In the annals of the Minnesota Twins, a franchise rich with offensive talent, numerous players have rightfully earned the prestigious Silver Slugger Award. One surprising slugger came along and put together a season to remember for the history books.
From the consistent excellence of Rod Carew, Joe Mauer and Kirby Puckett to the more modern-day dominance of Nelson Cruz, the Silver Slugger Award has often found a deserving home in the Twin Cities. However, a deep dive into the statistics reveals one winner whose selection stands out as the most surprising in franchise history: outfielder Josh Willingham in 2012.