Boston and Minnesota Finish on Opposite Ends of the Standings in Grapefruit League Action in Spring Training 2021
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Spring Training was back this year in Southwest Florida, as the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox came to Fort Myers to gear up for regular-season action, and at the end of February, baseball fans and Southwest Florida residents were able to yet again belt out the iconic lyrics, "Take me out to the ballgame."
America's favorite pastime was not immune to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and as a result, the century-old Spring Training tradition was cut from the baseball schedule. Spring Training had not been omitted since the players' strike of 1994-95. Ultimately, the MLB was able to put on a 60-game, abbreviated season last year; however, many players and staff were affected by the disease's outbreak.
Now that a slight sense of normalcy is returning to the country, it was only appropriate that Spring Training returned in true fashion.
The Minnesota Twins, who play at Hammond Stadium - 14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers, at the CenturyLink Sports Complex, celebrated their 30th anniversary of Spring Training baseball in Lee County this year. The Boston Red Sox also came to town to play at their home away from home, JetBlue Park at Fenway South - 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers.
The two teams each ended up telling a much different story from one another in terms of record as Spring Training came to a close at the end of March. Boston finished 16-11, placing third in the standings in the Grapefruit League. Meanwhile, Minnesota finished 11-15, finishing third to last (13th overall) in the same division.
The two teams faced off seven times over the course of the preseason, including an opening bout that saw the Twins jump out to an early 5-1 lead and hang on to a 7-6 victory on Feb. 28. The head-to-head contest finished 4-2-1 in the Red Sox favor.
The Spring Training buzz has quieted down in recent weeks as the regular season started on April 1 and the two teams returned to their respective states, and baseball takes a short hiatus in Southwest Florida. The Mighty Mussels (Twins A affiliate, Hammond Stadium) kick-off action in May. Meanwhile, an art show will take place April 17-18 at JetBlue Park.
America's favorite pastime was not immune to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and as a result, the century-old Spring Training tradition was cut from the baseball schedule. Spring Training had not been omitted since the players' strike of 1994-95. Ultimately, the MLB was able to put on a 60-game, abbreviated season last year; however, many players and staff were affected by the disease's outbreak.
Now that a slight sense of normalcy is returning to the country, it was only appropriate that Spring Training returned in true fashion.
The Minnesota Twins, who play at Hammond Stadium - 14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers, at the CenturyLink Sports Complex, celebrated their 30th anniversary of Spring Training baseball in Lee County this year. The Boston Red Sox also came to town to play at their home away from home, JetBlue Park at Fenway South - 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers.
The two teams each ended up telling a much different story from one another in terms of record as Spring Training came to a close at the end of March. Boston finished 16-11, placing third in the standings in the Grapefruit League. Meanwhile, Minnesota finished 11-15, finishing third to last (13th overall) in the same division.
The two teams faced off seven times over the course of the preseason, including an opening bout that saw the Twins jump out to an early 5-1 lead and hang on to a 7-6 victory on Feb. 28. The head-to-head contest finished 4-2-1 in the Red Sox favor.
The Spring Training buzz has quieted down in recent weeks as the regular season started on April 1 and the two teams returned to their respective states, and baseball takes a short hiatus in Southwest Florida. The Mighty Mussels (Twins A affiliate, Hammond Stadium) kick-off action in May. Meanwhile, an art show will take place April 17-18 at JetBlue Park.
