Spring Training preview – a new manager and upgraded facilities

Spring Training preview – a new manager and upgraded facilities

As the Twins head into their 25th Spring Training season in Lee County, Fla. They will take the field in behind new Manager Paul Molitor. The first ballot Hall of Famer served as a Twins coach in 2014, overseeing: baserunning, bunting, infield instruction and positioning, as well as in-game strategy. Prior to 2014, he served as the Twins minor league baserunning/infield coordinator for 10 seasons (2003, 2005-13). He was the Seattle Mariners hitting coach in 2004 and Twins bench coach from 2000-01, giving him 14 years of major league and minor league coaching experience.

Molitor, a St. Paul native and former Golden Gopher, played 21 seasons in the Majors, including his final three with the Twins from 1996-98. He finished his career with a .306/.369/.448 slash line with 3,319 hits in 2,683 games.

The Twins will open their 25th Spring Training season at the CenturyLink Sports Complex this spring. The CenturyLink Sports Complex is home to Hammond Stadium, five additional playing fields as well as the new Twins Player Development Academy. It is also the home to two Twins’ minor league affiliates, housing both the Ft. Myers Miracle of the Single-A Florida State League and the Rookie level Gulf Coast League Twins. In addition, the complex features four state-of-the-art softball fields, which are utilized throughout the year by collegiate and community teams.

The CenturyLink Sports Complex is nearing completion of a major renovation aimed at ensuring the facility remains one of the best in Major League Baseball for players and fans

The first phase of the renovations at CenturyLink Sports Complex was unveiled in February 2014 and included renovations to the Minor League clubhouse and administrative areas, an agility field, an expanded Hammond Stadium seating capacity of 9,300 seats, a new parking lot and the completion of a 360-degree boardwalk and concourse.

The second phase of renovations includes a new ticket office, upgraded and expanded concourses, improved concessions, renovations to the restrooms, premium seating improvements, the expansion of the clubhouse, a new retail store, new spaces for group seating and renovations to the administrative offices and the media facilities.