The Minnesota Twins return to the land of 10,000 lakes for their first game this season and it looks like they’ll be getting some decent weather for baseball.
The Twins host the Oakland Athletics Monday at 3:10 p.m. There’s a 30 percent chance of rain after 1 p.m., but otherwise it’ll be partly sunny with a high near 54 at Target Field, according to the National Weather Service.
Mild temperatures this week, especially Wednesday. Best of all? No snow is in the forecast! #mnwx #wiwx pic.twitter.com/Wlu81CyUdW
— NWS Twin Cities (@NWSTwinCities) April 6, 2014
With the weather the way it has been this spring, we’ll take it. Especially after last week’s snow.
Snow? What snow? Props the to the @TCGroundsCrew on getting the ballpark cleared! #SeeYouMonday pic.twitter.com/qdc92BTy6x
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) April 4, 2014
After the snow was cleared, crews spent Saturday getting the field ready for the home opener by painting the “Opening Series” logos on the field, WCCO says.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ma-N7ArDw9
Here’s a look at Monday’s festivities:
– Breakfast on the plaza: From 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. fans are invited to drive down 7th Street (adjacent to the Twins Majestic Clubhouse Store) and get a free ballpark breakfast. Free food and beverages will also be available to bikers and pedestrians on the 7th Street side of Target Plaza.
– Opening of the gates: At 1 p.m., legendary Twins players will ceremonially open their respective gates. Bert Blyleven will represent fellow Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew at Gate 3, Tony Oliva at Gate 6, Kent Hrbek at Gate 14, Tom Kelly will represent Rod Carew at Gate 29 and a Twins representative will represent Kirby Puckett at Gate 34.
– Home Free performance: At about 2:30 p.m. Home Free, a local a cappella group that won season four of NBC’s “The Sing-Off” will perform a pregame set on the field.
– National Anthem: Local singer and entrepreneur Thomasina Petrus will perform the National Anthem.
– Ceremonial first pitch: Minneapolis-based actor Barkhad Abdi, who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in the movie “Captain Phillips” will throw out the first pitch. Fans will get the chance to meet Abdi in the Twins Digital Clubhouse in the U.S. Bank Homerun Porch.
The Twins (2-3) finish up their series against the Cleveland Indians (3-2) on Sunday afternoon. Manager Ron Gardenhire got his 1,000th career victory in the Twins 7-3 win over the Indians on Saturday.
