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Justin Morneau To Join Twins As Special Assistant
Long-time Twins star Justin Morneau is slated to join the team as a special
assistant, according to Bob Elliott of the Canadian Baseball Network (via
Twitter). It would appear that the decision spells the end of his playing
days, though there’s no clear word yet of that.
Morneau, 36, told Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca in
late October that he was not ready to retire officially, but also seemingly
acknowledged his playing career was likely over. At the time, Morneau said he
had hoped to play in 2017 but had not been willing to go down to Triple-A and
wait for a phone call. It has never seemed likely that the opportunities
would improve over time, particularly now that Morneau did not play in the
just-completed season.
Entering the 2017 campaign, Morneau was already expressing some uncertainty
about his future, though he also sounded like someone who wanted to carry on.
Now, though, indications clearly are he’s moving on to other challenges in
the baseball world.
If this is indeed the end of the line, Morneau will end his career as one of
the best and most productive players ever to hail from his native Canada. In
the aggregate, the first baseman turned in 22.6 fWAR and 27.3 rWAR over his
14 MLB campaigns. He also earned just shy of $100MM, due in large part to a
six-year, $80MM extension he struck with Minnesota in 2008.
Of course, it’s hard not to ask what might have been. Morneau won the
American League MVP Award in 2006 and went to the All-Star Game in each of
the ensuing four seasons. As of mid-2010, he carried a lifetime
.286/.358/.511 batting line. And he was then in the midst of his best season,
boasting a whopping .345/.437/.618 output with 18 home runs through 81 games.
Things changed suddenly when Morneau took a knee to the head in a collision
at second base. The concussion he suffered knocked him out for the rest of
the season and limited him to just 69 games in the ensuing campaign. While he
was eventually able to return to above-average work at the plate, and even
turned in a very strong 2014 season with the Rockies (.319/.364/.496),
Morneau never fully regained his standing on the field.
Injuries limited Morneau in 2015 and delayed his start to the 2016 campaign,
when he signed a one-year deal with the White Sox after offseason elbow
surgery. He ultimately managed only a .261/.303/.429 output for Chicago —
respectable work for his age-35 season after so many travails, but not
enough to drive interest from other organizations after the end of the
season. Morneau also appeared in the World Baseball Classic in 2017,
representing his fourth appearance for home country and perhaps his last
competitive action on the field.
In addition to the organizations already noted, Morneau spent a brief stretch
with the Pirates in 2013, following his mid-season trade from the Twins.
Clearly, Morneau will forever be associated with the Minnesota franchise,
though, after 11 good years there. He was part of a core group that featured
mainstays such as Johan Santana, Torii Hunter, Michael Cuddyer, and Joe
Mauer. While the Twins never experienced much postseason success in that era,
they did take home six AL Central titles in a nine-year span (2002 through
2010).
近幾年因大小傷勢纏身的Morneau如今宣告自己重回雙城，不過是以特助的身分
去年的Morneau還想再拚一下，不過由於不想待在3A，都始終沒接到大聯盟的電話
一代強棒回到自己一開始的地方
在2006年時，贏得美聯MVP
生涯14個球季 .281 /.348 /.481 OPS.828 OPS+ 120 HR 247 Hit 1603