orioles || 1–2 || Mercker || Guardado (0–1) || Myers || 22,744 || 2–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 5 || April 6 || Orioles || 8–3 || Radke (2–0) || Haynes || — || 22,334 || 3–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 6 || April 7 || Orioles || 2–4 || Mussina || Robertson (0–2) || Myers || 14,580 || 3–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 9 || @ Red Sox || 1–9 || Gordon || Rodriguez (0–1) || — || 30,843 || 3–4 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 8 || April 11 || @ Red Sox || 6–5 || Radke (3–0) || Clemens || Stevens (2) || 15,594 || 4–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 12 || @ Orioles || 2–3 || Mussina || Robertson (0–3) || — || 42,602 || 4–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 13 || @ Orioles || 6–7 || Benitez || Mahomes (1–1) || — || 42,644 || 4–6 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 11 || April 14 || @ Orioles || 4–1 || Rodriguez (1–1) || Haynes || Stevens (3) || 42,660 || 5–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 12 || April 16 || Indians || 2–7 || Hershiser || Radke (3–1) || — || 13,103 || 5–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 13 || April 17 || Indians || 9–8 || Hansell (1–0) || Shuey || Stevens (4) || 11,276 || 6–7 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 14 || April 19 || Yankees || 7–1 || Rodriguez (2–1) || Gooden || — || 20,279 || 7–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || April 20 || Yankees || 6–7 || Wickman || Guardado (0–2) || Wetteland || 24,586 || 7–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || April 21 || Yankees || 5–9 || Rogers || Radke (3–2) || — || 20,115 || 7–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || April 22 || Red Sox || 1–4 || Sele || Robertson (0–4) || Slocumb || 11,340 || 7–10 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 18 || April 23 || Red Sox || 8–6 || Naulty (1–0) || Hudson || Stevens (5) || 11,533 || 8–10 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 19 || April 24 || @ Tigers || 24–11 || Bennett (1–0) || Veres || — || 12,189 || 9–10 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 20 || April 25 || @ Tigers || 11–1 || Hawkins (1–0) || Aldred || Hansell (1) || 11,804 || 10–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || April 26 || @ Yankees || 4–5 || Rivera || Radke (3–3) || Wetteland || 14,450 || 10–11 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 22 || April 27 || @ Yankees || 8–6 (10) || Bennett (2–0) || Wickman || — || 20,025 || 11–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 23 || April 28 || @ Yankees || 3–6 || Rivera || Rodriguez (2–2) || Wetteland || 24,793 || 11–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 24 || April 29 || Royals || 11–6 || Hansell (2–0) || Clark || Bennett (1) || 10,237 || 12–12 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 25 || April 30 || Royals || 16–7 || Naulty (2–0) || Magnante || — || 10,503 || 13–12

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 26 || May 1 || Royals || 6–5 (10) || Stevens (1–0) || Montgomery || — || 11,975 || 14–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 27 || May 3 || @ Angels || 1–4 || Finley || Robertson (0–5) || Percival || 24,505 || 14–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 28 || May 4 || @ Angels || 2–5 || Grimsley || Rodriguez (2–3) || — || 29,264 || 14–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 29 || May 5 || @ Angels || 1–5 || Boskie || Hawkins (1–1) || — || 35,541 || 14–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 30 || May 6 || @ Mariners || 4–5 || Wells || Radke (3–4) || Charlton || 32,203 || 14–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 31 || May 7 || @ Mariners || 2–0 || Parra (1–0) || Wolcott || Stevens (6) || 15,626 || 15–16 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 32 || May 8 || @ Mariners || 7–5 (10) || Guardado (1–2) || Wells || Stevens (7) || 22,175 || 16–16 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 10 || @ Athletics || 5–15 || Wojciechowski || Rodriguez (2–4) || — || 8,278 || 16–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || May 11 || @ Athletics || 5–12 || Prieto || Radke (3–5) || — || 15,791 || 16–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 35 || May 12 || @ Athletics || 3–8 || Wengert || Parra (1–1) || — || 13,430 || 16–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 14 || Blue Jays || 2–4 || Hanson || Robertson (0–6) || Timlin || 13,483 || 16–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 37 || May 15 || Blue Jays || 2–1 || Rodriguez (3–4) || Hentgen || — || 11,793 || 17–20 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 38 || May 16 || Blue Jays || 4–1 || Radke (4–5) || Quantrill || Stevens (8) || 13,538 || 18–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 17 || Brewers || 1–12 || Karl || Parra (1–2) || — || 26,733 || 18–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 18 || Brewers || 3–7 || Miranda || Mahomes (1–2) || Fetters || 30,593 || 18–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 41 || May 19 || Brewers || 2–4 || Sparks || Robertson (0–7) || Fetters || 24,411 || 18–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 42 || May 20 || Brewers || 2–3 || Bones || Rodriguez (3–5) || Fetters || 13,376 || 18–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 43 || May 21 || Rangers || 4–3 || Milchin (1–0) || Henneman || — || 12,323 || 19–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 44 || May 22 || Rangers || 5–6 || Pavlik || Parra (1–3) || Henneman || 17,955 || 19–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 45 || May 23 || @ Blue Jays || 4–5 (10) || Janzen || Milchin (1–1) || — || 31,163 || 19–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 46 || May 24 || @ Blue Jays || 4–0 || Robertson (1–7) || Hanson || — || 33,141 || 20–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 47 || May 25 || @ Blue Jays || 6–4 (10) || Guardado (2–2) || Castillo || Stevens (9) || 34,118 || 21–26 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 48 || May 26 || @ Blue Jays || 9–3 || Naulty (3–0) || Bohanon || — || 30,170 || 22–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || May 28 || @ Brewers || 3–7 || Karl || Mahomes (1–3) || Garcia || 10,117 || 22–27 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 50 || May 29 || @ Brewers || 8–7 (12) || Hansell (3–0) || Lloyd || — || 14,324 || 23–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 51 || May 31 || @ Rangers || 2–7 || Hill || Rodriguez (3–6) || — || 32,861 || 23–28

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 52 || June 1 || @ Rangers || 9–5 || Milchin (2–1) || Henneman || — || 43,413 || 24–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 53 || June 2 || @ Rangers || 6–5 || Guardado (3–2) || Russell || — || 33,809 || 25–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 54 || June 3 || Angels || 9–3 || Trombley (1–0) || Finley || — || 10,589 || 26–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 55 || June 4 || Angels || 5–3 || Rodriguez (4–6) || Grimsley || Guardado (1) || 10,899 || 27–28 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 56 || June 5 || Angels || 14–3 || Aldred (1–0) || Langston || Hansell (2) || 10,639 || 28–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 7 || Athletics || 4–6 || Reyes || Radke (4–6) || Corsi || 14,999 || 28–29 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 58 || June 8 || Athletics || 4–2 || Robertson (2–7) || Wojciechowski || Guardado (2) || — || 29–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 59 || June 8 || Athletics || 7–13 || Wasdin || Mahomes (1–4) || — || 22,164 || 29–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 60 || June 9 || Athletics || 5–3 || Rodriguez (5–6) || Wengert || — || 13,291 || 30–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 61 || June 10 || Mariners || 13–6 || Aldred (2–0) || Wagner || Trombley (1) || 17,134 || 31–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 62 || June 11 || Mariners || 8–18 || Wells || Aguilera (0–1) || Hurtado || 14,395 || 31–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 63 || June 12 || Mariners || 3–5 || Wolcott || Radke (4–7) || Charlton || 15,830 || 31–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 64 || June 14 || Tigers || 4–5 || Gohr || Robertson (2–8) || Olson || 22,831 || 31–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 65 || June 15 || Tigers || 4–6 || Olivares || Rodriguez (5–7) || Olson || 17,099 || 31–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 66 || June 16 || Tigers || 4–1 || Aguilera (1–1) || Lira || Hansell (3) || 20,641 || 32–34 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 67 || June 17 || @ Yankees || 6–3 || Aldred (3–0) || Mendoza || Naulty (1) || 16,189 || 33–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb"