The Minnesota Twins begin spring training in Florida in a few weeks in February. It’s been a relatively long off season after a disappointing 2024 season.
“Every year is different. Every off season is different,” admitted Manager Rocco Baldelli. He spoke to the MSR last week at the annual media luncheon at the ballpark. “I would say definitely a different type of off season for me. A little while for me to reflect upon everything that happened in the past year.
“It wasn’t one that I got over quickly, but I was able to refocus, regain all my energy on getting ready for spring training and be ready to go,” he stressed.
Baldelli, a devoted family man, added that being home with his wife and three young infants, including twin sons, also helped in him getting over the past season. “They are having fun,” he said proudly.
We also asked the manager about the Twins’ three U.S.-born Black players expected to make the season roster when training camp breaks in a couple of months: pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson, infielder Royce Lewis, and outfielder Byron Buxton.
Woods Richardson won a starting spot in the team’s regular rotation around mid-season. “Sim made such great steps forward last year,” observed Baldelli. “In a lot of ways, we are looking for him to take further steps. He changed his delivery last year, and it worked out really well for him and for us.”
However, Baldelli would like to see the young hurler improve on his conditioning “to hold his stuff better over the six months of the season.”
On Lewis, “Getting Royce out there getting 500-600 at bats is what we all want to see,” continued Baldelli. “I also think that he’s gonna experience a major league season in a different way this year.”
The young infielder once again battled with injuries that kept him off the field for extended periods last season. “He dealt with some adversity last year for the first time ever at the major league level,” the manager explained.
“Every player goes through it. I think he will be a more well-rounded player dealing with adversity” this season, said Baldelli.
When Buxton is on the field, he is perhaps the Twins’ best player, and when he’s off it due to injuries, the team suffers. The outfielder plays so hard, and sometimes that comes back to haunt him when he gets hurt making a play or stretching a base hit into extra bases.
“He always puts himself in the best possible position. There’s no guarantees in our game that he will stay healthy,” stressed Baldelli on Buxton. “This is his first off season in a while where he was able to have a more normal, conventional off season when you get home.”
For the manager himself, is there a single message he wants his players to get from him when they arrive for spring training?
“I’d love to have one message. My speech would be one minute,” concluded Baldelli with a smile. “This is a team-first environment and we are about winning games for ourselves, for the team, and for our community.
“I do think this will be a good year for us as a team to get back to the basics,” said Baldelli.
Finally…
The Minnesota Twins’ broadcasting situation, which was up in the air for most of last season due to their former cable network carrier, is now solved, according to team President David St. Peter.
“It’s truly momentous for our fans,” declared St. Peter last week on the inaugural season of Twins.TV, a new partnership with MLB. It will be a combination of television and digital streaming.
“Twins fans will be able to watch our games…with no blackouts in North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa,” stated the team president.
Twins alumni LaTroy Hawkins and Denard Span both return as part of the primary broadcast talent this season. They are the only Blacks among the nine-person group.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.