Hiromitsu Kadota is third on the Japanese professional baseball home run list with 567.
The father of Matt Wieters, Rick Wieters pitched in the minor leagues for five years, reaching AA.
Right-hander Donald Edward Lee pitched for Minnesota in 1961 and the first part of 1962. His father, Thornton Lee, was also a major league pitcher (both Lees surrendered home runs to Ted Williams, the only time a player has hit a home run against a father and son). Don Lee was born in Globe, Arizona, attended the University of Arizona, and signed with Detroit as a free agent in 1956. He pitched very well in the Sally League that year, and was in Detroit in April of 1957. He started the season in the starting rotation, but lost his spot in mid-May, was used sporadically, and then sent back to the minors. Lee was in AAA Charleston the next two years and pitched very well, winning 14 games each year and posting an ERA of 3.20 in 420 innings. After the 1959 season, Lee was traded to Milwaukee, but the Braves left him unprotected and he was chosen by Washington in the Rule 5 draft. He pitched well for Washington, working mostly in relief until late July, when he entered the rotation. In 1961, Lee came to Minnesota with the team and was used mostly as a "swing man", with ten starts scattered throughout the season. In both years he pitched well, posting ERAs in the mid-threes. He started 1962 in the Twins' rotation, but started poorly, and was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in mid-May for Jim Donohue. As a Twin, he was 14-16, 3.63, 1.29 WHIP. He was an Angel until June 1 of 1965. He was used both as a starter and a reliever, and pitched well through 1964. He was pitching out of the bullpen in 1965, and was off to a poor start, when he was traded to Houston. Much of Lee's time with Houston was spent in the minors; he made seven appearances in the big leagues in 1965 and nine in 1966. He was sold to the Cubs in June of 1966, did poorly in sixteen appearances, and was sent to the minors. He made seven minor league appearances in 1967, pitching in the Cubs and Giants organizations, and then his career was over. At last report, Don Lee was living in Tucson, Arizona.
Outfielder Trevor John-Ikaiakaloa Larnach was with the Twins for a little more than half of 2021. He was born in Walnut Creek, California, went to high school in Pleasant Hill, California, attended Oregon State, and was drafted by Minnesota with the twentieth pick of the first round in 2018. He hit very well from rookie ball through AA in 2018 and 2019, missed 2020, and started 2021 in AAA. He was promoted to the Twins in early May and was given a full chance to take the left field spot, but failed to hit and was sent back to AAA in mid-August. He did not hit well in AAA, either. He turns twenty-five today, so while he's not a kid he's certainly young enough to improve. While some time in AAA might not hurt him, one would expect him to be given an opportunity to earn a spot in the majors in 2022.
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