Minnesota Twins arrive in Fort Myers for Spring training

FORT MYERS, Fla.—The Minnesota Twins' equipment truck made a 1,715-mile journey to the Lee Health Sports Complex, marking the beginning of their spring training season. The truck arrived with all the necessary gear to get the team ready for action.

"We have all of our clubhouse staff in Minnesota, load up anything you can imagine from pitching machines to bats to hats to helmets," said Mike Herman, senior director of team travel. "Any type of equipment you can imagine for baseball gets packed up in Minnesota, loaded on this truck, and then driven down here."

The journey took four days across the East Coast, with only one week left before players start arriving.

" Every time that you see the truck pull into this parking lot, it's sort of the kickoff to a new baseball season, and it's something that everybody who works in baseball looks forward to," said Herman.

Dustin Morse, senior vice president of communication, said, "Our equipment staff and strength and conditioning and athletic trainers will start getting all their areas set up for the players. It's a lot. There are 65 players and an additional 40 staff members, so over 100 baseball personnel are coming down to put on a good camp."

The twins have plans for a productive spring season with a new manager and roster spots to fill.

" Derek Shelton, who's an amazing individual, has got a lot of energy, a lot of positive reinforcement with the guys," said Morse. "I think he's the right, the right guy to take, take control this year."

Morse said the team is competitive, like any other in the MLB, "It starts here. We've gotta put in the work and get a feel for the team. But really excited just to see the guys take the field."

The Twins' first game of the season will be an exhibition game against the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.

It will be the fans' first time to watch Shelton and his new coaching staff in action, along with a couple of our new players. Fans will also be able to see returning favorites like Byron Buxton, Pablo Lopez, Royce Lewis, and Joe Ryan.

The truck was unloaded in an hour and 8 minutes as a few fans and staff watched in excitement.

"This is my 10th [spring training] season," Roger Pearson, a lifelong Twins fan and season ticket holder, shared his excitement. " It's just fun to see the start of baseball. Everybody has the same record, 0-0, and we hope that the twins do well this year."

Pearson said one of his favorite things about Spring training is seeing the players during open practice, "It is always fun to see some of the new players, and they're all starting to get warmed up a little bit. Some of the guys are already just right into it, and they're hustling and trying to make the team. There are no guarantees for any player. Except Byron Buxton."

Pearson's first job was working in concessions for the Twins during their 1965 season. The team had gone to the World Series as the Washington Senators, but 1965 was their first appearance as the Twins.

" My favorite memory would be 1965 at Metropolitan Stadium, which is now the home of the Mall of America," said Pearson. "The World Series, first time ever for the Twins, and they played the Dodgers and lost in seven games. They lost the last game to Sandy Koufax."

Pearson remembered the year fondly despite the loss. "We also had the All-Star game that year in July," He said, showing off an array of mementos, including a 1965 World Series sticker and an All-Star game coin and pin.

"And in August we had The Beatles come, and they only had like 15,000 people, maybe 20,000 at the most," added Pearson. "It was a fun time, and I got to see the Beatles live and in person."

Pearson and his wife have enjoyed attending spring training games each season for the past 10 years. They've gotten to know the staff at Hammond Field and are looking forward to sharing Minnesota Day with friends.

"We get 20 tickets up on the drink rail, where they like to sit and stand. And we just have a great time," he said. "My friend and I come out here and park in the parking lot at about 6:30, and everybody starts coming from 6:30 until game time. There's some good breakfast to be had, and also it's good fun to see old friends."

Tickets are on sale now for those who want to be part of the Twins' spring training season.