Catching up with Twins Fan Favorite, Matt LeCroy

[Theodore Tollefson]

An old friend was back in the Twin Cities this week. Former Twin Matt LeCroy and the Rochester Red Wings cam into town for a six-game series against the St. Paul Saints. Twins Daily's Theodore Tollefson caught up with the fan favorite on his 16th season as a manager in the Washington Nationals system. 

Image courtesy of Gray Wolfe Media, Twins Daily

Twins fans who tuned into the Bally Sports Broadcast Monday night during the second inning were treated to a surprise. Justin Morneau and Cory Provous welcomed former Twins utility man and fan favorite Matthew LeCroy to the broadcast booth for a quick half-inning interview and caught up with him. 

LeCroy was in town for the Rochester Red Wings six-game series against the St. Paul Saints. He has been managing in the Nationals organization since he retired from pro-ball in 2009. With Monday an off-day for all Minor League affiliates, LeCroy took advantage of the time to catch up with old friends for his first-ever visit to Target Field. 

“I thought it was amazing,” LeCroy said about his visit to Target Field. “In 2009 I was managing A-Ball with the Nationals and they (Twins) had an alumni game for the last game of the year in the Metrodome. So they flew me and my wife up to be a part of that and in the process, we went and saw the construction but never really got to see inside.” 

Monday LeCroy entered the Twins' home for the last 14 years and took in all the amenities that have been put into place since his last visit to Minneapolis. LeCroy got the grand ballpark tour and then took the time to catch up with old friends and teammates. 

“They did the in-game interview which I thought was neat for my family because they were watching the game at home. Doing the pre-game radio with Dan to talk about baseball was fun but just to go and see how beautiful the place was. It’s amazing how much different the place was to the Metrodome,” LeCroy said. 

The Metrodome may be gone, but it still holds many fond memories for LeCroy. It was the place where he made his MLB debut in 2000, where he and the 2002 Twins won the American League Central Division and kept the Twins in Minnesota, and also where he got to know and became friends with, his opposing manager in St. Paul, Toby Gardenhire. 

“I used to watch him do catching drills with Rick Stelmaszek at the Metrodome and watching him hit,” said Gardenhire. “You know, he’s awesome, he’s one of the funniest guys ever, and I love Matt LeCroy. We still do Twins Fantasy camps every year together.” 

Upon LeCroy’s return visit to Minnesota, many have taken note that he’s become a doppelganger in appearance and mannerisms to his former manager, Ron Gardenhire. Even Ron’s son. 

“It is funny he does look a lot like my dad in and the way he moves around and everything is very similar. It definitely makes me laugh” said Gardenhire said, with a chuckle.  

“My wife was teasing me last night and she sent a picture of me and him together and says ‘I can’t believe it, you do look like him (Ron) a lot.’ But Toby was a kid around in the clubhouse when I was coming up and he’s got a chance to be like his father. A smart guy, he understands the players, he’s got life and has all the ability to do it if he gets the opportunity in the Major Leagues,” LeCroy said. 

Entering his 16th season managing in the Nationals system, LeCroy has more than a keen eye for what it takes a player or coach to do in order to make it into the Majors. From Stephen Strasburg to Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon to Juan Soto, LeCroy’s seen all the superstars the Nationals organization has produced since moving to the Nation’s capital, aside from Ryan Zimmerman. 

Among all the superstars, LeCroy has also seen the everyday players who never reach stardom and the players who’ve only had a cup of coffee in the Majors and come back down the next day. No matter what caliber of talent these players have had on LeCroy’s rosters, he knows firsthand from his own what is going through their own minds whenever they’re at their highest highs or lowest lows.

“I’ve been through a lot and I’ve logged them in my brain and have shared all my experiences with guys going through similar things. The biggest advice I can give to guys is that you have to be mentally tough because it’s a rollercoaster and you have to stay even keel. And even when you don’t deserve bad things to happen, sometimes it does,” LeCroy said. 

Out of every single player he’s managed these last 16 years, there’s one player who fits this mold LeCroy described that remains in his memory; Sandy León. 

“He was a backup catcher for Derek Norris who was our big prospect at the time, and this guy, he hardly knew any English. But the way he worked, he fought every single day, even though he didn’t have the opportunity to play, and then when he finally got his opportunity he ran with it. I remember the very first time I called him up he got very emotional and he hurdled a bunch of obstacles that were in his way,” said LeCroy.
León made his career out of being a backup catcher but still made his impact with the Boston Red Sox from 2015 to 2019 and went on to win the World Series with them in 2018. He would join the Twins later in his career for a brief stint in 2022 when the team was hit with the injury bug at almost every position. 

There are still former Twins managed by LeCroy to this day such as Travis Blankenhorn, who made his MLB debut with the Twins in the pandemic 2020 season. Blankehorn is off to a hot start with the Red Wings this season, hitting .313 with six home runs and 19 runs batted in. 

“He’s a great manager,” Blankenhorn said. “Obviously second year with him, I’m more used to him now, but like I said. He’s a great manager to play for, very fun, keeps things loose and we go out there and play hard for him every day.” 

As the years have gone on, the fond memories of LeCroy’s time as a Minnesota Twin have never left him. He appreciates how Twins fans remember him and his role with the franchise from their division title runs in the 2000s and how he’s created some of the funniest memories in his teammates' lives. But none are as important to LeCroy as the 2002 Twins who kept the team in Minnesota. 

“To play as well as we did in 2002 with that group of guys, LaTroy [Hawkins] and Brad Radke who came up before us. But to mold it with the younger kids and to see the development of it. For me, to be fortunate enough to be a part of it and be a small piece and to be around those guys, it’s an amazing feeling,” LeCroy said. 

As the Red Wings and Saints wrap up their first of two series this season, LeCroy will be leaving Minnesota with newfound memories of the Metrodome’s successor as well as many friendly reminders of how much Twins Territory still appreciates his roles, big and small, with the franchise. 

View full article

[Whitey333]

Always loved Matthew LeCroy.  One of my favorite Twins ever!

[Shaitan]

Nice story.

Utility man is a stretch...

[Parfigliano]

Saw him hit a HR