Kent Hrbek

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Hrbek's journey began when he was drafted by his hometown Twins in the 17th round of the 1978 draft. He climbed the organizational ladder, hitting .318 with 47 home runs and 111 RBIs across 253 minor league games before debuting on August 24, 1981. In a dramatic start at Yankee Stadium, he hit a game-winning home run in the 12th inning off George Frazier. His rookie season in 1982 was stellar; finishing .301 with 23 home runs and 92 RBIs, he placed second in Rookie of the Year voting to Cal Ripken Jr. and earned his only All-Star selection. While the Twins struggled overall that year, Hrbek became a core part of the roster alongside Tim Laudner, Gary Gaetti, Tom Brunansky, Randy Bush, and Frank Viola. His peak performance arrived in 1984, where he posted career highs in RBIs (107) and hits (174), finishing second in AL MVP voting to Willie Hernández.

In Their Own Story

Hrbek's most legendary contributions came during the Twins' World Series runs. In 1987, despite a modest .208 average in the series, he slugged a grand slam in Game 6 off Ken Dayley that essentially sealed the championship for Minnesota. Four years later, in the 1991 "Worst to First" World Series against Atlanta, Hrbek hit a home run in Game 1 but struggled with a .115 average overall. However, his defensive heroics defined Game 7; with the score tied 0–0 in the eighth inning and bases loaded, he executed a rare 3-2-3 double play with catcher Brian Harper, neutralizing the Braves' biggest threat. The Twins won 1–0 thanks to Gene Larkin's walk-off single. Offensively, Hrbek was also central to the 1987 title, hitting a career-best 34 home runs during the regular season to help secure the AL West crown.

Reader's Guide

Fans should note Hrbek's unique legacy regarding equipment and postseason performance. He was notorious for losing his stirrups and became the most outspoken MLBPA member to revise the uniform code, successfully removing mandatory stirrups after the 1994 strike that led to his retirement. While he was a key part of both 1987 and 1991 championship teams, his postseason hitting was often ineffective, batting just .154 in 24 games with three home runs and 12 RBIs. His number 14 was retired by the Twins in 1995, making him only the fourth player in franchise history to receive this honor. In 2000, he was among the first six inductees into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame. Beyond baseball, Hrbek has been a dedicated advocate for ALS research since his father's death in 1982, hosting charity golf tournaments and receiving the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award in 1991.

Did You Know?

• Hrbek hit the very first home run in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on April 3, 1982, in an exhibition game against the Phillies.
• Despite being considered by Jim Kaat as the best defensive first baseman he ever saw, Hrbek never won a Gold Glove award.
• He executed a rare 3-2-3 bases-loaded double play with catcher Brian Harper in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series to save the game.
• Hrbek was involved in a controversial "T-Rex Tag" on Ron Gant in Game 2 of the 1991 Series, which earned him death threats from Atlanta fans.