Bio and stats for Gardenhire at MiLB and Baseball Cube
Moved from another thread. Originally posted by NIaGuy 6/17/05:
FightingIllini.com
Toby Gardenhire Class: Senior
Hometown: Little Canada, Minn. High School: Roseville
Height/Weight: 6-1 / 175 Position: IF Birthdate: 09/11/1982
Bats/Throws: R/R
Shortstop Toby Gardenhire was picked in the 41st round by the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday.
Gardenhire transferred to Illinois for the 2005 season after playing for Arkansas-Fort Smith and Southwest Missouri State earlier in his career. In his only season with the Illini he hit .246 with 33 RBI while playing outstanding defense at shortstop and providing invaluable leadership. The son of Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, Toby was selected by Minnesota in the 38th round of the 2002 draft but chose to attend college.
Prior to Illinois
Earned a letter in his only season playing baseball at Southwest Missouri State Led the Bears in sacrifices in 2004 with 11 Stole three bases in four attempts for SMS Selected in the 38th round by the Minnesota Twins in the 2002 First Year Player draft Hit .243 with six doubles and nine stolen bases in 56 games for the Rochester Honkers of the Northwoods League in 2003.
High School
Named to the All-Conference, All-Metro and All-State teams his senior season at Roseville High School in 2000 Earned varsity letters in four sports - baseball, basketball, football and soccer Named to the All-Conference soccer team as a junior and senior.
Personal
Born Sept. 11, 1982 in New York, New York Parents are Ron and Carol Gardenhire Majoring in community health Father Ron played professionally with the New York Mets before coaching third base for and eventually managing the Minnesota Twins Lists his biggest thrill in sports as watching the Twins win game seven of the 1991 World Series and going into the locker room with his dad afterward Names Terry Mulholland of the Minnesota Twins as his favorite athlete because he has been in the big leagues for 18 years and he respects the game so much After graduation he plans to plan baseball for as long as he can, then he hopes to coach and possibly teach He enjoys snow skiing and playing hockey during the winter in Minnesota.
Posted by jan:
A blooming garden along the road less traveled
Former Illini with famous father gets shot in Twins organization
Monday, May 22, 2006
By RYAN ORI
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
PEORIA - Beloit Snappers infielder Toby Gardenhire's baseball career is progressing along the opposite path of most.
The Little Canada, Minn., resident gained much of his baseball knowledge hanging around big-league ballparks, clubhouses and dugouts. Now, as a 23-year-old, Gardenhire is riding buses in the minor leagues.
That's the unique scenario for the son of Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. Toby Gardenhire now plays in low Class A for the organization that employs his dad.
"From '91 on, I'd go with my dad to the park every Sunday," the younger Gardenhire said before the Snappers' game against the Peoria Chiefs on Sunday afternoon at O'Brien Field.
"I'd go down on the field and take batting practice, take ground balls and all that. I'd go on one road trip a year as a bat boy," he said. "I got to bat-boy at Yankee Stadium and all these really cool stadiums. As I got older, I'd just sit on the bench and learn from the guys. I'd try to pick up everything I could. It's a pretty good lifestyle."
Gardenhire is playing his first full season since ending his college career at Illinois in 2005.
After being drafted by the Twins in the 38th round following his freshman season at Fort Smith (Ark.) junior college, Gardenhire opted to continue college. Following two juco seasons, he played in 2004 at Southwest Missouri State. Seeking more playing time, he transferred to the rebuilding Illini for the '05 season.
Despite hitting just .246, the Illini shortstop went in the 41st round last June and played rookie ball for Elizabethton of the Appalachian League.
Gardenhire, who is hitting .222 with no home runs, two doubles and three RBIs in 63 at-bats, hopes fielding versatility will lead to advancement through the Twins organization. He has played 17 games at third base, four at second, one at first and one in the outfield. He also is the team's emergency catcher.
"I have a third-base glove, a middle-infield glove, a first-baseman's glove, a catcher's glove and an outfield glove," Gardenhire said. "I catch in the bullpen when I'm not playing, and I worked out at catcher in spring training. It's nice for a team to have that third catcher.
"I try to work out at every position. During infield, I'll go one day at shortstop. The next day I'll go to second, then third. I'll take fly balls in the outfield once in a while. And when I'm not playing, I'll go down to the bullpen and catch.
"I try to move around and use all the different gloves so I get used to them all."
Gardenhire's dad follows his progress through reports filed daily by the Twins' minor-league coaching staffs. Beloit manager Jeff Smith praises Gardenhire's fielding and stresses the importance of the right-hander's development at the plate.
"Gardy's one of those guys I'll put in the lineup any day, at any spot," Smith said. "He can play everywhere. We have some injuries now, so he's getting the chance to play every day at third. Defensively, I'd throw him out there every day with anybody. He's very solid defensively, anywhere you put him."
The father-son duo shares a home in Fort Myers, Fla., during spring training and keeps in touch by phone during the season. Despite his name, Gardenhire said he doesn't feel a burden playing in the Minnesota system.
"I don't really see it as pressure," he said. "I'm a 41st-round pick. I've got teammates who are first- or second-round picks. I don't really see it as any pressure. It's pretty much all positives being in the Twins organization. I know all the coaches. I've known all these guys growing up my whole life. It's a pretty good deal for me."
By the time Gardenhire earned his first paycheck, he was armed with a lifetime of baseball pointers from Twins players and coaches. None more memorable than the fun he had with the late Kirby Puckett.
"I've gotten hitting tips from all kinds of guys," Gardenhire said. "Kirby Puckett used to have that big leg kick. He'd get me out on the field before my dad came out, practicing that big leg kick like he did. My dad would throw me BP, and I'd start throwing my leg up. My dad would just laugh."
Ryan Ori can be reached at 686-3208 or rori@pjstar.com.
Edit to add bio & stats...j
Moved from another thread. Originally posted by NIaGuy 6/17/05:
FightingIllini.com
Toby Gardenhire Class: Senior
Hometown: Little Canada, Minn. High School: Roseville
Height/Weight: 6-1 / 175 Position: IF Birthdate: 09/11/1982
Bats/Throws: R/R
Shortstop Toby Gardenhire was picked in the 41st round by the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday.
Gardenhire transferred to Illinois for the 2005 season after playing for Arkansas-Fort Smith and Southwest Missouri State earlier in his career. In his only season with the Illini he hit .246 with 33 RBI while playing outstanding defense at shortstop and providing invaluable leadership. The son of Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, Toby was selected by Minnesota in the 38th round of the 2002 draft but chose to attend college.
Prior to Illinois
Earned a letter in his only season playing baseball at Southwest Missouri State Led the Bears in sacrifices in 2004 with 11 Stole three bases in four attempts for SMS Selected in the 38th round by the Minnesota Twins in the 2002 First Year Player draft Hit .243 with six doubles and nine stolen bases in 56 games for the Rochester Honkers of the Northwoods League in 2003.
High School
Named to the All-Conference, All-Metro and All-State teams his senior season at Roseville High School in 2000 Earned varsity letters in four sports - baseball, basketball, football and soccer Named to the All-Conference soccer team as a junior and senior.
Personal
Born Sept. 11, 1982 in New York, New York Parents are Ron and Carol Gardenhire Majoring in community health Father Ron played professionally with the New York Mets before coaching third base for and eventually managing the Minnesota Twins Lists his biggest thrill in sports as watching the Twins win game seven of the 1991 World Series and going into the locker room with his dad afterward Names Terry Mulholland of the Minnesota Twins as his favorite athlete because he has been in the big leagues for 18 years and he respects the game so much After graduation he plans to plan baseball for as long as he can, then he hopes to coach and possibly teach He enjoys snow skiing and playing hockey during the winter in Minnesota.
Posted by jan:
A blooming garden along the road less traveled
Former Illini with famous father gets shot in Twins organization
Monday, May 22, 2006
By RYAN ORI
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
PEORIA - Beloit Snappers infielder Toby Gardenhire's baseball career is progressing along the opposite path of most.
The Little Canada, Minn., resident gained much of his baseball knowledge hanging around big-league ballparks, clubhouses and dugouts. Now, as a 23-year-old, Gardenhire is riding buses in the minor leagues.
That's the unique scenario for the son of Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. Toby Gardenhire now plays in low Class A for the organization that employs his dad.
"From '91 on, I'd go with my dad to the park every Sunday," the younger Gardenhire said before the Snappers' game against the Peoria Chiefs on Sunday afternoon at O'Brien Field.
"I'd go down on the field and take batting practice, take ground balls and all that. I'd go on one road trip a year as a bat boy," he said. "I got to bat-boy at Yankee Stadium and all these really cool stadiums. As I got older, I'd just sit on the bench and learn from the guys. I'd try to pick up everything I could. It's a pretty good lifestyle."
Gardenhire is playing his first full season since ending his college career at Illinois in 2005.
After being drafted by the Twins in the 38th round following his freshman season at Fort Smith (Ark.) junior college, Gardenhire opted to continue college. Following two juco seasons, he played in 2004 at Southwest Missouri State. Seeking more playing time, he transferred to the rebuilding Illini for the '05 season.
Despite hitting just .246, the Illini shortstop went in the 41st round last June and played rookie ball for Elizabethton of the Appalachian League.
Gardenhire, who is hitting .222 with no home runs, two doubles and three RBIs in 63 at-bats, hopes fielding versatility will lead to advancement through the Twins organization. He has played 17 games at third base, four at second, one at first and one in the outfield. He also is the team's emergency catcher.
"I have a third-base glove, a middle-infield glove, a first-baseman's glove, a catcher's glove and an outfield glove," Gardenhire said. "I catch in the bullpen when I'm not playing, and I worked out at catcher in spring training. It's nice for a team to have that third catcher.
"I try to work out at every position. During infield, I'll go one day at shortstop. The next day I'll go to second, then third. I'll take fly balls in the outfield once in a while. And when I'm not playing, I'll go down to the bullpen and catch.
"I try to move around and use all the different gloves so I get used to them all."
Gardenhire's dad follows his progress through reports filed daily by the Twins' minor-league coaching staffs. Beloit manager Jeff Smith praises Gardenhire's fielding and stresses the importance of the right-hander's development at the plate.
"Gardy's one of those guys I'll put in the lineup any day, at any spot," Smith said. "He can play everywhere. We have some injuries now, so he's getting the chance to play every day at third. Defensively, I'd throw him out there every day with anybody. He's very solid defensively, anywhere you put him."
The father-son duo shares a home in Fort Myers, Fla., during spring training and keeps in touch by phone during the season. Despite his name, Gardenhire said he doesn't feel a burden playing in the Minnesota system.
"I don't really see it as pressure," he said. "I'm a 41st-round pick. I've got teammates who are first- or second-round picks. I don't really see it as any pressure. It's pretty much all positives being in the Twins organization. I know all the coaches. I've known all these guys growing up my whole life. It's a pretty good deal for me."
By the time Gardenhire earned his first paycheck, he was armed with a lifetime of baseball pointers from Twins players and coaches. None more memorable than the fun he had with the late Kirby Puckett.
"I've gotten hitting tips from all kinds of guys," Gardenhire said. "Kirby Puckett used to have that big leg kick. He'd get me out on the field before my dad came out, practicing that big leg kick like he did. My dad would throw me BP, and I'd start throwing my leg up. My dad would just laugh."
Ryan Ori can be reached at 686-3208 or rori@pjstar.com.
Edit to add bio & stats...j
