As spring training wraps up in Southwest Florida, coaches and players prepare to head home for the start of the MLB season. For Rayden Sierra, this spring marked a personal milestone — his first as a Major League coach.
"If [you] had told [me] in 2020, when my family and I moved over here, that we'd be here in 2025 in this situation, I honestly didn't see it coming," Sierra said. "But we're definitely thankful for everything that's happened since we've been here in Fort Myers."
Sierra, a native of Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, was a hitting coach for the baseball team at Florida Southwestern after moving to Fort Myers, then spent three years helping develop young talent with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels. This spring, while the ballpark remains the same, everything else feels different.
“It's bittersweet,” Sierra said. “Obviously, it's a little bitter that it's over, but really excited about the beginning of the season for sure.”
Despite the transition, Sierra says he’s felt at home with the Twins organization, thanks to the welcoming environment within the clubhouse.
“They have all been really welcoming, which has made this transition a lot easier for us. So we're really lucky to have this group of guys with us," Sierra said.
While Spring Training is a lot about preparing the players for the upcoming season, Sierra said it’s also about developing chemistry. He has embraced this opportunity to grow, both in his role and alongside his fellow coaches.
“It's like, how can we help the players? How do we complement each other as a staff? That's been the focus — preparing so that once the season starts, it's smoother for everybody," Sierra said.
He approached camp with an open mind, ready to adapt and absorb as much as possible.
“I think the expectations definitely were met. I tried to not set them too high— just kind of see how things go," Sierra said.
As Spring Training comes to a close, the Twins will soon leave the Florida sunshine behind and head to Minnesota. While Sierra is eager for the season to begin, he admits he’s not quite ready for the Midwest cold.
“We're going to have to get through the cold weather to start the season, not something that I'm used to," he said, laughing.
Despite the change in scenery, one thing remains constant— his connection to Southwest Florida.
“We're coming back after the season is over. This is home for us as of now, and we're happy to be here," he said.
As he reflects on his first Spring Training with the Twins, Sierra is grateful for the journey that brought him here and excited for the challenges ahead. A new season, a new role, but the same passion for the game that started it all.