DULUTH, Minn. (Northern News Now) – With temperatures expected to dip to -30 degrees this week in the Northland, spring sports are not top of mind.
But believe it or not, the Minnesota Twins begin spring training a month from today down in sunny Florida, but before heading down to the Sunshine State, players made a pitstop in Duluth as part of the team’s winter caravan tour.
Pitchers Mick Abel and Justin Topa, as well as former Twins player LaTroy Hawkins, answered questions from fans and young athletes.
Fans were able to get autographs from the players and also had the chance of winning free Twins tickets through a raffle.
Hawkins, who was an original Twins draft pick back in 1991, says the community outreach done by the Twins is second to none.
“I’ve played in ten cities, and most teams I’ve played for don’t even scratch the surface compared to the way we do it in Minnesota. Twins Territory is so large, with lots of smaller towns and cities, but those people make up a lot of our fan base. Being able to see them and not have them come to Minneapolis every time is exciting,” says Hawkins.
Fans gathered at the Elite Sports Complex in Duluth, and owner Aaron Larson is happy to host an event where young athletes can meet their role models.
“It’s really cool because they are their heroes. It can inspire them to play any sport at the next level, and just being able to meet one player is a huge motivator for the families and the athletes themselves,” says Larson.
Pitcher Mick Abel was traded to the Twins from the Philadelphia Phillies last season, and the winter caravan gives him a chance to explore his new home state.
“I’ve never been around Minnesota, and I think there’s no better way than to come out to different communities, cities, and towns and spread the love of the game and of Twins baseball,” says Abel.
The winter caravan tour stops in Rochester, Fargo, and St. Cloud before the Alumni caravan makes a stop at the Blackwoods Blizzard tour in Carlton, MN.
The Twins open the 2026 season on the road against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday, March 29.
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