Paul Molitor Makes Debut As Manager At Spring Training

FORT MEYERS, Fla. (WCCO) – Monday was the first day of spring training camp, with pitchers and catchers reporting on the field.

After another season of more than 90 losses, Twins fans are expecting big changes this season.

With 14-year Manager Ron Gardenhire out of the picture, Paul Molitor stepped up to take over, although he's never managed at any level.

Many are hoping Molitor will be able to change the losing culture at the Twins, but all the Hall of Famer can do to make changes is make out the lineup card.

It all starts with the pitchers, who began their workouts in Fort Meyers Monday, including the recently-acquired, right-hander Irving Santana.

But for Molitor, today's spring training marked the end of a long wait.

"A big thing for me today was getting out on the field," he said. "This has been a long winter since the announcement was made, and a lot of preparation, obviously, over the course of the winter, trying to get ready."

Molitor may be a breath of fresh air for the struggling franchise, but unless Kyle Gibson and Ricky Nolasco can improve on the mound, Molitor's impact will be neutralized.