Minnesota Twins Daily Clips

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

 One year later, ByungHo Park settles in as DH for Twins. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 1  What to pay, wear, wager (and more) for Twins' Opening Day. Star Tribune (Sinker) p. 2  Twins' day at camp: Byron Buxton's speed legend continues to grow. Star Tribune (Miller) p. 3  Buddy Boshers, Tommy Field pack up as Twins trim roster. Star Tribune (Neal lll) p. 4  Twins reliever Michael Tonkin polishing a new cutter. Star Tribune (Berardino) p. 4  Chris Gimenez brings leadership, communication skills to Twins. Pioneer Press (Berardino) p. 5  Inbox: Who gets final roster spots? MLB (Bollinger) p. 7  Park homers as Twins blank Rays. MLB (Bollinger & Chastain) p. 8  Twins send Boshers, Field to Minor Leagues. MLB (Bollinger) p. 8  2017 Season Preview. FOX Sports (Chase) p. 9  Minnesota Twins festivities planned for home opener April 3. KARE 11 (Staff) p. 14  Gone but not forgotten: Twins turn page on 103-loss season. Associated Press (Campbell) p. 15  4 Reasons To Be Excited About Twins . CBS Minnesota (Wald) p. 16  Northstar Link to Offer Service to Minnesota Twins Games. KVSC (Staff) p. 17

One year later, ByungHo Park settles in as DH for Twins Phil Miller | Star Tribune | March 29, 2017

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Nothing he saw Tuesday in the Twins’ 1-0 victory over the Rays, Paul Molitor said, will have an impact on the roster decisions still to come this week. If that’s the case, ByungHo Park probably has been safe for awhile.

Park slugged a cut fastball from Tampa Bay righthander Austin Pruitt several rows deep into the seats in right-center at Hammond Field during the seventh inning, providing all the offense Minnesota would need to win for the first time since last Thursday. It was Park’s fifth of the spring, two more than any teammate, and an effective punctuation mark on a solid bounce-back spring.

It also drained any drama out of the battle to be the Twins’ designated hitter. Molitor said roster moves will come Wednesday that will provide “a fair amount of clarity” about the remaining roster competitions, but with Park batting .362 this spring and Kennys Vargas absent for weeks at the World Baseball Classic and now hobbled because of a bruised foot, it’s difficult to imagine Park heading anywhere this weekend but Target Field.

“It’s been fairly consistent all spring,” Molitor said of Park, whose 2016 debut season was ruined by a stubborn slump and an injured hand. “Some of the pressure has been lessened. You can see a little more calmness. The velocity doesn’t seem to get him off his approach too much, like we saw at times last year.”

The Twins couldn’t necessarily have predicted that, given that they exposed him to waivers — any other team could have claimed him — and removed him from the roster shortly before camp opened. Rather than demoralize the proud South Korean slugger, the move might have motivated him, though Park insists that’s not the case.

“I have the same mind-set whether or not the 29 teams are watching me,” he said.

Maybe so. But Park obviously has learned from his disappointing 2016 season, which in retrospect was probably not so surprising.

“He had a lot of attention being paid, not only here, but [in Korea],” Molitor said. “I think his culture is expectation-based, trying to please other people. We got off to a bad start, he was putting pressure on himself, maybe even blaming himself to some degree for his role in that, and it just kind of snowballed the wrong way for him. So clearing his mind, getting his hand fix, and knowing what to expect, there’s a higher level of comfort for him.”

Park feels it, too. More important, he said he’s growing more comfortable with 95-mph fastballs. “It’s more than mechanics; it’s more about the timing of the bat,” Park said through an interpreter.

Park’s home run obscured a subpar day for the Twins’ offense, as illustrated by their 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. But it didn’t matter with — speaking of competitions — Nick Tepesch and Justin Haley shutting out Tampa Bay for a combined seven innings. They seem to be the two likeliest options as a long reliever, and both were effective Tuesday.

Tepesch, a minor league signee, gave up three hits and a walk, but also got the benefit of two double plays. Haley, a Rule 5 pickup from Boston, allowed only two baserunners in his three innings, and one was quickly erased with a double play.

In a preview of a potential alignment during the regular season, Matt Belisle pitched a perfect eighth inning and Brandon Kintzler the ninth as the Twins closed out their third shutout of the spring.

What to pay, wear, wager (and more) for Twins' Opening Day Howard Sinker | Star Tribune | March 28, 2017

The Twins opener is less than a week away -- complete with Opening Day at home for only the second time since they moved into Target Field in 2010. So it feels like the right time to mull over an assortment of things, on and off the field. And stick around until the end because we've posed a question for Twins fans about the opener.

Tickets: On the Twins website, there are about 100 seats available in the 300 level for $25 each plus fees. There are also a couple of hundred standing-room seats on sale at $20 each. (And, as of 8 a.m. Tuesday, there was a single seat in Section 103 down the right field line.) Keep in mind that more seats could be added as the game draws nearer and...

The secondary ticket market: There were about 4,400 tickets available on StubHub on Tuesday morning. You can...

... get into the park for $17.43 and sit at the top of Section 304 down the right-field line. With fees, two tickets in that row would be $48.58.

... sit in a front row Dugout Box for $175.

... treat yourself to two in the Champions Club for $559 each (including food and drink) Of course, you can sit right by the Kramarczuk's sausage stand in Section 210 for $37.75 per ticket.

... At Minneapolis-based Ticket King, you can buy two in the upper deck for $19 each or two Dugout Box seats for $85 each, without fees if you pick them up.

The weather: The forecast currently (an important word) calls for a high of 54, a 40 percent chance pf rain and winds of 5 to 10 miles per hour. It has rained 15 times on the last 30 April 3's and there was .35 inch of snow on that day three years ago. Opening Day veterans know the temperature isn't as important as the wind -- or lack of it.

The food: The Twins are planning their annual reveal of new Target Field foods on Thursday. But we do know, according to Twitter, that there will be cheesecake.

The national anthem: Our favorite Opening Day anthem at Target Field was from the first opener, in 2010 by the Sounds of Blackness. We'll see if that remains the case after Dessa sings the Star Spangled Banner on Monday.

More music: The Twins will honor their first employee, Tom Mee, who was the Twins public relations director for about 30 years, by having his four sons sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame.

Odds: Want to bet on the Twins to win the World Series? Your $100 bet can get you anywhere from $12,500 to $20,000, if you do ... and it happens. Here's a chart. (We absolutely don't recommend this.) The scary thing we found out while looking up those odds is that you can bet on games. Today, the Twins are ... (No, we're not going there.) 2

Betting on : Yes, you can bet on Mauer's 2017 batting average. The betting website Bovada has set .270 as the over/under. You can bet $115 to win $100, regardless of whether you choose over or under. Brian Dozier's home runs? The over/under is 29.5. Here's the full list of MLB prop bets. Again, linkage does not imply endorsement, OK?

You're saying there's a chance? The Twins won their first two home openers (against Boston in 2010 and Oakland in 2011) and have lost all five since by a combined score of 31-12.

Pro tip: Public transportation is a good way to get to Target Field. Metro Transit has ended the 679 express route from Minnetonka to the ballpark, but there are other options.(h/t to commenter dirleton.)

A question for you: Is Opening Day exciting for you, even when you're not excited about the prospects for your favorite team? Answer that one in the comments below, if you want.

Twins' day at camp: Byron Buxton's speed legend continues to grow Phil Miller | Star Tribune | March 28, 2017

FORT MYERS, FLA. – Here’s some advice from Twins manager Paul Molitor: When Byron Buxton puts the ball in play, “don’t watch the ball.”

Buxton gave the Twins a reminder of why on Tuesday, when he stroked a one-hop line drive just to the right of Rays left fielder Mallex Smith in the first inning. Again: Smith moved only a few steps and fielded the ball cleanly on one hop.

Buxton wasn’t happy with a single, though. He took a wide turn at first base and just kept moving. By the time Smith threw the ball to the infield, Buxton was pulling into second base, standing up.

“I told him I wish he’d have slid,” Molitor said. “I prefer a slide [to] trying to stop the freight train.”

Still, just add it to the list of Buxton’s speed lore. “He hit a double last week that we went back and timed on replay — 7.4 [seconds] or something ridiculous like that,” Molitor said. “If you have to [move at an] angle to the ball, he’s got a good chance.”

Buxton batted third again Tuesday, with Brian Dozier and Max Kepler ahead of him, and Joe Mauer and Miguel Sano behind. “I like the way that one plays out,” Molitor said of the lineup, despite the 1-0 final score. “This is definitely an option I would consider, at least the top five.”

Roster clarity coming

The Twins’ slow-motion pruning of their roster continued, with the subtraction of lefthanded reliever Buddy Boshers, who was optioned to Class AAA Rochester, and nonroster utilityman Tommy Field, who was reassigned to minor league camp.

Boshers, who appeared in 37 games for the Twins last year, allowed runs in only one of his first seven appearances of the spring and seemed a plausible candidate as a lefty specialist. But nine runs allowed over his last 2⅔ innings unraveled those hopes, and the job went to Craig Breslow.

The cuts bring the Twins’ roster to 36 (since Matt Hague, Ben Paulsen and Bengie Gonzalez already have been told they will be sent to Rochester), only six days before Opening Day. Roster moves will come Wednesday that will bring “clarity,” Molitor said, presumably including naming a fifth starter, a backup catcher and infielder, and the final two spots in the bullpen.

Timely recovery

Robbie Grossman went 0-for-4 in a minor league game, but the results weren’t what mattered. Grossman showed no effects of the groin strain that has been bothering him and played the field without incident.

Grossman will play six innings Wednesday, and appears certain to head north as the fourth outfielder.

Young Gardy to Rochester

Toby Gardenhire has been promoted to the coaching staff at Class AAA Rochester, where he will coach third base and pitch plenty of batting practice. Those were tasks usually handled by manager Mike Quade, but a car accident last month necessitated shoulder surgery that has his right arm in a sling. The son of former Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, hired to coach rookies in the Gulf Coast League, will remain with 3

Rochester at least until June.

Up next

Ervin Santana and Rick Porcello, the Opening Day starters for the Twins and Red Sox, will make their final tuneup starts Wednesday at JetBlue Park.

Buddy Boshers, Tommy Field pack up as Twins trim roster La Velle E. Neal lll | Star Tribune | March 28, 2017

Great music selection this morning, as Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughn tunes swept through the clubhouse. Fitting, perhaps, as some players were headed out the door. They might have the blues.

Infielder Tommy Field has been assigned to minor league camp and lefthander Buddy Boshers (pictured) has been sent to AAA Rochester, bringing the roster to 36.

We should learn of other moves in the next few hours.

Robbie Grossman will play three innings in a minor league game today. He will bat leadoff every inning as he proves that his sore groin muscle has healed.

Nick Tepesch will start for the Twins, but my prediction is that he will be told after the game that he will begin the season in the bullpen, and lefthander Aldalberto Mejia will be named the No. 5 starter.

Twins reliever Michael Tonkin polishing a new cutter Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | March 28, 2017

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Out of options and battling to keep his spot in the Twins’ revamped bullpen, Michael Tonkin may have come up with an extra weapon just in time.

Since debuting a 90-mph cutter on March 13 against the , the 27-year-old right-hander has posted a 3.00 earned-run average in his past six outings. Prior to that, he had allowed five earned runs in four spring innings, including three walks and a home run, so it was time to try something new.

“I’ve always kind of messed around with it, but as soon as I got to full speed it was either nothing or too much,” Tonkin said of the cutter. “This spring it started feeling good. I threw it on flat ground, and it was doing what I wanted it to do when I threw it in the bullpen. Finally, I was like, ‘Screw it. I’m going to throw it today.’ I threw a few that day, and they were pretty good.”

Tonkin’s four-seam fastball still hits 95-96 mph and he got a pair of weak grounders Monday night at the on 93-mph sinkers. Throw in a 90-mph cutter to go with an 83-mph slider, and hitters suddenly have four pitches to consider when Tonkin enters the game.

“Honestly the cutter has pretty similar movement to my slider, but it’s 7-mph harder and it’s got a little depth to it,” he said. “I think I’ve yet to throw one that’s been a called strike. It’s either a ball or a swing, but it’s not a pitch I’m using to get ahead in the count. It’s just another weapon.”

Tonkin, who made 65 of his 125 career big-league appearances last season, has been getting a “lot of takes” with the cutter so far, which he threw just once (for a ball) on Monday.

“Even if they take it for a ball, it kind of sets up the next pitch,” Tonkin said. “Hopefully it works out for me.”

PARK HOMERS AGAIN

ByungHo Park took a cutter out to the opposite field on Tuesday for his team-leading fifth home run this spring, solidifying his case to repeat as the Twins’ Opening Day designated hitter.

Park, hitting .362 with a combined on-base/slugging percentage of 1.149 in 47 spring at-bats, is a near certainty to be restored to the 40-man 4 roster after clearing waivers and being outrighted on Feb. 9. Did it bother the South Korean slugger that 29 other clubs passed on him at that point as he came off August 2016 surgery on his right hand?

“Not at all; it was nothing,” Park said through a translator. “It was the same mind-set whether or not the other 29 teams were trying to watch me and pick me up. I was only focused on what I had, what I can show to fans of this team and to make the (team) win and to (play) my game this season.”

BRESLOW BONUSES

Veteran reliever Craig Breslow, added to the 40-man roster last week, could earn up to $2.3 million this season if he hits all his potential bonuses this season.

According to a person with direct knowledge, the 36-year-old left-hander would earn bonuses of $150,000 at each of seven different appearance levels: 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65 and 70 games.

Those would come in addition to a base salary of $1.25 million after posting a 1.00 ERA in nine spring outings. Signed on Feb. 8 to a minor- league deal, Breslow walked eight and struck out eight in nine innings after revamping his arm slot this offseason.

Breslow was released twice last summer, but he made 45 appearances for the Red Sox in 2015 after averaging 67 appearances in the majors from 2009-2014.

BRIEFLY

— Outfielder Robbie Grossman, out since March 19 with a strained groin, went 0 for 4 in a Triple-A game and reported no issues. He played three innings in the field and is slated to start Wednesday in a Grapefruit League game at the Boston Red Sox.

— Four Twins right-handers combined on a five-hit shutout of the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday. Nick Tepesch and Justin Haley handled the first seven innings as they made their closing argument for one of the two remaining jobs in the big-league bullpen. Haley, a Rule 5 draft pick, must be carried all year on the big-league roster or offered back to the Red Sox for $50,000 if a deal can’t be worked out to stash him at Triple-A Rochester.

— The Twins held off announcing their fifth starter and other key roster moves but manager Paul Molitor said he expected “a fair amount of clarity” by Wednesday with Opening Day on April 3.

— The Twins officially confirmed their starting for the season-opening home series against the Kansas City Royals as Ervin Santana, Hector Santiago and Kyle Gibson, in that order. Phil Hughes will start the road opener in Chicago on April 7.

— Lefty reliever Buddy Boshers was optioned to Triple-A Rochester, and utility man Tommy Field was reassigned to minor-league camp on Tuesday morning. Boshers, who made 37 outings in the majors for the Twins last year, struggled to a 10.61 earned-run average in 10 spring outings, giving up four home runs in 9 1/3 innings. Field, 30, hit just .170 in 47 at-bats but also slugged three homers and showed more power potential than expected.

Chris Gimenez brings leadership, communication skills to Twins Mike Berardino | Pioneer Press | March 28, 2017

FORT MYERS, Fla. — If Chris Gimenez makes the Twins’ Opening Day roster as expected, the biggest challenge might be getting his 5-year-old son to change caps.

Jace Gimenez is a fan.

“He’s been a Cubs fan for three years,” said his father, a veteran catcher making a strong bid to break camp with the Twins. “He just likes the bear, the colors of the team, whatever. That’s his favorite team.”

This was an innocent attraction while his father was bouncing multiple times between the and the over the past three seasons. Then came last October, when the Cubs reached their first World Series since 1945 and found Gimenez’s Indians waiting as their opponent.

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At that point, Gimenez had to administer some tough love.

“I could respect the Cubs being his favorite team until last year, when it kind of really mattered,” Gimenez said. “Then it was like, ‘Yeah, buddy, we’re not going to wear our Cubs hat to the World Series today,’ and he would get upset.”

With wife Kellie Gimenez, also a former scholarship athlete who played volleyball at the University of Nevada, dressing their young sons (Jaxon is 2) to sit in the family section at the Indians’ first World Series in 19 years, it fell to Jace’s dad to get a little sneaky.

“I wouldn’t let him wear that Cubs hat, so I hid it from him,” said Gimenez, who also has a newborn daughter named Joelle. “I didn’t feel like catching crap for it.”

Next came an epic World Series, decided in extra innings in Game 7 as the Cubs ended a 108-year championship drought. Gimenez, who was taken off the postseason roster after the first round but helped with preparations behind the scenes, had to deal with the added indignity of his own son rubbing it in.

“He was very excited,” Gimenez said. “He kept telling me, ‘Daddy, the Cubs won!’ I’d say, ‘I know, bud. I know.’ “

It should help that the Twins have a cuddly mascot of their own in T.C. Bear, but this conversion process might take awhile.

“Every time he sees baseball on TV, Jace says, ‘Did the Cubs play?’ ” said Gimenez, 34. “He watches MLB Network, and he watches the scores on the bottom line. He knows everything. He knows the game already, which is cool.”

Signed to a minor-league deal in mid-January, it didn’t take Gimenez long to make his presence felt in the Twins’ clubhouse and throughout their pitching staff. His veteran’s intuition is well-developed across a 14-year pro career that began as a 19th-round draft pick in 2004 and has taken him through stops in Seattle and Tampa Bay as well as his ping-ponging between the Indians and Rangers, former homes of Twins executives Derek Falvey and Thad Levine.

“It’s very fluid and easy for him,” said Twins right-hander Trevor May, who threw to Gimenez a few times before requiring season-ending Tommy John surgery. “You can tell when he comes out to the mound, he’s trying things he’s tried with other guys. It’s like he’s got a playbook of stuff, and he just tries out what worked with other pitchers and then he remembers.”

Outgoing and personable, Gimenez keeps the running dialogue going between innings in the dugout.

“I like him a lot behind the plate,” said Tyler Duffey, another Twins starting . “You throw a pitch, even in the ‘pen, and he lets you know. He reinforces that you threw a good one or ‘Stay here with that.’ He’s really good with that. I’m not a big rah-rah guy, but I like to know when something is good or bad. I’ve enjoyed throwing to him.”

Andrew Miller, the Indians’ dominant lefty reliever, didn’t need much exposure to Gimenez after being traded last summer to become a big believer as well.

“He’s a great guy, and he cares a lot,” Miller said. “I think as a pitcher, that’s the No. 1 thing you want out of a catcher. There are certainly guys that are more talented than others, there are guys that are better hitters than others and have better arms, but the guy that cares and the guy that really wants to fight with you on the mound to get through is the guy you want on your side.”

Gimenez has been part of two straight division winners and he was highly valued by such former managers as Joe Maddon, Eric Wedge, Manny Acta and Ron Washington. Twins manager Paul Molitor has been impressed with Gimenez’s contributions as well this spring.

“He knows how things work,” Miller said. “He’s been part of teams that have gone a long way. I think there’s something to being around that. You see how those teams prepare and what their attitude is and what their mentality is. He’s going to bring that and have that carry over to some of the younger guys that maybe don’t have those experiences.”

First, however, a meeting will have to be arranged between Jace Gimenez and T.C. Bear.

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Inbox: Who gets final roster spots? Rhett Bollinger | MLB | March 28, 2017

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- With Opening Day less than a week away, the Twins' roster is starting to take shape.

There are still questions about the last few roster spots, specifically the fifth starter, the final two spots in the bullpen and the backup catcher role. Otherwise, injuries to players such as Kennys Vargas and Ehire Adrianza have offered clarity, essentially meaning ByungHo Park, Eduardo Escobar and Danny Santana are expected to head north.

But other questions remain about this roster, and with that in mind, here's the final Inbox of the spring heading into Opening Day on April 3 against the Royals at Target Field:

@TwinsFan07 @RhettBollinger has Jimenez won the backup catching job?

The competition is still not over, but it does appear that Chris Gimenez is the favorite to be the backup catcher over . The new Twins front office is familiar with Gimenez from his time with the Rangers and Indians, and they value his leadership and ability behind the plate. Plus, he hits lefties well, which makes him a good pairing with the left-handed hitting Jason Castro.

The Twins still like Murphy, who is on the 40-man roster unlike Gimenez, but he's had trouble offensively since being acquired from the Yankees. The issue is what the Twins will do with their 40-man roster to make room for Gimenez, which leads to the next question.

@markJosefson @RhettBollinger who gets taken off 40 man. For park

Park seems like a lock to make the roster, and an easy way to get him on the 40-man roster is to put closer Glen Perkins on the 60-day disabled list, as Perkins still has a ways to go coming back from his labrum surgery. But if Gimenez is added, too, the Twins will have to remove someone, and they're still discussing that internally.

It essentially depends on the back of the bullpen with players such as Rule 5 pick Justin Haley and right-hander Michael Tonkin, who is out of options. If either doesn't make the team, they would be removed from the 40-man. But if they both make it, they'd have to designate a player for assignment. Buddy Boshers could be a candidate, as he's struggled this spring, but did have a surprisingly solid year last season.

@CollinBoekhoff @RhettBollinger Who is the first prospect in the minors right now to make an impact this year?

Jose Berrios was sent down because he couldn't get stretched out in time for the start of the season after being used sparingly in the World Baseball Classic, but he still has elite stuff and simply needs to put it together with better command. His electric inning against Team USA with three showcased his ability and why the Twins are still high on him despite a rookie season that saw him post an unsightly 8.02 ERA. He's likely to be the first starter called up if anything happens to anyone in the rotation.

@RhettBollinger are the Twins concerned at all with Sano's spring?

Miguel Sano changed his mechanics slightly at the plate, bringing his hands lower and closer to his body, but has still had trouble making contact this spring, striking out 20 times in 41 at-bats. Strikeouts remain his biggest issue, as he's struck 297 times in 830 career plate appearances.

The Twins, though, aren't panicking just yet, as it's only Spring Training, and he still possesses incredible power. His defense has been mostly adequate at third this spring, as he's surprisingly athletic and has a strong arm, but still has occasional issues with routine plays.

@RhettBollinger The Twins had contrasting 1sr qtrs in 15 & 16 but play the latter 3/4 of both around 500. I think we're really close. Agree?

That's certainly the hope for the Twins, as they're looking for a year like 2015, when they contended until the last weekend of the season and finished with a winning record. But much of it'll depend on how the young players fare and if the rotation can be competent. Despite losing 103 games last year, the clubhouse remains upbeat and positive, but now they'll have to prove it over 162 games.

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Park homers as Twins blank Rays Rhett Bollinger & Bill Chastain | MLB | March 28, 2017

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Rays ace Chris Archer, in his final tune-up before his Opening Day start against the Yankees on Sunday, tossed three scoreless innings against the Twins, but ByungHo Park homered in the seventh to lift Minnesota to a 1-0 win on Tuesday at Hammond Stadium.

Archer allowed one hit, a double that speedster Byron Buxton legged out on a routine hit to left in the first inning, and walked one with four strikeouts. He finishes Grapefruit League play with a 1.98 ERA.

"I felt really good, felt really good," said Archer of Tuesday's outing, which capped a nice spring. "I came in with a couple of goals, and I think I've achieved those goals. And I'm looking forward to April 2 [for Opening Day] and kicking this thing off right."

Park crushed his team-leading fifth homer of the year to right-center off Rays right-hander Austin Pruitt. Park is essentially a lock to be Minnesota's Opening Day designated hitter, but needs to be added to the 40-man roster.

"It's less of a mechanical thing than a timing thing with the bat," Park said through a translator of his success this spring. "My timing has been great at the plate. It's worked out really well for me."

Right-hander Nick Tepesch was also solid for the Twins, throwing four scoreless innings, scattering three hits and a walk. Tepesch, who is expected to give the Twins depth at Triple-A Rochester, had a 4.41 ERA this spring.

Twins Rule 5 Draft pick Justin Haley, competing for a spot in the bullpen as a Rule 5 pick, threw three scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 4.96. Twins first baseman Joe Mauer turned two double plays, as twice the Rays hit a hard line drive to him with a runner at first to end the inning. Mauer also doubled in the fourth but was stranded at second.

Rays reliever Danny Farquhar threw a scoreless fourth, while right-hander Chase Whitley tossed two scoreless frames. Rays Up Next: The Rays will host the Orioles Wednesday afternoon in a 1:05 p.m. ET contest at Charlotte Sports Park. Erasmo Ramirez will start for the Rays. Also scheduled to see work are Xavier Cedeno, Alex Colome, Jaime Schultz, Tommy Hunter, and Jumbo Diaz. Watch for Schultz, who is a bullpen hopeful. He is a swing-and-miss pitcher with a 97-mph fastball.

Twins Up Next: Right-hander Ervin Santana, who will start for the Twins on Opening Day against the Royals, makes his final start of the spring on Wednesday against the Red Sox at JetBlue Park at 12:05 p.m. CT. Closer Brandon Kintzler, Taylor Rogers and Matt Belisle are also scheduled to pitch.

Twins send Boshers, Field to Minor Leagues Rhett Bollinger | MLB | March 28, 2017

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Twins continued to trim their roster Tuesday, optioning left-hander Buddy Boshers to Triple-A Rochester and reassigning infielder Tommy Field to Minor League camp.

The moves leave 39 players in camp, although infielders Ben Paulsen, Bengie Gonzalez and Matt Hague were told they will open the year at Triple-A Rochester. Minnesota also has injured players such as closer Glen Perkins and left-hander Ryan O'Rourke who will open the year on the 10-day disabled list. Infielder Ehire Adrianza, who is out with a right oblique strain, is also a candidate for the DL.

Boshers, who was competing to be a lefty out of the bullpen, struggled this spring, posting a 10.61 ERA in 9 1/3 innings, including allowing four homers. But he was better last year in 36 innings with the Twins, carrying a 4.25 ERA with 37 strikeouts and seven walks.

"He helped us at times last year, there's no question," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "We saw some of the things he needs to improve upon this camp. Pitching from behind and some improvement with the running game. Consistency, that's what we're looking for."

Field, a non-roster invitee, showed power with three homers, but he batted .170 overall in 47 at-bats. He showed strong defense in the infield, and he will give the Twins depth at Triple-A.

While the Twins only made two moves on Tuesday, Molitor said he expects several more on Wednesday, as they could even decide their 25- man roster. He's scheduled to meet with chief baseball officer Derek Falvey and general manager Thad Levine on Tuesday night to hash out the roster.

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The Twins still need to name their fifth starter between Adalberto Mejia and Tyler Duffey, which could affect their bullpen, with Duffey a candidate to relieve if Mejia wins the job. They've also yet to formally announce ByungHo Park has won the competition at designated hitter over Kennys Vargas, who has been out with a bruised left foot. It's a formality at this point, as Park needs to be added to the 40-man roster. Park hit a solo homer in Tuesday's 1-0 win over the Rays.

Chris Gimenez also is the favorite at backup catcher over John Ryan Murphy, but like Park, needs to be added to the 40-man. The last two spots in the bullpen also have to be decided with candidates including Rule 5 pick Justin Haley, Michael Tonkin, non-roster invitee Alex Wimmers and potentially Duffey.

Haley tossed three shutout innings Tuesday against the Rays.

One positive development is outfielder Robbie Grossman, out since March 19 with a strained right groin, played three innings without any issues in a Minor League game on Tuesday, and is expected to be ready for the start of the season.

"I'm not overly concerned we've had to figure out things late," Molitor said. "If it were clean and more cut and dry, people would find out sooner. But this one has had to linger for a few different reasons. I think there will be a fair amount of clarity tomorrow."

Minnesota Twins 2017 Season Preview Benjamin Chase | FOX Sports | March 28, 2017

After a run at the Wild Card in 2015, the Minnesota Twins collapsed in 2016 to the point of the worst record in baseball. Is there a bounce-back in store in 2017?

The Minnesota Twins had an impressive run in 2015 with a youthful lineup and consistent pitching that led to a run at the playoffs.

In 2016, they opened the season by competing with the Atlanta Braves for the last team in the majors to win a game (they finally won in their 10th game, opening 0-9), finishing the year with 103 losses, their most in the history of the franchise in Minnesota (the Senators had three worse seasons from 1901-1960 before the franchise moved from Washington).

In fact, the only other time the Twins even lost 100 or more games since moving to Minnesota was in 1982. Though no one exactly WANTS to lose 100 games, listen to the young players on that Twins team – Tim Laudner at catcher, Kent Hrbek at first base, Gary Gaetti at third base, and Tom Brunansky in right field with lefty Frank Viola taking his first turns on the mound. The Twins also happened to draft a future Hall of Fame center fielder in 1982 named Kirby Puckett, so that 1982 season offered plenty of promise for a team that would win the World Series just five years later.

Whether the 2016 Twins have the same type of core is up for debate, but there are certainly the young offensive pieces to build a future contender. It’s the pitching where the Twins struggled mightily in 2016 – pitching and defense, that is.

The Twins pitching staff as a whole was the third worst per Fangraphs WAR produced by the staff in 2016. That, however, was one spot better than their defense fared, ranking second-to-last in team defensive runs saved, having given the opposition 45 runs on the season, according to Fangraphs’ tallies.

So how can the Twins change their fortunes in 2017?

We’ll take a look over the next few pages:

We’ll take a look at the team’s 2016-2017 offseason moves, both the key losses and key additions.

Then we’ll take a look at the team’s lineup and bench, followed by the rotation and bullpen.

We’ll follow that up with a run through of the people in charge of the team in the management, coaching and front office roles.

Finally, you’ll get a prediction of what we at Call to the Pen see as the Twins’ 2017 chances.

Let’s kick it off with the offseason moves…

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Key Offseason Additions

Probably the largest offseason signing was catcher Jason Castro. While not a “sexy” signing, Castro is well-regarded defensively, and he should provide the Twins pitching with the leadership they sorely missed last season.

For roughly the cost of one season of Castro, the Twins signed two veteran relievers to help shore up what was a rough bullpen in 2016, primarily due to issues with depth. Matt Belisle and Craig Breslow may not be guys who strike fear in opposing offenses, but they will likely not hurt the Twins either.

Scanning the waiver wire this winter, the Twins feel that they found a gem in utility infielder Ehire Adrianza. Adrianza offers defensive flexibility, though he doesn’t offer a ton with the bat.

The Twins did some wheeling and dealing in December’s Rule 5 draft to bring in righty Justin Haley, who was in the Boston Red Sox organization in 2016. He was selected by the Angels in the Rule 5, who then traded him to the Padres, and the Padres turned around and traded him to the Twins for the Twins pick, Miguel Diaz.

Haley is a guy who has started his entire minor league career with a cross-fire delivery, throwing across his body with a fastball in the low-90s along with a change and curve. He’s a guy who would play well in a long man role, which made him an ideal Rule 5 guy.

Key Offseason Losses

When the Twins signed catcher Kurt Suzuki to a three-year deal in the 2013-2014 offseason, they thought they had a solid starter locked up while they developed a future backstop.

After a solid first year under contract, Suzuki fell off offensively and defensively and the Twins did not bring him back this offseason, and he signed as the backup catcher in Atlanta.

At 30 years old, Trevor Plouffe has been part of the Twins organization for 12 seasons after being the 20th overall selection in the 2004 draft out of high school. It was a rather bitter pill for Plouffe to take when he was told by the new Twins brass of their intent to waive him via a voice mail.

Plouffe has found his way to Oakland and is likely to hold down their third base position this season after averaging 23 home runs and 34 doubles per 162 games over the last five seasons.

At the trade deadline last season, the Twins acquired reliever Pat Light from the Boston Red Sox for lefty Fernando Abad. The new Twins regime was not as impressed by Light, trading him away this offseason to the Pittsburgh Pirates for a player to be named or cash.

Let’s take a look at the position players of note for 2017…

Everyday Lineup

While Castro could even be an offensive downgrade from Suzuki, his excellent defensive work should be a huge upgrade, especially as the Twins intend to bring up some young pitching over the next two years and want to have a solid backstop to work with them.

Hometown hero Joe Mauer moved off of catcher after the 2013 season, one of his best offensive seasons that was once again limited due to both his catching schedule and injuries he received at the position. His offense has declined dramatically since that season.

The Minnesota Twins currently have Mauer under contract through 2018 at $23M per season, and when that contract is up after 2018, it’s likely he will be jettisoned as part of the way to open up what is becoming a glut of 1B/DH types in the major and minor leagues in the Twins system.

It may be a surprise that we’re finally discussing Brian Dozier on this page, and not in the “offseason losses” portion of the preview. After by far his best offensive season, when a ridiculous second half fueled a 42-homer season, Dozier was heavily shopped this season by the Twins, who had lengthy conversations with the Dodgers before breaking off.

Dozier is still under contract with the Minnesota Twins through 2018 for $6M this season and $9M in 2018, which would be a very attractive contract to move at the deadline if the Twins still have that desire and he’s still producing.

After a failed experiment in the outfield, Miguel Sano was really forced to third base. To his credit, he’s shown hard work over the offseason to 10 be ready to handle the position in 2017.

Sano struggled to keep up the level of production he showed in his short season of 2015 into the 2016 season, but his power is unquestioned, and he should be a 30 home run hitter with a full season of at bats.

Shortstop has been an absolute mess in the Twins organization for a number of years. Jorge Polanco may not set the world on fire, but he provides the best combination of glove and bat of any option the Twins currently have.

If the highlight didn’t include a member of their infield, it seemed highlights of the Puerto Rico team from the WBC featured Eddie Rosario doing something positive, whether it was making a big defensive play in the outfield or providing an offensive spark.

It may feel like Minnesota Twins fans have been waiting on Byron Buxton forever, but he is only 22 years old. He struggled mightily to open the 2016 season before going down to the AAA level. When he returned in September, he did so with a vengeance, hitting .287/.357/.653 with 9 home runs in that final month of the season.

Buxton already provides elite defense and speed, and if the power potential he’s always had can manifest even to a 15-20 home run guy over a full season, the Twins could live with a lesser batting average.

German-born Max Kepler has seemingly been the “afterthought” prospect behind Buxton and Sano over his minor league career, but he’s been no slouch by any means.

In 2016, Kepler established just that at the major league level. He hit 17 home runs, flashed impressive athleticism offensively and defensively, and showed off a big time arm in the outfield.

The trio of Rosario, Buxton, and Kepler in the outfield could give the Twins one of the better defensive outfields in the league, which could significantly impact the team as their infield defense was notoriously bad in 2016.

Byung Ho Park had a poor introduction to the American game, but not in the way most thought. Many figured he’d struggle to produce power at a level even half of his Korean output, but figured his contact ability would allow him to be useful.

Instead, Park showed very solid power, smacking 12 home runs in just 62 major league games, but he simply was swinging for the fence every time, and the ball found way too many weak spots in his swing, leading to a .191 batting average.

He’s shown very well this spring, however, and the Twins hope the work he did in shortening his two-strike approach can help him to be an impact power bat in the middle of their lineup as he’s likely beaten out Kennys Vargas for the DH role.

Bench

With the looming influx of the Rosario/Buxton/Kepler outfield, the Minnesota Twins shipped outfielder Aaron Hicks to the Yankees last offseason for catcher John Ryan Murphy. Murphy didn’t get much time in the majors in 2016, but the Twins hope he can be the defensive backup to emphasize the point of Castro in the starting role.

Beyond Murphy, the bench will likely be made up of which three out-of-options players impress the most this spring and/or can clear waivers.

Currently, the utility man position will be determined between Eduardo Escobar and Danny Santana. Escobar offers the better glove, especially around the infield and more consistent bat while Santana has more experience in the outfield and has more upside with the bat, as evidenced by his impressive 2014 season.

Ehire Adrianza also enters the mix as a defensive-minded infielder, though his experience in the outfield is limited.

Among guys who are more outfield-only, Robbie Grossman and J.B. Shuck are the guys who are out of options in camp. Grossman would seem to have the leg up as he has experience in center field. However, the Twins could decide to keep neither and go with all three of Escobar, Santana, and Adrianza.

There are three guys that I heard great things about in Twins camp that will end up in the minors simply because they have options but could see big league time this year.

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Mitch Garver may just be the guy the Twins have been hoping to develop at catcher. He’s savvy behind the plate, not electric defensively, but consistent and rarely makes a mistake, handling pitchers well, and he offers a solid bat as well.

Outfielders Zach Granite and Daniel Palka both made positive impressions for different reasons. Granite is the prototype center field/speed guy who offers elite defense and speed and could be an ideal 4th outfield type to back up all three outfield positions.

Palka has really blossomed in the last two seasons as a hitter, and he shot up the Twins system after being acquired for catcher Chris Herrmann from the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2015-2016 offseason.

Palka is a corner outfield/first base guy primarily, but his power is incredibly impressive from the left side, and he’s improved his ability to take a walk as well. He could be in the mix for the DH role if Park struggles out of the gate and he comes out on fire in AAA.

Now, let’s turn to the pitching…

Starting Rotation

At the front of the Twins rotation, Ervin Santana is perhaps not what one would consider an “ace”, but he’s steady, a guy who will tally innings every season with effective performance.

He’s signed for two more seasons and an option at a reasonable rate for his production level, so he’s been rumored as a trade candidate, but he could also be a solid staff leader for what will likely be a young staff during that time.

When the Twins acquired Hector Santiago from the Angels last July, many felt the deal was wise simply to get Ricky Nolasco out of Minnesota, a bad fit from day one. With Santiago having just one more year on his contract, he seemed an easy trade candidate at the deadline this season as well.

However, those who saw Santiago pitch in the WBC saw what the Twins did at the end of the season, a pitcher with more to offer than had previously been seen. Santiago has been up and down in his career, but the four-stretch start they saw from August 29 through September 15 showed just how good Santiago can be.

If you scanned fantasy websites before 2016, a very common fantasy sleeper was Twins starter Kyle Gibson. Gibson has tantalized with stuff just on the edge of a #2/#3 starter for multiple seasons and looked after 2015 like he was ready to take that step.

However, after an injury left his 2016 a major mess that ended up a step back, Gibson is now considered a placeholder in the rotation until a younger guy takes his spot. While cheap now, Gibson entered arbitration this offseason for the first time, and he could price himself out of Minnesota Twins plans with his performance in 2017.

Very possibly, the worst decision of the Terry Ryan era as GM of the Minnesota Twins was overreacting to Phil Hughes‘ 2014 season with a $58M extension that has been a mistake since it was signed. Hughes is signed through 2019 at prices that could be quite untradeable at his performance over the 2015-2016 seasons.

Competing for the 5th spot in the rotation this spring, Adalberto Mejia has taken the lead in the competition over Jose Berrios and Tyler Duffey. Mejia is not likely to be a guy who is a front-line starter down the road, but he has consistent stuff that would play well in a back-end role in a rotation.

Berrios will be an interesting consideration as he’s going to be going to AAA to open the season, but the Twins have stated that this was due to him not getting enough innings on his arm this spring while with the WBC. He will be up quickly, however, if Mejia struggles or there is any injury in the rotation.

The Minnesota Twins have been building up a stable of young starters, and currently, they have Stephen Gonsalves, Tyler Jay, and Fernando Romero that are all receiving some level of top-100 notice in prospect lists with Gonsalves and Jay both being left-handed and having pitched in AA giving them a leg up on a possible rotation spot if the team were to sell off starters at the deadline.

Romero returned from injury last year and produced like the ace that the Twins have been hoping to develop for years in their rotation and he’ll likely end up in the upper minors this season.

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Bullpen

When he was needed in 2016, Brandon Kintzler stepped up into the role of closer and showed very well keeping the ball on the ground in that role. While not dominant, he is consistent in the bullpen and can hold the role.

Minnesota native Glen Perkins has been through a rough 18 months. After trying to pitch through a shoulder issue at the end of 2015, he couldn’t make a go of it in 2016, leading to a very emotional letter to the fans when he underwent surgery.

Perkins has been making progress this spring and should return this year. Whether he will take over his role as closer again or simply return to the role of reliever is another question, and with an option for 2018 the only future obligation the team has, Perkins could be on his way out soon.

In the middle of the bullpen, the Minnesota Twins have a trio of veterans that may not overwhelm or overpower opponents, but Ryan Pressly, Matt Belisle, and Craig Breslow should be very solid.

Taylor Rogers and Michael Tonkin will serve in the bullpen as well, though Tonkin may have a role as much due to his lack of options than earning his role.

Rule 5 pick Justin Haley fills out the end of the bullpen as the long man.

In the minors, the Twins do have a group of power arms ready and waiting in Buddy Boshers, J.T. Chargois, Alex Wimmers, Jake Reed, and Nick Burdi that could begin impacting the bullpen as soon as midseason.

Now onto the guys calling the shots…

Manager

It’s certainly been a roller coaster ride in his first two seasons for Minnesota native Paul Molitor in his first two seasons as manager for his hometown Minnesota Twins.

Molitor graduated from the same high school as Joe Mauer and attended the University of Minnesota before playing a Hall of Fame career in the major leagues, a career that ended with three seasons with the Twins as a player where he picked up his 3,000th hit.

Molitor finished third in the American League manager of the year voting in 2015 after winning 83 games, but after losing 59 games, there were some who were curious if he’d have a job with a new regime in Minnesota, but while his contract was not extended beyond this season (the last year of the deal), the new regime kept Molitor on board.

Coaching Staff

Pitching coach Neil Allen is in his fourth season as the Twins pitching coach after an 11-year pitching career in the major leagues as a reliever. He’s received plenty of notice for his work with young pitchers and had been the pitching coach of the Futures Game in 2013 when he was still a minor league pitching coach.

James Rowson is in his first year as the hitting coach in Minnesota, though he’s been a coach at the professional level for 16 seasons. He has long-time Twins coach Rudy Hernandez as his assistant hitting coach, a position he’s held for two previous seasons.

The most fun coach may just be former Minnesota Twins reliever Eddie Guardado, the bullpen coach. Guardado has been noted for his fan interaction in the spring and in the bullpen as this marks his third season as the Twins’ bullpen coach.

Front Office

Front office change has been mentioned a few times here, and it is a significant part of the 2017 preview for the Twins.

General Manager Terry Ryan resigned in midseason 2016, leaving his assistant Rob Antony to run the team for the rest of the season as interim.

The Cleveland Indians have been a front office talent machine recently, churning out front office personnel for other teams at a high rate, and the Twins tapped into that market, naming Derek Falvey as their Chief Baseball Officer and Executive Vice President along with Thad Levine as 13 the General Manager.

While Falvey comes from the Indians organization, Levine comes from the Texas Rangers organization and has been in since 1998 with the and as well as the Rangers.

2017 Prediction

Now comes the fun part…

Baseball Prospectus’ Pecota projection system foresees the Twins finishing third in the NL Central with a 78-84 record, which would place them 14 games behind division winner Cleveland, but just seven games out of the second wild card spot, per their projections.

Fangraphs’ Steamer projection system sees the Twins finishing with the seventh-worst record in the league at 75-87.

The most recent Westgate odds from Las Vegas have the Twins tied for the fourth-worst shot to win the World Series at 100-1.

In other words, not another 100-loss season, but probably not 100 wins either. So where in there would things fall?

The Twins outfield will absolutely be fun to watch in 2017 with Buxton, Kepler, and Rosario all guys that fantasy owners and pure baseball fans alike can appreciate.

There should also be plenty of interest in Minneapolis as the July trade deadline nears as the Twins do have plenty of excellent pieces that could have value to a contending club that could fetch pieces a rebuilding club will want.

The big event for Minnesota Twins fans, perhaps unfortunately, will be the Major League Baseball draft in June, when the Twins have not only the first pick, but also the 35th and 37th selection, giving them an opportunity to truly grab a collection of talent into their organization early in the draft.

The prediction here is for the Twins to win 77 games, finishing the year third in their division as one of either the Tigers or Royals falls off hard in the second half and the Twins play steady ball and bump ahead of them by season’s end.

That’s not a huge season, but it would also represent an 18-game improvement over 2016!

As a look back at the 2016 season shows, there were not a ton of highlights, but one of the most exciting was seeing the dynamic speed of the team’s hopeful future superstar on this play, recorded as the fastest home-to-home time in the league in 2016:

[Video]

Minnesota Twins festivities planned for home opener April 3 Staff | KARE 11 | March 29, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota Twins home opener is April 3 at 3:10 p.m. against the Kansas City Royals at Target Field.

Former Twins coach Rick Stelmaszek will be on hand to throw the ceremonial first pitch.

The first 30,000 fans at the game will receive a blue Twins long sleeve hooded tee (size M/XL). Gates open at 1 p.m.

The festivities begin early in the day. From 6 to 9 a.m. there will be 'Breakfast on the Plaza.' Fans are invited to drive down 7th Street and grab a free ballpark breakfast.

The National Anthem will be performed by Dessa with a Brass Quintet from the Minnesota Orchestra. There will be a flyover featuring four F- 16s from the Duluth-based 148th Fighter Wing of the Minnesota Air National Guard.

There are some tickets still left for the game. You can use MLB.com's Ballpark app, order at twinsbaseball.com, or call 612-33 TWINS (612-338- 9467) or 800-33-TWINS (800-338-9467). You can also purchase tickets in person at the Target Field Box Office.

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Gone but not forgotten: Twins turn page on 103-loss season Dave Campbell | Associated Press | March 28, 2017

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — There's hardly value in finishing 59-103, no full-color brochure touting the benefit to a franchise of losing that many baseball games in a single season.

The Minnesota Twins have no choice but to find some.

They'll try to use their year-ago ineptitude as a stimulus of sorts, certain they're better than that abysmal record showed and hopeful the exasperating experience has hardened and exposed enough of their young players to the unforgiving grind of the grand old summer game.

"We will try to use it as a springboard," said manager Paul Molitor, who described 2016 as the most difficult season he's endured in any capacity, playing or coaching, over his life in the sport. "It was very challenging."

Plenty of important players remain from the 2015 team that produced a respectable 83-79 record and stayed in the wild-card race until the next-to-last game on the schedule, so a return to competency and competitiveness isn't such a far-fetched vision. The blueprint for a turnaround is entrenched in a potentially potent lineup highlighted by the under-25 core of Byron Buxton, Max Kepler and Miguel Sano.

"You've got to keep learning and learning until you figure things out," said Buxton, the speedy center fielder and former No. 2 overall draft pick who was twice sent back to Triple-A last year before totaling nine home runs among 17 extra-base hits with 22 RBIs and a .357 on-base percentage over his final 29 games. "I think we started to do that at the end of last season, and hopefully that carries over."

From Buxton to the bullpen, there's a fresh outlook throughout the organization following the appointment of 34-year-old former Cleveland assistant general manager Derek Falvey as chief baseball officer. That's one of the timeworn charms of the sport, the annual optimism that comes each spring.

"There's a different attitude in how we go about things," reliever Taylor Rogers said. "You still want to learn from your mistakes, but there is a balance there of having a short memory and forgetting about things but also remembering what got you into that spot that you didn't want to be in."

Here's a rundown of some relevant angles for 2017 regarding the Twins:

FOR STARTERS: Though the Twins eventually had a longer losing streak at 13 straight games through the end of August, starting 0-9 doomed last season before it even got going.

"The attitude was kind of dull, and what happened was kind of established early in the year," said Rogers, whose major league debut came in that ninth game of the season. "So we really want to stay positive early."

The Twins face Central Division foes in each of their first 19 games, with only four of those against defending American League champion Cleveland and 13 of them at home including the opener on Monday against Kansas City. That schedule ought to provide a better opportunity to avoid a repeat of 2016.

SPEAKING OF STARTERS: Ervin Santana was the easy pick for Molitor to make the opening day starter for a second straight year, but the rest of the rotation is stocked with uncertainty. Kyle Gibson, Phil Hughes and Hector Santiago figure to pitch better than last season, but by how much? Adalberto Mejia, the prospect acquired from San Francisco in the trade for All-Star Eduardo Nunez, has been one of the standouts of spring training and could give the Twins some young upside in the fifth spot.

CLOSING TIME: The bullpen will be the biggest concern to start the season. With three-time All-Star Glen Perkins not ready to return from shoulder surgery, Brandon Kintzler will resume the ninth-inning role he fared well in for the first time. His career rate of 6.5 strikeouts per nine innings doesn't bode well for the long term, though. Newcomer Matt Belisle will help set up with Rogers and Ryan Pressly, but there's scant proven depth during an era when most contenders are rich with power-armed relievers.

LET IT SANO: With Eddie Rosario in left field and Kepler in right flanking Buxton, the Twins have bounds of offensive and defensive potential in their young outfield. Now slugger Miguel Sano can settle in at third base, after an ill-fated experiment in right field to start 2016. The desire to make Sano an everyday position player leaves open the designated hitter spot for Byung Ho Park, whose spring performance has been another positive development after a rough debut upon arrival from South Korea.

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4 Reasons To Be Excited About Twins Baseball Jeff Wald | CBS Minnesota | March 28, 2017

Baseball season is back, well almost. Major league teams are finishing up Spring Training this week and getting in their final exhibition games before the season starts for real.

There are three games to kick off the 2017 regular season on Sunday, and the Minnesota Twins get things going on Monday, April 3. There aren’t many more fun days in sports than Opening Day in Major League Baseball.

There is a buzz in the air when baseball season gets started. Every team has a clean slate, everyone has a chance. Yes, even the Twins. Coming off a franchise-worst 103-loss season, it has to get better. It can’t get any worse, can it?

The Twins host the Kansas City Royals Monday afternoon at Target Field. Here are four reasons to be excited for the 2017 season.

Opening Day Excitement

For at least one day, every Major League team’s fan base is allowed to be excited. For Twins fans, Opening Day is as good a time as any to get out and enjoy a baseball game. After all, we don’t know how long they’ll be relevant this summer so it’s best to get out and see them while they are competitive. It’s a good day to get out and enjoy a cold beer, a hot dog, some sunflower seeds and if you’re lucky, catch a home run or foul ball.

Buxton, Sano Continue To Mature

The Twins will be looking for two of their young stars, Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton, to take big strides in the 2017 season. They both had their difficulties last year between injuries and struggles at the plate. Sano finished last season hitting .236 with 25 home runs and 66 RBI in 437 at- bats. He also had 178 strikeouts, and it felt like a lot of them came with two outs and runners on base. Trevor Plouffe was released in the offseason, paving the way for Sano to take over full-time at third base. That should help with any mental struggles, knowing that he’ll either play third or be the designated hitter. He could also fill in at first base when Joe Mauer needs a break.

Buxton will be one-third of what could be the fastest outfield in baseball with Eddie Rosario and Max Kepler. Buxton hit just .225 last year with 10 home runs, but also struck out 118 times in 298 at-bats. He had difficulty laying off breaking balls, and he has limitations in the lineup when he can’t get on base.

New Front Office Leadership

The Twins front office looks vastly different now than it did just eight months ago. Terry Ryan is no longer general manager, having been replaced by Thad Levine. He was hired by new Chief of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey, one of the bright young minds in baseball. The two place a heavy emphasis on analytics and statistical data in baseball decisions. Falvey helped the Cleveland Indians get to the World Series and put together one of the top pitching staffs in baseball. The tough part there is patience, because a lot of that work is done away from the field and typically takes a few years to come to fruition.

The hope is Levine and Falvey can look at the data they collect and use it to make the Twins a lot more consistent in several areas. They’ll try to develop their own players first before attempting to lure a free agent. There will be headaches along the way, but it’s a process and it needs time to play out. After all, Theo Epstein had a five-year plan with the Chicago Cubs, who got rid of all kinds of demons by winning the World Series last year.

Brian Dozier Still A Twin

One of the big reasons to be excited about the Twins this year is a move they didn’t make. Brian Dozier is still with the club after months of trade rumors, and he’ll be starting at second base on Opening Day. He hit .268 last year with a career-high 42 home runs and 99 RBI. He was also one of the top players defensively with just eight errors in 713 total chances. He was a part of 118 double plays last year and made 286 put- outs.

He’s also a clubhouse leader who is more than respected by his teammates. How long he’ll be with the Twins this year could still be in question. If Minnesota gets off to a slow start and isn’t a playoff contender alter this summer, he could be traded before the July trade deadline. It all depends on if a team needs a second baseman, and what they would be willing to give the Twins for him.

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Regardless of what the results are later this summer, it’s fun to have baseball back again. And after all, it can’t get any worse than last year, right?

Northstar Link to Offer Service to Minnesota Twins Games Staff | KVSC | March 27, 2017

The St. Cloud Northstar Link will be offering transportation services to Minnesota Twins games.

Attendees from St. Cloud will be able to ride the Northstar Bus to Big Lake and hop on the Northstar Rail to the Twin Cities. Departure times after the game will be either a scheduled departure or 30 minutes after the game.

The Northstar Rail and commuter bus fees are separate.

The Twins home opener starts April 3, and transportation will be offered throughout the season. Game schedules and fare information can be found at metrotransit.org/twins.

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