2010 Minnesota Twins season


The 2010 Minnesota Twins season was the 50th season for the franchise in Minnesota, and the 110th overall in the American League.
It was their first season in their new stadium, Target Field, which made its regular-season debut on April 12 as the Twins defeated the Boston Red Sox 5–2. This marked the return of outdoor professional baseball to the state of Minnesota for the first time since the end of the 1981 season, the last played at Metropolitan Stadium. 3,223,640 fans attended Twins games, setting a new franchise record.
The Twins clinched their sixth AL Central division championship in nine seasons on September 21 after a win against the Cleveland Indians and a Chicago White Sox loss. They were again swept by the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series to end the season.

Offseason

New uniforms

The Twins altered their uniforms for the 2010 season. Their new home outfits as well as their alternate uniforms feature a redesigned primary wordmark that was shown for the first time as a sign was hoisted into place atop the scoreboard at Target Field in May 2009. The team's colors remained unchanged but the nameplate that had been in use since the 1980s on the uniforms was eliminated. The new road uniforms discards the navy pinstripes for a gray uniform with a script "Minnesota" on the front in navy with red and white trim. The franchise also wore a 1961 throwback uniform as part of the team's 50th season on Opening Day and all Saturday dates. The team donned a special Inaugural Season patch for Target Field on all home uniforms, and a Golden Anniversary season patch on their road outfits.

Roster moves

Before spring training, the Twins parted ways with 2009 trade deadline acquisition Orlando Cabrera, who would go on to sign a free agent deal with the Cincinnati Reds. Also leaving the team was backup catcher Mike Redmond. With Cabrera leaving, there were questions about the Twins infield. General Manager Bill Smith addressed these questions by trading center fielder Carlos Gómez to the Milwaukee Brewers for shortstop J. J. Hardy, and signing free agent second baseman Orlando Hudson. Smith also added some power to the bench by acquiring free agent and former White Sox and Indians designated hitter Jim Thome. With regular closer Joe Nathan out for the season after elbow surgery, Gardenhire named Jon Rauch the closer to begin the season. Later, the Twins traded catcher Wilson Ramos and Joe Testa to the Washington Nationals to acquire Matt Capps to bolster the bullpen. Other pitching changes included the late additions of Brian Fuentes and Randy Flores.
On March 22, catcher Joe Mauer signed a contract extension for eight years. The $184 million contract, paying him $23 million each year, is the richest ever for the Twins, and the fourth largest in major league history.

Regular season

Finally, the Twins win a stadium opener at home. They'd lost the Home Openers at Metropolitan Stadium and the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. At Target Field on April 12 this year, DH Jason Kubel drove in two runs and hit the stadium's first home run in a 5-2 win over Boston.
On April 28, third baseman Luke Hughes hit a home run in his first-ever major league at bat, joining four other Twins who've accomplished the feat: Rick Renick, Dave McKay, Gary Gaetti and Andre David. They were joined by Eddie Rosario in 2015.
On July 3, new Twin Jim Thome homered in the first inning for his 574th career home run. With that four-bagger, he passed Twins legend Harmon Killebrew's 573 on the all-time career home run list.
July 13: At Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau represented the Twins at the All-Star Game. Mauer was the starting AL catcher and Morneau was not used as a reserve.
Kevin Slowey's win on September 12 was the club's 4,000th win, dating back to win no. 1 on April 11, 1961.
Ron Gardenhire was named American League Manager of the Year; he'd been the runner-up five times. Pitcher Francisco Liriano, who'd missed all of 2007 following Tommy John surgery, saw limited action in 2008 and 2009 due to injuries. In 2010, he threw the second-most innings of any pitcher for the Twins, led the team in ERA, and allowed the fewest home runs per nine innings of any pitcher in the AL. He was voted the American League's Comeback Player of the Year.
Joe Mauer won his fourth Silver Slugger Award and his third Gold Glove Award.

Season standings

Detailed record

Roster

Game log

Player stats

Batting

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases
PlayerGABRH2B3BHRRBIAVGSB
23000000.0000
21000000.0000
40000000—0
49142122861213.1970
69152264274120.2766
51000000.0000
157609931653751481.2717
51000000.0000
40000000—0
1013404491193638.2681
4310811173014.1570
12649780133245637.26810
27120011.2860
143518681292332192.2490
12000000.0000
50000000—0
21000000.0000
13751088167431975.3271
10000000—0
1936472007.1940
81296531022511856.3450
26030000.5000
2241761026.1460
882522460111120.2386
727283001.2960
20000000—0
5812719296039.2283
1328150002.1790
32000000.0000
153629851662410358.26426
10827648761622559.2830
488782043118.2301
852993093181740.3112
1535707717046121112.2985
Totals1625568781152131841142749.27368

Pitching

Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; HR = Home runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts
PlayerWLERAGGSSVIPHRERBBK
1294.4929290170.1238543148
10125.422826016125974068
225.29410047.26282337
202.00270162716821
113.047101685232762
009.0010011110
1032.6253130130.211383578
004.9111003.22222
000.009019.20028
573.177401717252242
14103.6231310191.297758201
113.44410034513825
215.28131029317621
113.31470032.2412928
015.00110091589
17113.7532320221249237117
115.82131021.2314514
313.125902157.23201446
017.715004.21455
1364.4530280155.2217729116
Totals94683.95162162401452.21556383831048

Playoffs

The Twins were swept in three games by the New York Yankees in the Division Series.

Game 1, October 6

8:30 p.m. at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game 2, October 7

6:00 p.m. at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game 3, October 9

8:30 p.m. at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York

Other post-season awards