Twins visit NFM for baseball clinic
Every winter, the Minnesota Twins visit parks throughout Southwest Florida to hold clinics for children just as their seasons are about to get under way.
Saturday was no exception as more than 50 young athletes braved the rain and the cold at Kurt Donaldson Park for one of numerous clinics the team will hold throughout the month.
Kids between the ages of 4 and 13 were given the fundamentals of hitting, pitching and fielding, just one week before Hancock Little League begins its regular season.
“We go to different Little Leagues throughout the community. We have eight clinics plus an open house at the stadium,” said Brian Maloney, senior manager of Florida operations. “We run the boys and girls through the fundamentals and have a good time.”
The Twins brought several of their longtime coaches, as well as some farmhands to help out. Among them was former major leaguer Stu Cliburn, now pitching coach for team’s AAA team in Rochester, N.Y.
“We try to talk to the groups, which are divided according to age, about grips for fastballs and changeups. We don’t talk too much about breaking balls, we want them to gain command of the other two,” Cliburn said.
Another coach was former major leaguer and Riverdale High School star Tommy Watkins, hitting coach at AA Chattanooga, Tenn., who put the kids through the paces in fielding. He said he always loves coming home to teach the children.
“It’s something they can relate to growing up in the area. It’s fun getting out and teach baseball,” Watkins said. “The kids do a great job listening. They want to get better. Baseball is year-round down here, so it’s easier to get to these kids.”
The weather was able to hold off somewhat, but the raw conditions and intermittent rain made things a little more difficult, especially for the younger ones, who were given age-appropriate drills such as ground balls, teaching them to get in front of the ball and scoop the ball with your glove.
The oldest players had to run under fly balls over their head and given instruction that was more in-depth, but still fundamental.
Cliburn had kids pitch into the backstop, with any ball getting stuck receiving points, provided they were in the strike zone, as well as pitching off the mound.
Hitters were soft-tossed wiffle balls to help them coordinate their swing, with each group spending some 20 minutes at each station before switching. The participants all got baseballs for the Twins players and reps to sign.
The kids learned a lot from the pros, with everyone taking home a little something for them to work on.
Landon Hodges, 9, said he learned to hit, pitch and catch better.
“I learned how to pitch really good and to not take a step back before delivering. I’m glad I came,” Hodges said.
“I liked the hitting the most. I need to work on the pitching and fielding,” said Cameron Deshael, 8.
“I learned not to put your elbow up when you hit because it slows you down. I need to learn to hit better,” said Bradly Milisich, 8.