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The last time the Twins were in Fort Myers, Fla., the world turned upside down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a loaded Minnesota roster still emerged from a year of tumult and uncertainty with a second straight division title.
With a three-peat in their sights, a reinforced Twins team will once again take to camp with the hope that these additions will finally be the group that pushes them over the top or, at the very least, earns them a playoff victory for the first time since 2004.
Those new faces include Andrelton Simmons, who should provide the club s best shortstop defense in quite some time, along with pitching additions J.A. Happ, Matt Shoemaker, Hansel Robles and Alex Colomé. They ll fortify a group that includes several exciting prospects ready to impact the Majors and the return of veteran designated hitter Nelson Cruz, who was thrilled to make it back to the Twins after a protracted wait during the offseason.
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Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he s taken to reach the brink of realizing his Major League dream. Here s a look at Minnesota Twins outfielder Trevor Larnach. For more player journeys on The Road to The Show, click here.
Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he s taken to reach the brink of realizing his Major League dream. Here s a look at Minnesota Twins outfielder Trevor Larnach. For more player journeys on The Road to The Show,click here.
The Oregon State team that won the College World Series in 2018 was loaded. Infielder
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MINNEAPOLIS For the group of top prospects that was included in the Twins player pool last season and made their way to the alternate training site in St. Paul, 2020 marked a lost season of competition but a prime opportunity to work closely on development with coordinators and coaches in a smaller setting.
Alone among the club s top six prospects, right-hander Jordan Balazovic, ranked No. 4 in the organization by MLB Pipeline, wasn t invited to the player pool but he s hoping he ll be better off for it in what could be a pivotal 2021 season. I didn t really know what to do, Balazovic said last week to MLB Pipeline s Jonathan Mayo after the Rookie Program. I just kept working out and kept with my programs, and it was tough mentally for the most part. That was probably the hardest thing I had to go through, was just trying to push yourself and getting motivated and basically just seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
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MINNEAPOLIS For the St. Paul Saints, the 2021 season will mark a new beginning in the history of the longtime independent franchise. For Triple-A manager Toby Gardenhire, it will mark a homecoming.
Gardenhire was named the skipper for the Twins new Triple-A affiliate in St. Paul on Tuesday as part of the organization s announcement of the staffing at its Minor League affiliates. It s going to be a unique position, considering the Saints extreme geographic proximity to the Twins and the quality of prospects expected to pass through St. Paul this year, made all the more special by his return home as part of the organization he has known for nearly his whole life.
Minnesota Twins, Saints Announce Triple-A Manager
The Minnesota Twins named Toby Gardenhire, the son of longtime Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, to manage the St. Paul Saints.
Toby s Father Ron was the manager for the Minnesota Twins for 13 years and won a World Series Championship and also managed the Detroit Tigers for 3 years before retiring due to illness according to the Baseball-Reference website. Toby told the Pioneer Press it is a dream of his to manage in the Twins organization and to manage the Saints. Toby played in the Twins organization too from 2005 to 2011.
The Pioneer Press says this job will reunite Gardenhire with players he managed then-Class A Advanced Fort Myers Miracle. The Twins were set to send him to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings but COVID-19 took down the season. Once the Twins acquired the St. Paul Saints, they earmarked that job for Toby.