A Trip Through Renovated Twins Hammond Stadium

By Ted Schwerzler |

7 of 15

Prior to the Twins embarking on Hammond Stadium in sunny Fort Myers for Spring Training 2015, there was a significant overhaul given to the stadium and grounds. While the Twins have called Fort Myers home for Spring Training and their Single-A affiliate the Miracle, the experience itself was a bit dated. Under the direction of Bill Smith, that is no longer the case.

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As beat writers boarded planes and headed down to Fort Myers to cover the Twins for the better part of the next month, they were quickly greeted by an impressive Hammond Stadium. Gone were the cramped and dingy feelings of the grounds and stadium walkways, and in its place was a top of the line stadium experience that could only be rivaled by Target Field itself.

Thanks to social media, plenty of them shared the walkthrough they were personally given by former Twins general manager Bill Smith. Take a look at what awaits you should you make the trip down to Spring Training over the course of the next month.

Here at renovated Hammond Stadium two days before Twins pitchers and catchers are due to report pic.twitter.com/fi1LWFaWMU
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) February 20, 2015

This is one of the coolest additions to the renovated CenturyLink Sports Complex pic.twitter.com/yGlA3Bg5VT
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) February 20, 2015

The view of renovated Hammond Stadium from the press box pic.twitter.com/LyfGlJrtBe
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) February 22, 2015

The Twins' new player development academy has oversized baseball cards on the walls, including these two side by side pic.twitter.com/BldxrNSLW2
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) February 22, 2015

A look at the new theater room at the player development academy that can seat more than 200 people pic.twitter.com/v3xLmOS3FD
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) February 22, 2015

And a look inside the player dorms. There are 56 of them & they're all themed based on jersey numbers. Here's room 33 pic.twitter.com/KVOS24WvQ3
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) February 22, 2015

For those who live in the academy, there's plenty in the game room with pool tables, ping pong tables & XBox Ones pic.twitter.com/QlfRFCF8m8
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) February 22, 2015

The player development academy from the outside pic.twitter.com/8KI2YfWFnH
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) February 22, 2015

The dining room at the academy can hold up to 144 people. Twins provide four meals a day. All healthy. No soda, etc. pic.twitter.com/8RDjxvodBe
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) February 22, 2015

Kirby and the everlasting words of Jack Buck provide daily inspiration outside #MNTwins minor league complex pic.twitter.com/SnntishGE6
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) February 22, 2015

Bye-bye aluminum benches! #MNTwins #HammondStadium pic.twitter.com/SZnIf13xse
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) February 20, 2015

Old-school artwork in media dining room. Recognize these guys? #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/fN3gIkHCwo
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) February 20, 2015

The #MNTwins Eight at Hammond Stadium entrance pic.twitter.com/Wmsjt5zKUB
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) February 20, 2015

Gate 3 at new-look Hammond Stadium . #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/E4j6QdBEhc
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) February 20, 2015

There you have it, behind the scenes access to what has been transformed into one of the nicer minor league and Spring Training homes in all of the major leagues. If Target Field was any indication, the Twins do upgrades the right way.

Next: ESPN Previews Twins Spring Training

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