For the first time a player that once played for a Minnesota team in the Northwoods League will now suit up in the big leagues for the Minnesota Twins. Veteran outfielder Josh Willingham signed a three-year contract with the Twins this offseason and will be expected to patrol right field at Target Field through 2014.

Willingham was in Austin, MN playing for the Southern Minny Stars for that franchise’s only two years of existence in 1998 and 1999. He was a .275 hitter with three home runs and 30 RBIs in 62 games predominantly as a third baseman in ’98. He followed that up with another summer at the hot corner and batted .337 with five home runs and 24 RBIs in 28 games in ’99.

Phil Miller recently featured the Twins’ new right fielder in an article for the Minneapolis Star Tribune. http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/138248594.html