The most devastating injuries in Minnesota sports history

The Minnesota Twins skilled ache on Friday when it was introduced that Royce Lewis would endure surgical procedure for {a partially} torn ACL.

The harm is devastating for Twins followers after Lewis had appeared to rebound after tearing his ACL in the identical knee in February 2021. Minnesota sports activities followers will inform you that this is not something new. Over time, there have been quite a few accidents to star gamers creating an encyclopedia of ache.

Kirby Puckett’s eye (1995)

Puckett was the face of the Twins, serving to Minnesota win two World Collection championships and hitting one of many best dwelling runs within the historical past of the game. Even at age 36, Puckett was relied upon heading into the 1996 season to type a potent lineup together with Paul Molitor, Chuck Knoblauch and reigning American League Rookie of the Yr Marty Cordova.

These plans modified when Dennis Martinez hit Puckett within the face with a pitch on Sept. 28, 1995. Puckett missed the rest of the season with a damaged jaw however the next March, he developed blurred imaginative and prescient in his proper eye.

Puckett was later recognized with glaucoma and the situation pressured him to retire. The 1996 Twins went on to complete ninth in runs scored (twenty fifth in ERA), however it’s truthful to marvel how for much longer Puckett might have performed had he not been injured.

Sam Cassell’s hip (2004)

In 2004, the Minnesota Timberwolves have been within the midst of their best season ever. After incomes the one two playoff sequence victories in franchise historical past and watching Kevin Garnett win the MVP award, an NBA championship was a sensible chance till Sam Cassell broke out the “Massive Balls” dance.

Cassell’s jumper in Sport 2 of the Western Convention Semifinals helped even the sequence with the Sacramento Kings, however whereas he was strutting round like Isuro Tanaka, he injured his hip.

Flip Saunders tried all the pieces to beat the harm — together with utilizing Garnett at level guard through the Western Convention Finals  — however the Timberwolves went on to be eradicated by the Los Angeles Lakers in six video games and raised questions of what might have been.

Daunte Culpepper’s knee (2005)

After years of being the place the place quarterbacks went to die, the Minnesota Vikings appeared to have discovered a franchise quarterback in Culpepper. With a bazooka for an arm, the physique of a tank and the mobility of a working again, Culpepper was set to turn into Minnesota’s first long-term quarterback since Fran Tarkenton.

That season proved to be the height of Culpepper’s profession, nonetheless, as he tore three ligaments in his knee throughout an October 2005 sport towards the Carolina Panthers.

Chris Gamble’s hit opened an odd saga involving Brad Childress, e-mails and strip malls earlier than Culpepper was traded to the Miami Dolphins. The Vikings would proceed to shuffle quarterbacks till Kirk Cousins signed in 2018.

Francisco Liriano’s elbow (2006)

The 2006 Twins have been a particular workforce that went from 12.5 video games out of first place in late Could to profitable the AL Central on the ultimate day of the common season. 

A giant purpose for the turnaround was the emergence of Liriano, who went 12-3 with a 2.16 ERA in 28 video games. With Johan Santana on the prime of the rotation, followers dreamed of a devastating 1-2 punch in October till Liriano tore his UCL in August.

Liriano was by no means the identical pitcher. From 2008 till he was traded in 2012, the left-hander went 40-49 with a 4.75 ERA in 134 video games (121 begins) for the Twins.

Minnesota went on to be swept by the Oakland Athletics within the 2006 ALDS and hasn’t received a playoff sport since.

Teddy Bridgewater’s knee (2016)

Very similar to Culpepper, Bridgewater was on his solution to changing into a franchise quarterback for the Vikings. With Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen ready within the wings, Bridgewater was about to get the weapons he did not have throughout his first two years in Minnesota and it might have paved the way in which for a breakout season.

Simply days earlier than the season started, nonetheless, Bridgewater suffered a ugly non-contact harm in observe that tore all three ligaments in his knee and dislocated his kneecap. The surgeon who carried out surgical procedure on Bridgewater referred to as the harm “just like a battle wound” and he would by no means begin a sport for the Vikings once more.

The harm additionally set off a butterfly impact for the Vikings who traded their first-round decide within the 2017 draft for Sam Bradford. The Philadelphia Eagles would use that decide to pick Derek Barnett, who strip-sacked Case Keenum within the 2017 NFC Championship Sport and the Vikings went on to signal Cousins previous to the 2018 season.

Zach Parise’s again (2016)

The 2016 Wild weren’t a dominant workforce by any means, however they actually would’ve had a greater shot at taking down the No. 1 Dallas Stars within the first spherical of the playoffs had Parise been wholesome. However the Wild star aggravated a again harm through the ultimate days of the common season (that later led to again surgical procedure) and he missed the playoffs. 

Minnesota misplaced the sequence in six video games, although they did stage one of many nice comebacks by rallying from a 4-0 deficit within the third interval to tie the Stars in Sport 6, solely to lose 5-4. 

Had Parise performed the complete sequence wholesome, the Wild positively would’ve had a shot at upsetting the No. 1 seed within the Western Convention. 

Royce Lewis’ knee (2021)

It is arduous to inform if this harm belongs on the checklist, however with how Lewis was taking part in, it might have a devastating impact on the Twins.

Lewis got here into this season with out taking part in an organized sport in two years. In a small pattern, Lewis confirmed no in poor health results, hitting .300 with two dwelling runs in 12 video games with the Twins earlier than getting damage.

If there is a silver lining, Byron Buxton recovered after a string of accidents to turn into a celebrity when on the sphere. At age 23, there’s potential for the same final result for Lewis, however with him now out for no less than the following yr, the stress is on Minnesota to discover a solution to re-sign Carlos Correa or discover one other new beginning shortstop. 

Observe: Adrian Peterson’s torn ACL in 2011 is a notable harm, however he bounced again with an MVP season in 2012, thus rendering it not devastating.