Gophers baseball feeling ‘lucky’ for chance to play against Twins

After stumbling to a 2-11 record to start last season, the Gophers baseball team has been locked in to better beginning in 2020.

So far, so good. Minnesota is 2-2 after last weekend's opening four-pack of games in Arizona, which included wins over Pac-12 programs Oregon and Arizona and losses to Pepperdine and San Diego.

Now, the Gophers get to just play ball on Friday, with an exhibition against the Twins at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Fla.

"That is just an experience that anyone on this team is lucky to have," Gophers senior infielder Jordan Kozicky said. "We get to do that again this year, and I know that everyone is pumped about it. It's just a friendly game."

The Gophers played a collection of Twins prospects and non-roster invitees in 2015 and again in 2018. It was something coach John Anderson wanted to do again regardless of its tight squeeze amid their ramping-up regular season.

"That's an opportunity that you can't pass on, the impact that it has on our program," Anderson said. "We have a wonderful relationship with the Minnesota Twins and spend a day with them and celebrate that partnership.

"It's a chance for our kids to play against professional players and some major-league players depending on who they play in that game. To be in that environment and the attention you get, social media for recruiting and the perception of the program."

The Gophers have hung around with the pros, too, losing 2-1 in 2018 and 3-1 in '15.

"Hammond Stadium is packed," said Kozicky, who played in the game two years ago. "It's sold out. It's a nice welcome for a college team to make us feel special."

The Gophers will be jolted back to reality soon after the game's final out as they fly back to Minnesota to play against Texas Christian in a three-game nonconference series Saturday, Sunday and Monday at U.S. Bank Stadium.

"It's a tough go for us because it fit in on Friday … so it's a late night home and get ready to play on Saturday," Anderson said. "But I think the upside is something that you can't pass on."

To show where the Gophers' focus is, the U's frontline starting pitchers — Max Meyer, Sam Thoresen and Patrick Fredrickson — are set to start the three games here at home against the Horned Frogs (4-0).

After the TCU series, the Gophers have 11 consecutive home games at U.S. Bank Stadium as they continue to bounce back from last season's poor start and aim for a return to the NCAA tournament.

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