MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Twins legends Tony Oliva and Kent Hrbek are recovering after each suffered a stroke in the past month, a team official confirmed Wednesday night.
Oliva, who was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022, is currently receiving medical attention but expects a full recovery after experiencing a series of mini-strokes over the past month.
According to the Star Tribune, Oliva, 86, noticed issues with his speech during a national radio broadcast on Opening Day (March 27).
Shortly after he underwent a routine knee surgery, Hrbek, 64, suffered a stroke on April 8, the same day Oliva was officially diagnosed, according to the Star Tribune. Hrbek is recovering at home and expects to return to Target Field soon, the official said.
Oliva and Hrbek are members of the Twins Hall of Fame and have had their numbers retired by the club. The team also named gates at the ballpark for the former players, who are fixtures at Target Field during the regular season.
A former player and coach, Oliva is a part-time analyst for the team’s Spanish radio broadcast. The Cuban native has made the Twin Cities his full-time home since he debuted with the Twins in 1962.
Hrbek hails from nearby Bloomington, Minn., and helped his favorite boyhood team win World Series titles in 1987 and 1991.
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(Photo of Tony Oliva and Kent Hrbek with Rod Carew in 2023: Bruce Kluckhohn / Imagn Images)