Fun facts about players on the 2020 Minnesota Twins

Baseball. Is. Back. With that, even in a shortened season, will come the inundation of statistics — batting average, home runs, ERA, etc.

Since you’ll be getting enough baseball stats about the Minnesota Twins to fill any void you might have, we thought we’d take a look at the lighter side of things.

We scoured through the Twins media guide and came up with some different and interesting facts about a number of players (note: we have no repeat facts from our three previous editions of fun facts: 2019 | 2018 | 2017). While your friends are dishing out Bomba squad home run totals from last year, you can enlighten them on which player plays ping pong against a robot, whose grandfather is Tommy Lasorda and more.

Read on, enjoy and be prepared to dazzle your buddies with your inside knowledge of Twins players.

Ehire Adrianza: Wears uniform No. 13 in honor of his godfather, former major-league player and manager Ozzie Guillen.

Jorge Alcala: Hobbies include playing dominos and going to the beach.

Luis Arraez: His four doubles in the ALDS tied Torii Hunter (2002 ALDS) and Tom Brunansky (1987 ALCS) for most by a Twin any postseason series in club history.

Willians Astudillo: Is one of three players in the live ball era (since 1920) to have at least 300 plate appearances over a one- or two-year span and 11 or fewer strikeouts, joining Bill Killefer (nine in 356 PA for Chicago Cubs in 1920-21) and Charlie Pick (11 in 427 PA for Boston Braves in 1920).

Alex Avila: Is the godson of Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda.

Homer Bailey: Full name is David Dewitt Bailey. Called “Homer” after his great=grandfather.

Jose Berrios: Is the Twins’ all-time wins leader among Puerto Rican-born players.

Tyler Clippard: Will be the 25th pitcher in MLB history to play for 10 franchises (in order: Yankees, Nationals, A’s, Mets, Diamondbacks, Yankees again, White Sox, Astros, Blue Jays, Indians and, soon, Twins). He’s played for nine of the 10 since 2015.

Nelson Cruz: Has the most home runs in MLB since 2014 (244).

Randy Dobnak: Became the fourth rookie pitcher in Twins history to start a postseason game sand the first since Brian Duensing in 2009.

Josh Donaldson: Is good friends with tennis star and Edina, Minn., native Mardy Fish.

Tyler Duffey: Earned the nickname “Doof” by Latin teammates in rookie ball.

Mitch Garver: Is onto his fourth different uniform number in his fourth major-league season. Wore No. 43 in 2017, changed to No. 23 in 2018, then gave that number to Nelson Cruz and went with No. 18, only to give that number to newcomer Kenta Maeda. Garver will wear No. 8 in 2020.

Marwin Gonzalez: Only player in MLB history to play in 20+ games at first base, second base, shortstop and left field in a single season, which he did both in 2017 and ’18.

Max Kepler: He and Ted Williams are the only players to hit three home runs multiple times in Cleveland.

Zack Littell: Last season became the third Twins pitcher to pitch solely out of the bullpen and win at least six games without a loss (he was 6-0), joining Joe Nathan (7-0 in 2006) and LaTroy Hawkins (6-0 in 2002).

Kenta Maeda: Will become the third Japanese-born player in Twins history, after Micheal Nakamura (2003) and Tsuyoshi Nishioka (2011-12).

Trevor May: Grew up a Ken Griffey Jr. fan and is a Seattle Seahawks fan.

Jake Odorizzi: He and his wife, Carissa, were high school sweethearts who married in 2012.

Michael Pineda: Earned the name “Big Mike” from former teammate Derek Jeter during his tie with the Yankees.

Jorge Polanco: Hobbies include playing pool, being with family and traveling.

Sean Poppen: Graduate of Harvard University.

Taylor Rogers: In spare time enjoy playing golf and washing his white F150 pickup truck.

Sergio Romo: Was not recruited out of high school and would attend Orange Coast (Calif.) Community College, Arizona Western Junior College, the University of North Alabama and Colorado Mesa University.

Miguel Sano: Hit career home run No. 100 on July 23, 2019 in his 432nd career game to become the fastest player in club history to reach 100 homers, surpassing Harmon Killebrew (440 games).

Lewis Thorpe: Has a 3-year-old pet kangaroo named Skippy at his home in Melbourne, Australia.

LaMonte Wade Jr.: Is an avid ping-pong player and practices against a robot.