Twins to put future on display Friday in exhibition game vs. Gophers

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Close your eyes. Imagine it's a few years in the future, 2023 maybe.

Royce Lewis is leading off. Alex Kirilloff follows him, with Ryan Jeffers, Trevor Larnach and Brent Rooker behind them.

Actually, scrap that activity. No need to look years into the future. The Twins will do just that Friday in an exhibition game against the Gophers at Hammond Stadium, trotting out a lineup of their top prospects for their first game of the spring. While the game will not be televised, fans can listen in on the Treasure Island Baseball Network or MLB.com.

Lewis, the top pick in the 2017 MLB draft, is the Twins' No. 1 prospect, per MLBPipeline. Kirilloff, their 2016 first-round pick, is their No. 2 prospect. Larnach, the 2018 first-rounder, checks in at No. 4. Rooker, an outfielder, is the team's No. 7 prospect, Jeffers is No. 9, Gilberto Celestino is No. 19, and Travis Blankenhorn is No. 22.

"It's fun to throw a lot of our really good young players out there and watch them play together," manager Rocco Baldelli said. "It's cool to see these guys out there, and it's fun regardless. But it's fun when you really get to see them team up, and you watch them run around at the same time and watch them interact with each other. Hopefully, they have some fun out there. It'll be a fun night. I'm looking forward to it."

Pitcher Randy Dobnak is slated to start the game, with Trevor May, Tyler Duffey, Matt Wisler, Blaine Hardy, Danny Coulombe and Sam Clay also scheduled to throw in the exhibition.

The next day, the Twins will get underway with Grapefruit League action in Bradenton, where major leaguers will start to see their first spring action.

MEDIA DAY PUPPIES

Twins players made the rounds Thursday morning, sitting down for television and radio interviews and cycling through photo stations during media day.

Josh Donaldson with his new friend, Mulligan pic.twitter.com/hhPynDW4O6

— Betsy Helfand (@betsyhelfand) February 20, 2020

Perhaps the most popular stop came down the left-field line, where players posed for pictures with puppies who are up for adoption. Mulligan, a young black-and-white pup, found a new fan in Josh Donaldson, while Wrigley snuggled up to Trevor May and Eddie Rosario made a five-month old husky friend.

Jorge Polanco went for the only non-pup of the group, posing for pictures with a rabbit.

"This is my bunny now," he joked.

Here are photos of baseball players with dogs to brighten up your day pic.twitter.com/7T5FqnkhMt

— Betsy Helfand (@betsyhelfand) February 20, 2020

Also on hand, French bulldog Binger Gonzalez, a regular around the ballpark, who posed with Marwin Gonzalez. Baldelli's dog, Bowie, by the way, is expected to arrive in Florida and make an appearance at the park soon.

BRIEFLY

The Twins plan to get designated hitter Nelson Cruz back in action in "the next day or two," Baldelli said. Cruz was hit on the wrist on Wednesday by a Cody Stashak pitch, but said he just had a bruise. X-rays were negative.

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