November 14

Harry Howell (1876)

Jim Piersall (1929)

Jim Brewer (1937)

Willie Hernandez (1954)

Curt Schilling (1966)

Kent Bottenfield (1968)

Ruben Rivera (1973)

Xavier Nady (1978)

Clete Thomas (1983)

Outfielder Michael Clete Thomas appeared in twelve games for the Twins in 2012.  He was born in Jacksonville, Florida, went to high school in Lynn Haven Florida, attended Auburn University, and was drafted by Detroit in the fifth round in 2005.  His minor league numbers aren't awful, but there's nothing at all impressive about them, either.  In 2007, he hit .280 with a .764 OPS in the Eastern League, and on the strength of that he found himself on the Detroit Tigers' opening day roster in 2008.  He actually played pretty well, batting .295 in late April when he sent down.  He came back in late May and stayed with the Tigers until the all-star break, when despite the fact that he was still hitting .284 he was sent down again.  That was as good as it would ever get for Clete Thomas, though.  He was back with the Tigers for most of 2009 and played in over a hundred games, but hit only .240.  He was hurt for most of 2010, played in AAA and didn't do much in 2011.  He started 2012 in Detroit, but appeared in only three games before being placed on waivers in mid-April.  Minnesota chose him and immediately made him their starting right fielder, a decision they stuck with for all of seven games.  Thomas was in Rochester by early May and stayed there the rest of the season.  He batted .232 there with an OPS of .686.  In twelve games as a Twin, he hit .143/.172/.286.  He draws a good number of walks and appears to be a decent defensive player, but that's about all he has going for him.  He turns 29 today and appears to still be under contract with Minnesota at this writing.  He may make it back to the majors at some point, but there's little reason to think he can be more than a reserve if he does.