Article: First Report From The Fort

[Seth Stohs]

For the next month, Twins Daily will be in Ft. Myers, filing daily reports from The Fort. Seth made the trek to southwest Florida. On Monday, he arrived at Hammond Stadium. Despite few players being at the stadium, we were able to see a lot of baseball action and talk to a few players. Below you will find a quick report from Day 1.TWO TEAMS ON THE ROAD

 

The Twins played two games in Bradenton on Monday. The regularly-scheduled game ended in a 1-1 tie, the Twins lone run coming on a long home run off the bat of Miguel Sano. The teams also played a “B” game earlier in the day and the Twins won that game 2-1. That game was for some of the guys in camp who don’t play as much, or needed to get innings. Taylor Rogers, Tyler Duffey and Jason Wheeler each pitched. They are in big league camp, but they need to be stretched out so that they can be ready to start when the minor league games start next month.

 

The players who headed north left early, so I got there just after the bus left. So, it was a little quieter around Hammond Stadium. However, Torii Hunter and Joe Mauer remained back and worked. There were a lot of pitchers who stayed back as well. Phil Hughes and Mike Pelfrey threw bullpens.

 

 

Glen Perkins was going to throw a bullpen, but he continued to experience pain in his right side. According to the Star-Tribune, he is going to see the Twins physicians on Tuesday.

 

Other pitchers worked on Tom Kelly Field, with Tom Kelly and Doug Mientkiewicz, on more pitcher fielding ractice. Mauer fed them ground balls from first base.

 

When the pitchers were done, they went to the bullpen and worked on bunting with Rod Carew. It was kind of interesting to see relievers working on bunting, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared for anything.

 

HANSON HELPS THE BIG LEAGUE CLUB

 

Because of the lack of numbers for the big league workout today, Nate Hanson was called over to Hammond Stadium to help out. Hanson was the Twins 28^th round pick in 2008 out of the University of Minnesota. He became a minor league free agent for the first time this last offseason, but after weighing his options, he chose to return to the Twins.

 

During PFP’s, he played at 3B and caught the throws from the pitchers after the bunts. After the first “bunt” thrown by Tom Kelly, the pitcher threw to Hanson. It was a perfect throw, chest high, and Hanson caught it. He tossed it back to the pitcher and readied himself for the next throw. Before that happened, Kelly yelled “Great play, Nate!” He chuckled, and after most throws from the pitchers throughout the rest of the drills, they would say, “Great play, Nate!” as he tossed them back the ball.

 

 

He took batting practice, and at one point, he hit two, long home runs over the left field wall that were hit further than others on the day.

 

It will be an interesting year for Hanson. He has spent time in Rochester each of the last two seasons, though most of those seasons were spent in New Britain. In his professional career, he has played first base, second base, third base, left field and right field. He is usually the third hitter on his team and teammates describe him as “professional.”

 

The former Gopher told me he was at the Gophers/Twins game last Wednesday night. He is still friends with some of the Gophers players, coaches and other personnel.

 

MINOR LEAGUE CAMP

 

Tuesday marks the official report day for Twins minor leaguers. However, in talking with Tommy Watkins, he said that there were 93 minor leaguers there on Monday to work out. When their first full workout takes place on Thursday, there will be as many as 145 on the four back fields.

 

I had to ask if he thought that having the new Twins academy so conveniently close was the reason. He nodded and said that it definitely helps. The players are able to get three meals and live there for very little.

 

The players there are fed three meals a day. There are nutritionists as well, so they do not have options that are not healthy. There are not “bad” options such as pop for the players. Understandably, the Twins invest money in these players and in their development. Nutrition is a part that had not been a focus. It was talked about, but having the academy allows them to push it even further.

 

After spending time stretching and running, hitters took batting practice. Several pitchers threw live batting practice to the hitters. Pat Dean, Stephen Gonsalves, Ethan Mildren and Aaron Slegers were among pitchers who threw to hitters from the mound.

 

HARRISON HOPES FOR A BIG YEAR

 

2011 Twins supplemental first-round pick Travis Harrison came over and spent a few minutes with me after the day’s workout. He spent the 2014 season in Ft. Myers where he hit .269/.361/.365 (.726) with 33 doubles, a triple and three home runs.

 

He was also playing the outfield for the first time as a professional. Asked how he felt about his progression in the field went, he said, “It wasn’t bad at all. I played outfield in high school, including centerfield, so it wasn’t a problem.”

He said that he is expecting to have a big year. He said, “I learned a lot about hitting last year from Doug (Mientkiewicz).”

 

Despite the lack of home runs, he has no question that he can hit a lot of home runs. He has always had tremendous strength, but he said that he is stronger than he has ever been. For the first time, he spent the offseason in Ft. Myers. He worked out with Kyle Gibson and Twins Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator Erik Beiser.

 

He says he can’t control where he starts the season but really believes that he’ll start in Chattanooga.

 

THE RETURN OF DINKELMAN

 

The Twins have several new coaches in the minor leagues in 2015. JP Martinez and Virgil Vazquez will be pitching coaches for the GCL Twins. Javier Valentin will be a coach in the GCL. Twins fans will also be interested to know that Brian Dinkelman will be a hitting coach in the GCL.

 

I had a chance to talk to him at the end of the workouts on Monday. He arrived in Ft. Myers last Tuesday and has been working with the players who are there.

 

Asked if he was always planning on coaching, he said, “It has always been something I knew I’d want to do. I spent last year coaching high school baseball, and then this opportunity came up.”

 

 

THE RETURN OF THE MUSTACHE

 

One of the most interesting stories of the 2014 season was the mustache of Jason Kanzler. It was one of those things that needed updated pictures throughout the season. The mustache is back, though on Monday, there was some beard that went along with it.

 

 

After posting the above picture of the current mustache situation, Kanzler assures his fans (or the fans of his mustache) that he will “clean it up tonight. Me and the 'stache are coming out hot tomorrow.”

 

Twins Daily is making an effort to get the first photo of the 2015 Mustache.

 

 

If you like the six photos in this article, be sure to “Like” Twins Daily on Facebook and follow Twins Daily on Twitter. You can also follow Seth on Twitter as he will be tweeting from the stadium often. There were over 75 photos posted to the Facebook page, and more will be there throughout the week.

 

 

There is so much going on between the seven fields that it is impossible to catch it all. However, my goal will be to see as much as I can and report it here again tomorrow.

 

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[Paul Pleiss]

After reading "Brian Dinkelman will also be a hitting coach in the GCL" I couldn't concentrate on the rest of the article. Too much joy.

[GMinTraining]

If minor leaguers report today, why do they start practice on Thursday?

 

Can you really tell if their is any growth in a players overall game during ST? 

[Seth Stohs]

After reading "Brian Dinkelman will also be a hitting coach in the GCL" I couldn't concentrate on the rest of the article. Too much joy.

 

Good thing I put that toward the end!!

[Seth Stohs]

If minor leaguers report today, why do they start practice on Thursday?

 

Can you really tell if their is any growth in a players overall game during ST? 

 

Today is report day, so many minor leagues are just flying in today. Tomorrow is photo day and they get their physicals.

 

They'll still do workouts, but it won't be the full squad, full practice stuff.

 

I think that you can tell if a player has grown (physically or just as a ballplayer). It may not always show up in the stats, but I think a person could tell. Obviously the closer you are to that person, the more you'd notice for sure.

[hybridbear]

 The players there are fed three meals a day. There are nutritionists as well, so they do not have options that are not healthy. There are not “bad” options such as pop for the players. Understandably, the Twins invest money in these players and in their development. Nutrition is a part that had not been a focus. It was talked about, but having the academy allows them to push it even further.

This is a great move by the Twins! I read an article a year or two ago on ESPN about how the Cardinals were at the forefront of this movement both with major & minor league players. It's important for the Twins to look out for their players because keeping them healthy means they'll be more successful. I'm glad that they have nutritionists to help the players make wise choices and to provide them with 3 meals a day so that the minor leaguers with their low pay aren't forced to eat Ramen or McDonalds all the time.

[mikelink45]

The academy is a really great idea and nutrition is something that really needs attention, but it also brings up a question that I have no answer to.  Is there anything that can be done to help prevent TJ surgery?  Are there warm ups, compensatory muscles that can be developed with the right exercise?  This is so costly to player and club I am waiting for a new development.

 

I hope the academy actually has some classes (analytics anyone?) and becomes a means of developing the whole player.

[Mike Sixel]

About time they start worrying about nutrition......but it does no good if they go back to awful food starting in April. Are they working on that at all?

[James]

The academy is a really great idea and nutrition is something that really needs attention, but it also brings up a question that I have no answer to.  Is there anything that can be done to help prevent TJ surgery?  Are there warm ups, compensatory muscles that can be developed with the right exercise?  This is so costly to player and club I am waiting for a new development.

 

I hope the academy actually has some classes (analytics anyone?) and becomes a means of developing the whole player.

The academy is pretty great.  It's a great idea.  It's obviously going to be a big deal for those guys that are playing for the Miracle, GC Twins, and those guys that start in extended spring training.  

 

The TJ question is not something anyone can really answer.  I don't think anyone has nailed down one root cause as to why players end up needed it, and it's really tough to build a exercise/stretching program to prevent it.  If you could figure out how to do that and prevent even 50% of the current amount of TJ surgeries, I'm sure there are several MLB teams that would probably give you a very lucrative position in the organization to help them develop that training program.

[Steven Buhr]

The academy is pretty great.  It's a great idea.  It's obviously going to be a big deal for those guys that are playing for the Miracle, GC Twins, and those guys that start in extended spring training.  

 

.

 Not sure where I read it, but I'm pretty sure I saw that, at least once the season starts, the high-A Miracle players aren't eligible to stay at the academy, other than maybe the first couple days after they get to Ft Myers following a promotion.

 

Not sure what the reasoning is behind that, if it's true. Maybe between GCL and EST players, it's full?

[Seth Stohs]

I don't know if Miracle players aren't eligible to live in the dorm, but a lot of them are moving out toward the end of the week. It can be difficult because some guy who think they'll start with the Miracle may start in Chattanooga or Cedar Rapids. 

[nater79a]

Good stuff, Seth! Keep it coming.

[Sam Morley]

Keep us posted on that mustache situation.

[Tibs]

I'm going to be down in Florida next week. Would I be able to watch the practices or do I have to have certain credentials for that?

[Squirrel]

I'm going to be down in Florida next week. Would I be able to watch the practices or do I have to have certain credentials for that?

You just show up and watch. Nothing special needed. But not sure about parking on days where there's a ST game going on at the stadium. Can show up, but will have to pay the $10 parking fee.

[ashbury]

 

But not sure about parking on days where there's a ST game going on at the stadium. Can show up, but will have to pay the $10 parking fee.

My experience two years ago was getting there early means getting free parking even on game days. What constitutes early is probably a good question though.Ten a.m. probably is pushing your luck. I think I was usually there before 9.

 

As ChiTown said, if "all" you want is to watch drills and minor league games on the back fields, there's no admission charge as far as I know. Those games are interesting, with loosey-goosey rules - Morneau batted every inning, third I think, in one game I watched. Sometimes a pitcher hits his pitch count and there's two outs and they just end the inning rather than warm up someone to come in. A few other sandlot-style rules have escaped my memory at the moment - I don't think I ever saw them call for a ghost-runner. Probably plenty of courtesy runners though. Good times.

[Halsey Hall]

This is the City of Palms.  Palms out everywhere for your money.  I know they are taking money at 9, not sure what time they start though. 

 

On game days alot of people walk from the shopping center on Plantation, parking in what was the old Sweet Bay lot.  Just head south off Daniels on Plantation and take the first left and wind into the lot.  It's not a far walk from there. 

[Squirrel]

Halsey, on a home game day, what time do things get started? How late do they go?

[mikelink45]

The academy is pretty great.  It's a great idea.  It's obviously going to be a big deal for those guys that are playing for the Miracle, GC Twins, and those guys that start in extended spring training.  

 

The TJ question is not something anyone can really answer.  I don't think anyone has nailed down one root cause as to why players end up needed it, and it's really tough to build a exercise/stretching program to prevent it.  If you could figure out how to do that and prevent even 50% of the current amount of TJ surgeries, I'm sure there are several MLB teams that would probably give you a very lucrative position in the organization to help them develop that training program.

I wish I were that smart - I know that I was able to prevent the rotator cuff surgery using some exercises that our Physical Therapist developed.  It was a great success for me - but it is not that same as it would have to be for a major league pitcher and the stress they put on their arms.  

 

As a 70-year-old fan, I only speculate about all the improvements in health, conditioning, and analysis and wonder why we have not moved forward on what has become an epidemic.  I remember when the first surgery was done and the amazement that we had when Dr. Jobe succeeded in this, but now we are at a place where we are seeing a rush to surgery and I hope someone is doing something on the other side.  My old replaced hips testify to some of the great changes that have come in the health industry.

[mikelink45]

The academy is pretty great.  It's a great idea.  It's obviously going to be a big deal for those guys that are playing for the Miracle, GC Twins, and those guys that start in extended spring training.  

 

The TJ question is not something anyone can really answer.  I don't think anyone has nailed down one root cause as to why players end up needed it, and it's really tough to build a exercise/stretching program to prevent it.  If you could figure out how to do that and prevent even 50% of the current amount of TJ surgeries, I'm sure there are several MLB teams that would probably give you a very lucrative position in the organization to help them develop that training program.

I thought it was appropriate to share this note from David Schoenfield - As Will Carroll said in Howard's piece, "Spend money on research. Call a summit and get all the best minds together. Just making it a focus is a good thing. Teams that have shown a focus on this, like the Rays and the Brewers, have shown a big difference. The White Sox medical staff actually saved a full year's of salary over an average team -- it's like a 'Buy 9, get the 10th free' -- over a decade of play. That's significant, but yet most teams are doing nothing."

Too much money is at stake for baseball not to do more. And rather then making this a team-by-team issue, where teams try and find a market inefficiency in pitcher health, baseball should develop a central program for research and development into injuries, with results available to all 30 teams. The sport is starting to move slowly in that direction, such as maintaining an injury database, but that's just a small step. If every team contributed even $500,00 per year -- the cost of one rookie reliever -- that's $15 million to start up a program, with additional funds coming in each season.