Photo by Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

It’s finally happened: the Minnesota Twins have remembered how to hit.

Like a bear awakening from it’s winter slumber, the Twins offense seems to have lumbered out of it den, scratched it’s stomach a few times, yawned and proceeded to go about its business. That business seems to be winning.

One bear in particular seems to be overjoyed at the opportunity to be out in the warm spring air, basking in the sunlight and devouring some poor creatures to satisfy it's hunger. That bear is Eduardo Nunez, and he’s hungry for baseballs.

Over the past seven games Nunez is posting a .545/.600/.682 slash line with some whipped cream and a 1.341 OPS cherry on top. In addition to those “Hey don’t you mean Miguel Sano” type numbers, he also leads the team in batting average, OPS, stolen bases and is tied for most runs scored (albeit his sample size is smaller than most).

When a baseball player goes on a streak like the, people always want to know what his secret is. They ask if he modified his swing, if he changed his approach at the plate, if it was extra time in the batting cages, or was it a rum loving Voodoo figure… you know, typical stuff

Here at Twins and Losses, we like to take a slightly different journalistic approach when seeking the answers we want and when it comes to Eduardo Nunez we thought we knew just where to look, off the beaten path where no one would ever suspect: the helmet.

I recently sat down with Nunez’s helmet and asked a few questions, presented below in the transcribed version of the conversation:

Twins and Losses: Thanks for meeting with me Mr. Helmet, it’s a pleasure to speak with you.

Nunez’s Helmet: Not a problem, I’m happy to do it.

TL: How are the wife and kids?

NH: They’re great, Karen is still in the National Pro Pitch softball league, our daughter Marie in college now supporting one of the girls at Stanford and our son Calvin just moved up to Junior League this year.

TL: Glad to hear it, you have a lovely family. I hate to just jump right into this but I know you’re short on time so I have to ask, how is it being Eduardo’s helmet?

NH: Oof, I knew this was coming. It’s uh… it can be tough at times ya know? It’s an on again off again relationship roller coaster. Sometimes it feels like a rerun of a Lifetime movie. I want to be supportive but I feel like sometimes he just doesn’t want me around. Sure he always comes back eventually but it wears on a helmet.

TL: I’m sorry to hear that. You guys have been through a lot together in your time here in Minnesota, would you say that it’s been a pleasant experience overall?

NH: There have been good times and bad times. No one wants to lose 90 games, but when you can start to see hard work hard pay off in the form of an above .500 record last season, you get the feeling you’re on the right track.

TL: Eduardo has been one of the hottest hitters for the Twins over the last handful of games, what do you think has contributed to that?

NH: I think we finally got on the same wavelength. He always seemed to be thinking a million miles an hour in the batters box and I just needed him to be calm, slow the game down and let the pitches come to him. When I fall, he always picks me back up puts me right where I need to be and I want to do the same for him.

TL: Would you say you’re the main factor in his recent success?

NH: I certainly can’t take all the credit, that wouldn’t be fair to Bruno and everyone else that’s helped him out from training staff to other teammates, but I will take some.

TL: Do you ever get any wisecracks from the other helmets for your acrobatics on the field?

NH: I would say I get some, but not really any more than anyone else. Sure I’ll get the occasional “fly boy” or “Humpty Dumpty,” or asked if I’m practicing my tumbling routine for the big regional meet but it’s a give and take kind of clubhouse. Heck, some of those helmets like Joe Mauer’s are so full of pine tar they sound like they’re from the Louisiana Bayou.

TL: Is there a legendary helmet, sort of a mythical tale that all the Twins helmets have to know?

NH: Mythical? I don’t know about that. I do know that one helmet no one will ever forget would be Ben Revere’s after he pulled that sommersault triple back in 2011. From what I hear, that helmet was talking all spring about how he was going to get Benny the Jet to do it, and no one believed him. He’s more of a frat legend than mythical tale though.

TL: That triple will always have a special place in my heart. I heard that his dad made him run bases for an hour after that game.

NH: No kidding?

TL: I can’t say for certain, but I like to believe it’s true. Do you and Eduardo ever think about going for the record of Most Times Losing a Helmet in a Season?

NH: It’s not really something we strive to do… it’s more of an organic experience that we’ve become accustomed to… almost a routine if you will. Sure it never feels good to hit the infield dirt, that stuff is like sandpaper, but whether he’s coming to get me after running out an infield hit, or someone has to hand me to him after a headfirst slide on a steal attempt; as long as he’s safe on base I’m happy to do my part. It’s a rough and tumble lifestyle, but we’re friends and that’s what friend do.

TL: He’s lucky to have you. What does a helmet like you do in the off season? Are you out hitting the links with your teammates or taking the family on vacation?

NH: I like to keep it pretty low key during my downtime, relax and reflect on the season for a week or two afterwards. You know, what could have been and how to prepare for next year, but after that I turn the baseball side off and enjoy my time off. It’s normally pretty cold around here during the winter months so my options are pretty limited. I’ll play some pond hockey with my son, head over to Afton Alps a few times, and over Christmas break we always take a family vacation to Hawaii. Other than that I’m usually inside binge watching Netflix, or playing MLB The Show.

TL: You sir are living the dream. One more thing before we wrap this interview up, are you aware that you’re sort of a cult hero around Twins Territory?

NH: I’ll hear stuff around the locker room and I know that people on social media like to keep count of how many times I’ll dismount, or make a Eduardo Nunez Helmet hash tag. I really appreciate the support and my fans, but I’m just the same old helmet I ever was. I put my human on one head at a time.

TL: Are you on Twitter at all?

NH: Naw, social media isn’t really my thing. I’m aware there are several parody accounts and I find that hysterical, but I’ll let them speak for me. Besides, there’s no way I’d ever reach Boring Joe Mauer status, that dude’s on another level of popularity.

TL: They do an excellent job with that account, that’s for sure. Well Mr. Helmet, I thank you for taking some time out of your day to talk to Twins and Losses, it’s been an absolute joy. We hope to catch up with you later on in the season, see how things are going and wish you the best of luck in the season to come.

NH: Thank you, it’s been fun. Hopefully in a few months we can talk playoffs.

TL: Don’t we all.

Well there you have it folks, the definitive Eduardo Nunez Helmet interview. If you’d like to hear more from Twins and Losses visit our website at twinsandlosses.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter. Don’t forget to check out our Twins and Losses Supershow podcast on the 4D Podcast network, also available on iTunes and Spreaker.