Minnesota Twins Release Virtual TwinsFest Details

The coronavirus pandemic and forced many different events to change how they operate and TwinsFest is no different.

We knew that the Twins Winter Caravan was going to take a break in 2021 when the Twins announced the cancellation of the event back in November. At the time, they also announced that TwinsFest was going to go virtual in 2021. We now know what that entails.

The Minnesota Twins released the information Thursday afternoon, telling fans to mark Saturday, January 30th on their calendars as there is a whole day of activities, performances, town halls, and more! The entire schedule is available here, but here are some of the highlights of the day:

10:30 a.m. to 10:55 a.m. - Hitting 101 with Ryan Jeffers and Justin Morneau

"Whether you have a child gearing up for their baseball or softball season, or if you’re a weekend warrior looking to get a leg up on 2021, here’s your chance to get hitting tips from current Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers and Twins Hall-of-Famer Justin Morneau! Join us as Jeffers (who posted a .791 OPS as a rookie in 2020) and Morneau (the 2006 American League MVP and 2014 National League batting champion) take fans through a session in the cages, from setup and approach, to pitch recognition and swing mechanics."

Justin Morneau was always one of my favorite hitters to watch when he played for the Twins, and kids getting the chance to learn a little more about hitting from a Twins Hall-of-Famer is going to be incredible!

12:00 p.m. to 12:55 p.m.- Town Hall with Twins Leadership

"Join us to talk Twins, and learn how the back-to-back A.L. Central Division Champions are approaching 2021, during this “Town Hall” with club leadership – Executive Chair Jim Pohlad, President & CEO Dave St. Peter and President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey. Hosted by Twins broadcaster Dick Bremer, this Q&A is your opportunity to get the inside scoop on all things Twins!"

We all want to know why the Twins do or do not sign a certain player in free agency, or maybe fans want to know how the organization feels about a certain player in the farm system. Get all of those questions answered and more?! Sounds like a Twins fans' paradise!

2:00 p.m. to 2:25 p.m. - Shop Talk with Torii Hunter, Joe Mauer and Kirk Cousins presented by U.S. Bank

"Three athletes, each of whom have reached the peak of their profession, sit for a candid conversation on successes, failures and life outside of their sport. Featuring Twins legend Joe Mauer (recruited by Florida State University to play quarterback) and current Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (a high school standout as a pitcher and third baseman), and hosted by Twins Hall-of-Famer Torii Hunter (also a star high school QB), this roundtable discussion is sure to delight any Minnesota sports fan!"

Joe Mauer was a legend in Minnesota before he even put on a Twins uniform, and his career after that just enhanced that status. A chance to learn more about the experiences of Torii Hunter and Kirk Cousins just makes this experience even more incredible. A must for many Minnesota sports fans.

While TwinsFest is not exactly what most Twins fans would hope for, the new schedule is sure to put a lot of smiles on fans' faces. There are also actvities just for the kids:

1:00 p.m. to 1:25 p.m.- Kids Takeover

"Play Ball – it’s time for the kids to run the show! Kids of all ages who dream about sitting in the dugout and talking baseball with their favorite player will enjoy this interactive chat with Twins outfielder Jake Cave. Hosted by WCCO Radio personality Cory Hepola, this Q&A gives our youngest Twins fans the opportunity to talk directly with a Major Leaguer!"

Check out the entire schedule and more right here. 

You can listen in on Minnesota Twins action all season long on 103.1 KFIL and on Newstalk 1340 KROC-AM and 96.9-FM.