26 Facts About Michael Cuddyer

1.

Michael Brent Cuddyer is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Minnesota Twins, Colorado Rockies, and New York Mets.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,887
2.

Michael Cuddyer was inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame on August 19,2017.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,888
3.

Primarily a right fielder, Michael Cuddyer made starts at every defensive position except catcher and shortstop over the course of his career.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,889
4.

Michael Cuddyer was born in Norfolk, Virginia, and is a 1997 graduate of Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, where he was a standout athlete in baseball, basketball, and football as well as student body president and National Honor Society member.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,890
5.

Michael Cuddyer was named Virginia's Player of the Year and Gatorade National baseball Player of the Year in 1997.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,891
6.

Michael Cuddyer was a member of USA Todays All-Star and the USA Junior National teams in 1997.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,892
7.

Michael Cuddyer has given back to his hometown and high school many times during his career.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,893
8.

Michael Cuddyer was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1st round of the 1997 amateur draft, but did not sign until August.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,894
9.

Michael Cuddyer initially committed to play college baseball at Florida State but waited for the Twins' signing bonus offer to increase from $700,000 to $1.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,895
10.

Michael Cuddyer underwent surgery to repair a tear in his right lateral meniscus in October 2005.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,896
11.

Michael Cuddyer finished second to Justin Morneau in RBI for the Twins in 2006.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,897
12.

Michael Cuddyer suffered a laceration on the knuckle after getting stepped on by Kansas City Royals left fielder Alex Gordon.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,898
13.

On his second game after being activated, Michael Cuddyer hit a three-run home run off Rangers' Scott Feldman, his first of the 2008 season.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,899
14.

On May 22,2009, Michael Cuddyer hit for the cycle in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,900
15.

Three months later, on August 23,2009, Michael Cuddyer hit two home runs in the same inning, the seventh inning of the Twins' game against the Kansas City Royals, becoming the 53rd player in Major League Baseball to accomplish this feat.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,901
16.

Michael Cuddyer is the only player in major league history to have performed both offensive rarities in the same baseball season.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,902
17.

Michael Cuddyer returned to the outfield at the start of the 2010 season, but found playing time at first and third base.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,903
18.

On July 3,2011, Michael Cuddyer was named an All-Star for the first time as a managers' pick.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,904
19.

Michael Cuddyer then retired Elvis Andrus on a fly ball and David Murphy on a pop-up for a scoreless inning.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,905
20.

Michael Cuddyer chose to wear number 3 in order to honor Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew, with whom he had grown close within the Twins organization before Killebrew's death.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,906
21.

In 2013, Michael Cuddyer set a personal best with a 27-game hitting streak, the longest in Rockies history to that point.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,907
22.

Michael Cuddyer was named an All-Star for the second time in his career.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,908
23.

Michael Cuddyer was the only player to hit for the cycle during the 2014 season.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,909
24.

On July 24,2015, Michael Cuddyer was put on the 15 day disabled list due to a bone bruise in his left knee.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,910
25.

On December 11,2015, Michael Cuddyer announced his retirement via an article on The Players' Tribune titled "Play Hard and Dream Big".

FactSnippet No. 2,232,911
26.

Michael Cuddyer married Claudia Rente, an English teacher, on November 11,2006.

FactSnippet No. 2,232,912