It is the 100th year of MLB Spring Training in Fort Myers. As for the Minnesota Twins, they have been at Hammond Stadium since 1990. On Thursday, the Twins pitchers and catchers reported for the first official day of practice.
“I’m excited," Twins right-handed pitcher Joe Ryan said. "It’s fun to be back at camp, see everyone walking around. I’m ready to play baseball.”
This year's Twins bullpen looks pretty similar to last year's. Big names like Pablo Lopez, Bailey Ober and Joe Ryan are all back in the starting rotation. Lopez has already been named the opening-day starter.
“There are so many familiar faces and not a crazy turnover," Ryan said. "I think that’s good for camaraderie. If we just stay strong and stay consistent, we’ll be in a good spot.”
Ryan is coming off a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the final few months of the 2024 season. So, he will use Spring Training to get back into peak shape before the regular season rolls around in late March.
“The more years you have, the more time, and just getting the feel for Spring and how they run things here, gives me another layer of confidence," Ryan said.
While the bullpen has plenty of veterans, the Twins have brought in plenty of young blood to compete for spots on the 40-man roster. Many of the younger players are familiar with Fort Myers since they used to play for the Mighty Mussels. Two former Mussels who are fighting for a roster spot are Cory Lewis and Marco Raya.
“I’m just trying to live in the moment, take it all in, and embrace it," Raya said. "I’m definitely excited going into it.”
The Twins pitchers and catchers will continue to practice this week. The first full-squad workout is Monday, Feb. 17.