In a season which began with about as many ups and downs as can be imagined, our favorite MLB team has inexplicably soared back in to relevance, at least for the time being.

The offseason was as interesting as can be expected from a Terry Ryan-led club can be. A hometown Hall-of-Famer was brought in to captain the ship. A former fan favorite was brought back to mentor many young outfield prospects, to inject some life and passion in to a decidedly mild clubhouse, and also to finish out a good (if not great) career back where it started. A legitimately talented starting pitcher was brought in to further stabilize a shaky rotation. A surprisingly effective catcher was re-signed to hold the place that was once defensively occupied by a seemingly fading hometown hero.

Then the harsh reality that all we Minnesota fans know all to well came back to smack us in the face, earlier than expected. Whether it was stupidity or negligence, one single player was able to suck the life out of the fan base from within the organization. We, as Twins fans, have come to expect disappointment from our squad. That said, this season it happened far earlier than anyone expected.

The regular season began as expected, with the Twins floundering against a Tigers team that was the Goliath to the Minnesotan David. For casual fans, it was a time for eye-rolling and cheap jokes. For the die-hards, it was simply business as usual.

Then, something happened. I can’t say exactly what the catalyst was. Perhaps Torii punched someone. Maybe Molitor gave a fiery speech. Who knows? Somehow these Twins seem to have pulled it together. The starting pitching, if not stellar, has been sufficient. The bullpen, which by all accounts was the greatest question mark on the team, has come around. The offense has finally been producing at a level that we all expected and hoped it to.

As evidenced by recent stretch that has seen Minnesota score at least 5 runs in seven of its last ten games, this team can produce offensively. They can hit the long ball, and have enough speed to manufacture runs (if the baserunners will keep their wits about them).

The gates have opened to the string of highly-touted prospects being ushered up to the show. It began with Trevor May stepping in for the much-maligned Ricky Nolasco, who was placed on the DL (again). After a shaky late-season call-up last year, May beginning to show that he may actually belong with the big-league club.

Next, it was Eddie Rosario. And boy, did he make a grand entrance. I’m sure you’ve by now seen the video of him teeing off on the very first MLB pitch he saw for an opposite-field home run (and his family’s awesome reaction). With the obligatory small-sample-size caveat, he has followed that impressive first one-pitch at-bat with at least one RBI in all but one of his games thus far. Again, not jaw-dropping, but as Twins fans, we’ll take production however we can get it.

Who will be the next prospect in line? Byron Buxton, after a slow start at double-A, has roared to life recently. Miguel Sano hasn’t is following in the same vein on the same team, and there is little doubt that he can drive a pitch he likes all the way to the Minneapolis Farmers’ Market when given a chance. Jose Berrios may well have passed up the floundering Alex Meyer who seems to be trying to stay in AAA as long as possible. As of May 11th, Berrios has a 3.25 ERA, with 45 strikeouts to just 13 walks at AA.

With plenty of reinforcements preparing to offer support when needed, and the promise of Ervin Santana returning from suspension to make his Twins regular-season debut (although he wouldn’t be eligible for postseason play, if the Twins somehow made a run at a playoff spot), could this unfamiliar level of acceptable play be sustainable? Time will tell.

The good news, my friends, is that this team is fun to watch again. At least for now.

(Follow Marc on Twitter: @marcosMN)