Spring Training question

[gunnarthor]

I'll be in Ft Myers on the 18th and 19th but it's an away game (to Boston which is in Ft Myers) and an off day. If I went to the Twins complex on either of those days, would there be anything to see? What I'd like to see are some of our minor league prospects instead of the major league team. Any chance of that or would that be off limits to visitors?

 

Thanks,

[Seth Stohs]

I believe that minor league camp starts by then, so if you get to the Twins complex by 8:30 or 9, you'll see big leaguers who are not traveling (all the way to the other side of Ft. Myers) hitting, on the various fields. The minor league workouts will be on the four other fields, and you will see a lot. Nothing, other than going on the fields, is really off limits. It's incredible access to seeing so much.

[Parker Hageman]

I don't believe they have beer for sale at that time -- if that's what you are getting at.

[Thrylos]

What Seth said, plus by that time, there will be minor league spring training games and those (like maybe an unscheduled B game as well) are free (and fun) to watch. One thing you should note: if there is no game in the Stadium, there is no food and drinks offered, so at least make sure you bring some water with you. You can watch drills on the fields as well, rub shoulders with players and get autographs and all that good stuff.

[gunnarthor]

Great, thanks guys.

[Jim Crikket]

Totally agree with everything the others said. I'd just add that you shouldn't let the "away" game @ the Red Sox keep you from going, if you want to see a ST game. Their new ballpark is actually even closer than the old one was. Like Seth said, it was on the "other side" of Ft. Myers, but the new one is maybe 15 minutes up the road (Daniels Pkwy) just a ways on the other side of I-75, so it should be relatively easy to catch the morning workouts at the Twins complex before driving over to Fenway South for the game in the afternoon. The only downside to catching a game over there is that the prices are pretty high on the secondary market, probably because it's a new ballpark and any Twins/Red Sox ST game is in high demand with so many fans of those teams in the area.

[Steve Lein]

gunnarthor - there will almost be "too much" for you to see! Drills on whatever fields aren't being used for B-games, and probably a few Minor League games with scouts sitting behind the fences. If you've ever played or gone and watched any of Minnesota's Town Team games, you'll understand the environment you'd be walking into. Very up close and personal, informal, and a blast to watch and be around! If the MLB-ers are taking batting practice in the morning, they'll let you into Hammond Stadium to watch too. My advice to any true fans of baseball, is you NEED to go to Spring Training. No if's, and's, or but's about it.

[snowgurl]

I agree with Steve! It's almost overwhelming how much is going on there. I kind of get teary-eyed when I first get there. It's like Disney Land!

 

I truly think I enjoy the off days even more than the A team games. It's so much fun milling about between the batting cages and the practice fields. Just get there early as guys just kind of come and go all day. And, yes -- bring beverages!

 

We're actually going to two of the "away" games at Boston while we're there. Got standing room on top of the new little "green monster" for one of them. Should be interesting!

[Topperanton]

Agreed. It's fun to go to a couple games there but some of the best things to do are go to the complex when there aren't games and when the team is away. There are less fans, you get closer to the players, everyone is even more relaxed. The thing to be warned about though is to go early. Especially the major leaguers, even though they put in practice time on days when there aren't games or the squad is traveling, they like to get out by lunch time to go enjoy Florida just like anyone else. So get there at breakfast and catch several hours and then around 1ish they'll be clearing out to their cars to go home

[gunnarthor]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Got in a day early and watched the B game on the practice fields (right next to Terry Ryan) and fielding drills before going to watch Liriano's start today (two seats behind Terry Ryan) and finished it by watching Sano hit a triple in a scrimmage (no Terry Ryan). A lot more fun than I thought it would be.

[Jim Crikket]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Got in a day early and watched the B game on the practice fields (right next to Terry Ryan) and fielding drills before going to watch Liriano's start today (two seats behind Terry Ryan) and finished it by watching Sano hit a triple in a scrimmage (no Terry Ryan). A lot more fun than I thought it would be.

Really glad you enjoyed it, gunnarthor. I head down there a week from Wed to catch the last week of ST. I'm not surprised you saw TR over on the practice fields. I've seen him over there pretty much every year I've gone down there. I wasn't sure if he'd still spend that much time on the minor league fields now that he's the GM again, but I'm glad he's still making his presence felt over there.