Minnesota Twins Legends in Tough Shape After Recent Health Scares

This season hasn’t been kind to the Minnesota Twins on or off the field. Not only are they toting a disappointing 9-15 record, but they’re also dealing with the bungled sale of the team and putrid daily attendance numbers that all but guarantee another historically empty Target Field this summer.

But when real life news hits the Twins organization, like it did on Wednesday night, you quickly forget about the baseball problems that exist on the field. According to the Star Tribune’s Patrick Reusse, two Minnesota Twins legends — Tony Oliva (86) and Kent Hrbek (64) — suffered strokes earlier this month within days of one another.

Tony Oliva and Kent Hrbek recovering from recent strokes

Oliva didn’t seem to realize he had suffered a stroke of any kind, until doctors told him during an exam on April 8. Hrbek’s happened during or right after a recent knee surgery… like, as he was waking up.

…Oliva, 86, and Hrbek, 64, [suffered] strokes within days of each other earlier this month. Oliva’s stroke was officially diagnosed April 8, although the belief of neuro specialists is that it probably occurred earlier. April 8 was the day Hrbek had surgery on his right knee.

“The operation was at Tria, and we stayed at a hotel,” Hrbek said. “I woke up feeling strange and Kristen said, ‘Should I call 911?’ I said, ‘There’s something going on. I can’t talk.’ ”

Hrbek was taken to Fairview Southdale that morning, April 10. He was transferred to University of Minnesota Acute Care on April 15. And he came home Tuesday, feeling OK, but with a slight thickness in his speech that hints he’s been through something.

Patrick Reusse – Star Tribune

He told Reusse that, following the incident, he passed all the cognitive function and memory tests he had to take, and considers himself lucky to come out with only a slightly slurred speech.

Get well soon to two Minnesota Twins legends

Tony Oliva was recently inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, after spending all 15 years of his MLB career with the Minnesota Twins. He won Rookie of the Year in 1964 and finished with 1,917 hits during his illustrious career, 9th most in team history.

Oliva’s .304/.353/.476 slash line includes 220 home runs (5th in team history), 329 doubles (6th), and 86 stolen bases. Hrbek never got the call to Cooperstown, but the Twins have retired No. 14, in honor of the two-time World Series champion. Like Oliva, Hrbek spent his entire MLB career in a Twins uniform.

Related: MN Twins Change Mind on Willi Castro; Make Room for Pablo Lopez

In 14 seasons with the Twins, Hrbek played in 1,747 games, batting .282 with a .848 OPS. He smacked two more hits (1,749) than he played games. Kent Hrbek’s 293 home runs as a Twin are the 2nd most in team history, behind only Harmon Killebrew. But no Herbie home run was bigger than the grand slam he hit in game 6 of the 1987 World Series.

OTD 1987 Kent Hrbek seals Game 6 with an epic grand slam. A tremendous moment in #MNTwins history! pic.twitter.com/cWPj2kczxg

— Jeff (@MNTwinsZealot) October 24, 2024

For years it has been Rod Carew whose health remained in question. Both Tony Oliva and Kent Hrbek joined him in that regard recently. Rod Carew has dealt with health issues in recent years as he approaches 80 years old.

Twins fans would certainly love to see the same outcome for Oliva and Hrbek as they have for Carew. The former infield legend suffered a heart attack and ultimately needed heart and kidney transplants to extend his life. Now thriving at 79 years old, he continues to be a fixture in the organization.