CommunityA brand new program from the Minnesota Twins and the National Sports Center!
The Minnesota Twins, in partnership with the National Sports Center, introduce a new program providing amateur athletes with a way to contiue developing their baseball skills in the offseason.
Offseason training at the NSC allows players an opportunity to continue to develop their skills when they are not able to be outside, as well as prepare for next season's tryouts. The Minnesota Twins Training Academy offers both pitching and hitting instruction twice a week in three and four week long sessions. Players may pick either pitching or hitting instruction or combine both disciplines.
The Junior sessions are for players ages 10-13 and focus on the strong development of fundamentals. The Senior sessions are for players age 14-18 and feature more advanced instruction. Players will train in small groups and benefit from a small player to coach ratio, allowing for more one on one instruction. Small group instrucion 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.
In addition to top quality instruction from the region's best coaches, camp participants will also receive a camp T-shirt.
Camp registrants will be taken until the camp is full; there are limited spaces for each camp! For questions or more inforation, call 612-659-3506.
Ages 10-13 years
Pitching
This camp provides players an opportunity to receive fundamental and intermedia pitching instruction. Instruction focuses on the proper pitching mechanics, pitch control, arm strength and conditioning, and mental preparedness. Players learn drills that suit their needs to continue developing into a great pitcher.
Hitting
This camp provides players an opportunity to receive fundamental and intermediate hitting instruction. The camp will focus on the proper hitting mechanics, including drills and exercises in mental preparedness that are needed to develop young players into accomplished hitters.
VIEW JUNIOR SESSION SCHEDULE »
Ages 14-18 years
Pitching
This camp provides players an opportunity to receive intermediate and advanced pitching instruction. Instruction focuses on fine-tuning pitching mechanics, pin-point control, pitching patterns, pick-offs and fielding, pitching strategy, arm strength and conditioning and developing more types of pitches for your arsenal. Players learn and practice with the same drills and techniques used by the Minnesota Twins pitching staff.
Hitting
This camp provides players an opportunity to receive intermediate and advanced hitting instruction. Instruction focuses on fine-tuning and continued development of the hitting mechanics as well as learning to develop a "hitting plan" at the plate, hitting to the plate, hitting to all fields, developing power and hitting off speed pitches.
*PLEASE NOTE: SENIOR HITTING CAMP 4 IS SOLD OUT.
VIEW SENIOR SESSION SCHEDULE »
Built by the State of Minnesota as part of a statewide building program to improve Minnesota amateur sports facilities, the NSC was opened in 2010. The current 600-acre campus is the world's largest and is a home for soccer, hockey, golf, track & field, cycling, lacrosse, skating, broomball, ultimate disc, rugby and now 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.
The mission of the Minnesota Twins Training Camps has akways been to provide Upper Midwest youth with quality baseball instruction at an affordable price in a safe and encouraging atmosphere. During both summer and winter sessions, Twins training camps participants have become accustomed to receiving Major League instruction and learning how to play baseball the Twins way. Twins Training camps have catered to athletes wanting to improve their baseball skills in a serious instructional atmosphere.
Pitching Director - Erik Lovdahl
Erik Lovdahl has 19 years of experience coaching at the high school and collegiate levels. He is a former professional pitcher and currently serves as a Twins batting practice pitcher. He is the owner of Lovdahl Pitching Academy and the MYAS Gopher State Pitching Camp Director. Lovdahl and his staff have trained countless players at all levels throughout the Upper Midwest.
"Erik has been around [youth] baseball a long time.
Patience, mechanics, repeating deliveries & conditioning are all important parts of teaching young baseball players how to play ahnd respect the game of baseball. He has the knowledge, personality & experience to help players develop their skills and he is the ideal director for the Twins pitching program.
- Terry Ryan, Twins Senior Advisor to the General Manager
Hitting Director - Brian Raabe
Brian Raabe is the head baseball coach at Forest Lake High School. He is an alumnus of the University of Minnesota where he was a four-time letter winner, receiving All Big-Ten and All American honors in 1990. Raabe played for four professional teams including the Minnesota Twins, Colorado Rockies, Seattle Mariners and Seibu Lions of the Japanese League. He was a six-time Minor League All-Star and 1996 batting champion.
When I hear Brian talk about hitting, I think to myself that it could have been words out of my mouth. He knows hitting fundamentals and how to teach coaches and players, I'm very impressed with how he teaches hitting.
- Harmon Killebrew, Twins legend & National Baseball Hall of Fame member
