Gulf Coast League Twins

The Gulf Coast League Twins are the Rookie Level Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. The team plays in Fort Myers, Florida, at the Lee County Sports Complex.The team is composed mainly of players who are in their first year of professional baseball either as draftees or non-drafted free agents from the United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and other countries.[1]

Four players from the 2008 GCL Twins & a fan smile for a picture
Gulf Coast League Twins
(1965-1971, 1989-present)
Fort Myers, Florida
Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassRookie
LeagueGulf Coast League
DivisionSouthern Division
Previous leagues
Florida Rookie League (1965)
Major league affiliations
TeamMinnesota Twins
Minor league titles
League titles (0)None
Division titles (2)
  • 2007
  • 2009
Team data
NameGCL Twins
Previous names
SRL Twins (1965)
BallparkLee County Sports Complex
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Minnesota Twins
General ManagerTom Saffell
ManagerRobbie Robinson

Gulf Coast League team rosters are thirty players, and cannot have more than twelve players over twenty years old, and no more than four players over 21. No player can have more than two years of prior service, excluding Rookie leagues outside the United States and Canada.

In 1965, the team first played in the league's direct predecessor, the Florida Rookie League, as the Florida Rookie League Twins. The team suspended operations after the 1971 season, but returned to the GCL in 1989.

The GCL Twins compete in the GCL's Southern Division. In 2009, the GCL Twins won the South with a 34-21 record under manager Jake Mauer, who is the older brother of the Minnesota Twins AL MVP catcher Joe Mauer. They lost 1-0 in twelve innings to the wild card winning GCL Nationals in the one game playoff.[2] Following the season, Mauer was promoted to manager of the Florida State League Fort Myers Miracle, and Chris Heintz took the reins for the GCL Twins. Like Mauer, Heintz was also a player in the Twins organization. He coached with the Beloit Snappers the final two months of the 2009 season. In addition to managing the GCL club, Heintz will also run the Twins' extended Spring Training.[3]

On July 25, 2010, it was announced that Tom Brunansky, member of the 1987 Twin's championship team, accepted a job to be the hitting coach for the GCL Twins and had started working early this July.[4]

Roster
Gulf Coast League Twins roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 22 Petru Balan
  • 17 Donny Breek
  • 32 Anthony Escobar
  • 40 Evan Gillespie
  • 39 Regi Grace
  • 48 Jose Guevara
  • 36 Bradley Hanner
  • -- Michael Montero
  • 51 Danny Moreno
  • 50 Junior Navas
  • -- Jon Olsen
  • 44 Rogelio Reyes
  • 30 Niklas Rimmel
  • 46 Miguel Rodriguez
  • -- Fredderi Soto
  • 55 Matthew Swain
  • 18 Steve Theetge
  • 33 Jesus Toledo
  • 45 Niall Windeler

Catchers

  • 43 Eric Jones
  •  2 Jeferson Morales
  •  8 Sergio Toribio

Infielders

  •  5 Jim Caceres
  •  9 Keoni Cavaco
  • 38 Alec Craig
  •  1 Jesus Feliz
  • -- Luis Gomez
  • 61 Adrian Guzman
  • 19 Victor Heredia
  • -- Jake Hirabayashi
  • 57 LaRon Smith
  • 23 Wander Valdez

Outfielders

  • 24 Carlos Aguiar
  • 31 Luis Baez
  •  4 Bryson Gandy
  • 13 Francisco Martinez
  • 11 Luis Milla
  • 58 Erick Rivera
  • 21 Nelson Roberto

Manager

  • 49 Robbie Robinson

Coaches

  • 12 Caleb Abney (hitting)
  • 20 Zach Bove (pitching)
  • 27 Carlos Hernández (pitching)
  • 68 Nathan Rasmussen (hitting)


7-day injured list
* On Minnesota Twins 40-man roster
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporary inactive list
Roster updated October 28, 2019
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • Gulf Coast League
 → Minnesota Twins minor league players

Season-by-season
Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs
FRL Twins[5]
196532-283rdFred WatersNo playoffs
GCL Twins[6]
196624-243rdFred WatersNo playoffs until 1983
196729-293rdFred Waters
196832-274thFred Waters
196921-326thFred Waters
197034-294thFred Waters
197122-305thFred Waters
198927-3610th (t)Joel Lepel
199032-308th (t)Joel Lepel
199127-3312th (t)Dan Rohn
199230-287thJim Lemon
199323-3612thJose Marzan
199422-3813thJose Marzan
199520-3514thMike Boulanger
199630-309thMike Boulanger
199728-328thSteve Liddle
199834-263rd (t)Steve LiddleLost in 1st round
vs. GCL Rangers (1 game to 0)
199933-263rdAl NewmanLost League Finals
vs. GCL Mets (2 games to 0)
Won in 1st round
vs. GCL Rangers (1 game to 0)
200033-234thAl Newman
200132-266thAl Newman
200235-254thRudy Hernandez
200328-317thRudy Hernandez
200431-265thRiccardo Ingram
200528-264th (t)Nelson Prada
200626-277thNelson Prada
200737-193rdNelson PradaLost in 1st round
vs. GCL Yankees (1 game to 0)
200835-212ndJake MauerLost in 1st round
vs. GCL Nationals (1 game to 0)
200934-213rdJake MauerLost in 1st round
vs. GCL Nationals (1 game to 0)
201029-3110th (t)Chris Heintz (2-5) / Ramon Borrego (27-26)
201131-296thRamon Borrego
201233-276thRamon Borrego
201328-328th (t)Ramon Borrego
201423-3714th (t)Ramon Borrego
201527-329th (t)Ramon Borrego
201632-296thRamon Borrego
201735-233rdRamon BorregoLost in 1st round
vs. GCL Nationals (1 game to 0)
201832-245thDan Ramsay
201930-214thRobbie RobinsonPlayoffs cancelled due to Hurricane Dorian

References
  1. "Gulf Coast League Twins". Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  2. "GCL Nationals 1, GCL Twins 0". Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  3. "Twins announce Minor League staffs". Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  4. http://www.twincities.com/ci_15601193?source=most_viewed
  5. "FRL Twins". Baseball Reference Bullpen. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  6. "GCL Twins". Baseball Reference Bullpen. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
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