Which Twins players have also played for the Pirates? MLB Immaculate Grid Answers August 9

On August 9, MLB Immaculate Grid required participants to name players who have played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Minnesota Twins at some point in their careers.

One of the most popular baseball quiz games around, the Immaculate Grid releases a new 3 x 3 puzzle for fans to attempt each day. With nine squares to be populated, three hints are lined up on the y-axis, with another three on the x-axis.

Pitcher Bert Blyleven is one of the few MLB players to be born in the Netherlands. Growing up in California, Blyleven soon took to baseball. He was selected by the Minnesota Twins out of high school, and as a 23-year old in 1973, posted a 2.52 ERA alongside an MLB-best nine complete game shutouts.

In 1976, he was traded to the Texas Rangers, where his 2.74 ERA set a record that still stands as the best ERA posted by a Rangers starter. Blyleven was traded to Pittsburgh in the first four-team deal in MLB history. His 3,701 strikeouts place him fifth in MLB history. Blyleven was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011.

"2021 NT Bert Byleven /25 $18 shipped" - Kevin W

In 2006, Twins southpaw Francisco Liriano posted a 12-3 record alongside a 2.16 ERA as a sophomore to win an All-Star honor as well as a third-place finish in AL Rookie of the Year voting.

In 2010, he was named the AL Comeback Player of the Year after putting up a 3.62 ERA in 31 starts. After making the move to Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013, he went 16-8, boasting a 3.02 ERA to finish in the top 10 in Cy Young voting. To this day, Liriano remains the only player to win the Comeback Player Award in both the NL and AL.

Canadian Justin Morneau made his debut for the Minnesota Twins in 2003. Three seasons later, the first baseman hit .321.375/.559 with 34 home runs and 130 RBIs to win the AL MVP Award.

After hitting 31 home runs in 2007, Morneau became the first Twins player to hit back-to-back 30-home run seasons since 1987. A four-time All-Star despite dealing with injuries throughout his career, Morneau spent the 2013 season on the Pirates before retiring as a member of the Chicago White Sox in 2016.

"In July of 2006 Justin Morneau hit .410/.430/.700 as the #MNTwins went 18-8. That season should’ve ended with a championship…" - Jeff

Rich Hill, the oldest active player in the MLB at 42, is also eligible for this Immaculate Grid. Hill went 2-2 with a 3.03 ERA and 31 strikeouts as a member of the Twins in the shortened 2020 season. Ahead of 2023, he inked a deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates, only to be traded to the San Diego Padres at the August 1 deadline.