Former Blue Jays third baseman receives incredible honour

The former third baseman and pride of Anola, Manitoba, was announced as the 41st member of the Twins Hall of Fame. Koskie received the news via a phone call with baseball legend Rod Carew.

Koskie spent the first seven seasons of his major league career in the Twin Cities, compiling a .280 batting average with 101 home runs and 437 RBIs. His most productive season came in 2001, when he hit 26 home runs and posted a 6.3 WAR.

In the 2004 offseason, Koskie signed a three-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, marking their marquee free agent signing that year.

However, his time with the Jays marked the beginning of the end for his playing career. Injuries began to take a toll during the 2005 season, limiting Koskie to just 97 games. The following January, after then-general manager J.P. Ricciardi acquired several third basemen, Koskie was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in what was widely viewed as a salary dump.

Unfortunately for Koskie, he suffered a concussion early in the 2006 season, which kept him out for the rest of the year. Although he attempted several comebacks, he eventually announced his early retirement, citing health risks. He was later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), stemming from the fear of further injury.

While he was never an All-Star, Koskie was a quietly effective player throughout his career and arguably had borderline Hall of Fame credentials before injuries cut his career short.

The induction ceremony will take place in August.

For all your current Toronto Blue Jays and MLB baseball news check out BlueJaysCentral.com on Facebook, X and Blue Sky.