Teams 
The Minnesota Twins, in partnership with the National Sports Center and Sports & Orthopaedic Specialists (SAOS), are excited to introduce the third year of the Twins Training Academy at the National Sports Center. This program provides amateur athletes with a way to continue developing their baseball skills in the offseason. Training the Twins way at the National Sports Center is a great way to prepare for next season's tryouts as well as become an elite player.
The Twins Training Academy provides Upper Midwest youth with top-quality baseball instruction at an affordable price in a safe and encouraging atmosphere. Twins personnel, minor league players and alumni as well as top college and high school coaches will provide instruction. Training at the Twins Training Academy is catered to athletes wanting to improve their skills in a serious instructional atmosphere.
The Twins Training Academy will again offer pitching, hitting and infield instruction, and new this year we have added sessions for battery mates and players looking to increase arm strength. Battery mate sessions feature ½ hour of pitching warm up and catching instruction followed by ½ hour of throwing a bullpen. Designed by SAOS, the throwing program is an excellent way to strengthen your arm and/or recover from an injury. Pitching, hitting and infield sessions are a great way to improve and master your skills in these three key areas of the game. Within each schedule block, players may pick any single discipline or combine more than one.
All aspects of training again feature the presence of SAOS; the orthopaedic physicians group of the Minnesota Twins. SAOS provide leading edge sports medical knowledge as well an advanced understanding of bio-mechanic training.
The junior training sessions are for players ages 10-13 and focus on strong skill development - these sessions will set an excellent foundation for advanced training. The senior training sessions are for players ages 14-18 and feature more advanced instruction - these sessions will help make you an elite varsity player and possible college prospect. Players train in small groups, benefitting from a small player to coach ratio and allowing for more one-on-one instruction. Small group instruction allows players to not only experience more time with the instructors, but also to watch and learn from fellow participants as well as develop friendships.
Together with the Twins, National Sports Center and Sports & Orthopaedic Specialists, the Twins Training Academy provides unique training that you cannot receive anywhere else.
National Sports Center
Built by the State of Minnesota as part of a statewide building program to improve Minnesota amateur sports facilities, the NSC was opened in 1990. The current 600-acre campus is the world's largest and is a home for soccer, hockey, golf, track & field, cycling, lacrosse and baseball. Since opening its doors, the NSC has hosted over 22 million visitors. Operated by the National Sports Center Foundation, a non-profit corporation, part of the NSC mission is to provide amateur sports opportunities to Minnesota residents.
Sports & Orthopaedic Specialists
Sports and Orthopaedic Specialists are the orthopedic physicians for the Minnesota Twins. The guiding mission of SAOS is to provide unsurpassed patient care and their staff is dedicated to providing excellent service to all of their patients. Their strong research and education team assures that they always remain at the leading edge of medical practices and technology. They have committed to working with young athletes in different sports in an effort to educate them in injury prevention. Specializing in surgical and non-operative orthopedics, SAOS has seven orthopedic and sports medicine physicians, all specialty-trained. SAOS has locations in Minneapolis, Edina, Plymouth, Blaine, and St. Cloud. To schedule an appointment call SAOS at 952-946-9777.
Erik Lovdahl - Pitching Director
Erik Lovdahl has more than 20 years of experience coaching and instructing at the youth, high school and collegiate levels. He is a former professional pitcher and currently serves as a Twins batting practice pitcher and Director of Twins Training Camps. In his role with the Twins, Erik has worked with Twins Pitching Coach Rick Anderson and teaches many of the same techniques the Twins pitchers work on. He is the owner of Lovdahl Pitching Academy as well as the Gopher State Baseball League Pitching Director. Erik has trained countless players at all levels throughout the Upper Midwest.
“ Erik has been around baseball a long time. Patience, mechanics, repetition & conditioning are all important parts of teaching players how to play & respect the game. He has the knowledge, personality & experience to help players develop and he is the ideal director for the Twins pitching program. ” - Terry Ryan, Twins Senior Advisor to the General Manager
Brian Raabe - Hitting and Defense Director
Brian Raabe is a former infielder for the Minnesota Twins and the Head Baseball Coach at Bethel University. Along with the Twins, Brian has also spent time with the Colorado Rockies, Seattle Mariners and Seibu Lions of the Japanese Pacific League. Brian was a six-time Minor League All-Star and 1996 AAA batting champion. He is also an alumnus of the University of Minnesota where he was a four-time letter winner, receiving All Big-Ten and All America honors in 1990. Brian is also the Play Ball! Minnesota Ambassador for the Twins Community Fund and long time clinic instructor.
“When I hear Brian talk about hitting, I think to myself that it could have been words out of my mouth. He knows hitting and how to teach coaches and players, I'm very impressed with how he teaches. ” - Harmon Killebrew, Twins legend
Tom Kiff, ATC - Sports Medicine Director
Tom is a certified athletic trainer and Specialty Outreach Program Coordinator for Sports and Orthopaedic Specialists. He obtained a graduate degree from the University of Minnesota where he also worked from 1995-2004, including directing the medical care for the back-to-back hockey National Champions in 2002 and 2003. He also worked in three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers; including Super Bowl XXIX. In 2009, he worked as a sports medicine consultant for the Minnesota Wild. His previous clients include many current and former NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA and Olympic athletes. Tom works closely with the Pitching Blocks, providing strengthening and education components.
“Tom's skills and experience working with the overhead athlete are phenomenal. He is able to incorporate exercises that address injury prevention and sports performance specific to the shoulder and core strength; both critical to improving an athlete's stability and overall function. ” - Dr. Daniel Buss, Minnesota Twins Team Physician
Chris Johnson, ATC - Throwing Program Design
Chris has been a full time minor league athletic trainer for the Twins since 2006. During the 2010 season, he was based at Target Field as the rehab trainer for the major league club. In the off-season he works with Sports and Orthopaedic Specialists in clinic, and one-on-one with their rehabilitating athletes. Chris is also heavily involved with Sports and Orthopaedic Specialists' Return to Throw Program, for athletes that are returning from shoulder or elbow injuries, and UCL management protocols. Chris has used his vast experience to design the Twins Training Academy Throwing Program.
Other Instructors Include College/High School Coaches and Twins Minor League Players:What People Are Saying
“ I strongly recommend training at the Twins Training Academy. The pitching program with Eric Lovdahl is quality training that sets a priority on proper mechanics and arm safety. With a good coach to player ratio, Eric and his staff train the player for the entire position. It is complete pre-season training to get your athlete not only game ready but season ready. ” - PATRICK BRYAN, PARENT OF TWINS TRAINING ACADEMY ALUMNUS
“ My son loved going to the Twins Training Academy. The level of coaching he received was outstanding. All the coaches made it a point to get to know each and every child. The Twins put together a very well rounded program that exposed my son to the drills that the professionals use while keeping it fun and challenging. The following season my son made the AAA baseball team!” - SCOTT HANSON, PARENT OF TWINS TRAINING ACADEMY ALUMNUS
“ The Twins Training Academy instructors teach hitting in a way that breaks the swing down into simple understandable fundamentals. They were able to quickly identify fundamental flaws in my son's swing. Because the instructors not only teach the kids, but parents as well - I was able to help my son work at home and my son still uses all the drills that were taught to help his swing. Brian Raabe and Toby Gardenhire were excellent instructors. ” - CHAD IHLENFELDT, PARENT OF TWINS TRAINING ACADEMY ALUMNUS
Pitching
Learn key fundamentals and intermediate skills
Hitting
Practice the skills to become an advanced hitter
Infield
Learn to play gold-glove defense
PITCHING
Learn the same drills and techniques of the Twins
HITTING
Become an elite hitter
INFIELD
Become an elite fielder
BATTERY MATES
Instruction includes a 30-minute warm-up followed by a monitored bullpen for pitchers each session. Catchers receive 30 minutes of skill instruction, including receiving, footwork and blocking, followed by a monitored bullpen with their battery mate each session.
THROWING PROGRAM
This program is designed to improve on all the key aspects of throwing including proper mechanics, shoulder strength, flexibility, core and leg strength and proper training progressions. For all positions players, pitchers and catchers, if you want to add more velocity to your throws or if you need to rebuild you arm strength after an injury, this is the perfect opportunity. Weekly sessions alternate between throwing and strength work.
| Session | Fee |
|---|---|
| Hitting Block 1 | $230 |
| Pitching Block 1 | $230 |
| Hitting Block 2, 3 or 4 | $280 |
| Pitching Block 2, 3, or 4 | $280 |
| Infield Block | $140 |
| Battery Mates* must register with a partner |
$115 each |
| Throwing Program | $560 |
Multiple Discipline/Block Discount - Register for multiple disciplines or blocks of the same discipline and receive a 5% discount off your total registration fee.
Early Bird Discount - Register before October 27, 2011 and receive 10% off your total registration fee.
