Thursday, February 13

By the time this email hits your inbox, workouts will be under way at the Twins' complex in Fort Myers, Fla. Stretching, long toss, all the exciting stuff has started as pitchers and catchers begin the 7 1/2-month (hopefully more) grind of a baseball season.

Personally, I won’t be joining them just yet. I won’t be in Fort Myers for another two weeks. Your Twins coverage in the interim will be primarily handled by another MLB.com veteran, Bill Ladson.

Here are three storylines to watch as camp gets going.

1. Are they really, truly healthy?

Health is a major issue for any team, but it’s always in the spotlight with Minnesota. With better injury luck, the 2024 Twins might well have made the postseason. Instead, Joe Ryan didn’t throw a pitch after Aug. 7, Carlos Correa missed the vast majority of the second half and although Byron Buxton played his most total games since 2017, he too was unavailable for a large chunk of the stretch run.

So far, all indications are positive. Correa said at TwinsFest that he feels great. The club reports that Ryan is on a normal throwing schedule and shouldn’t have any issues this spring. And Buxton has had his first normal offseason in years, free of any rehab or physical therapy or the like.

Now they just have to stay healthy. 

2. How does the infield shake out?

A few days ago, the Twins had a big question at first base. With the addition of Ty France, who has agreed to terms on a one-year deal pending a physical, first is probably a little clearer -- but second base may be less so. And even first isn’t set in stone.

This much we know: Correa is the starting shortstop, and Royce Lewis is a heavy favorite to be the main man at third. Lewis has done some work at second, but it is much more likely he’s ticketed for the hot corner. France is probably the primary first baseman, but he’s coming off a rough year and he has a non-guaranteed contract.

Brooks Lee and Edouard Julien will both be looking for playing time at second, and Willi Castro seems likely to get plenty of run somewhere. Then there’s Jose Miranda, who had been the favorite to get the bulk of ABs at first, but now probably becomes the top option at DH. Austin Martin will probably get a few reps on the dirt as well, though the current roster composition suggests that his best opportunity this year will be in the outfield.

There are a lot of pieces, and manager Rocco Baldelli and the front office will spend the spring trying to figure out how they best fit together. 

3. Are there still scars?

Nobody needs to be reminded how last year ended. You don’t. The players don’t. The coaching staff and front office don’t. For one thing, it’s mostly the same people coming to camp now who endured last September. How could they forget? Which raises an essential question: Is last year completely in the rearview mirror?

One thing you should know about big league ballplayers: They don’t get to this level if they can’t separate. If you can’t put yesterday behind you, whether it was good or bad, you simply don’t reach the very top of baseball. But there’s going 0-for-5 or allowing a walk-off homer, and then there’s going 12-27 down the stretch when you’re in playoff position.

The safest bet is that the warm weather, the challenge of a new season and the excitement of getting back to work will have the desired effect, and the focus will be on the future rather than the past. But every national reporter who comes through camp will ask the same questions, and the Twins will need to show that 2025 is all they’re thinking about. 

Pablo López was recently named the Twins' Opening Day starter. It would be his third straight time receiving the honor. Who was the last Twins pitcher to start at least three straight openers?

A. José Berríos

B. Carl Pavano

C. Brad Radke

D. Johan Santana

Friday is the 24th birthday of Brooks Lee. 

The countdown to Grapefruit League games has reached single digits. The Twins open their Spring Training season on Feb. 22 at home against the Braves. For single-game tickets, five-game ticket packs, group tickets as well as a request form for spring season tickets, click here. 

C. Radke started seven straight openers (1999-2005), and nine in 10 years.

As I write this, it’s Wednesday, the first night of the Drive-By Truckers’ annual Athens, Ga., Homecoming shows. We’ve been regulars at Homecoming for the past decade, and this is our last one before we move. So here are my five favorite Truckers songs to sing along to at a concert.

1. “Marry Me” 

2. “Where the Devil Don’t Stay” 

3. “18 Wheels Of Love” 

4. “The Company I Keep” 

5. “Let There Be Rock” 

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