The Florida Complex League Twins are the Rookie-level affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. The team plays in Fort Myers, Florida, at the Lee County Sports Complex. Prior to 2021, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Twins. The team is composed mainly of players who are in their first year of professional baseball either as draftees or non-drafted free agents from the United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and other countries.
History
In 1965, the team first played in the league's first embodiment, the Florida Rookie League, as the Florida Rookie League Twins. The league was renamed as the Gulf Coast League for the 1966 season. The team suspended operations after the 1971 season, but returned to the GCL in 1989. Prior to the 2021 season, the league was again renamed, becoming the Florida Complex League.
The Twins compete in the league's Southern Division. In 2009, the Twins won the South with a 34–21 record under manager Jake Mauer, the older brother of former Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer. They lost 1–0 in twelve innings to the wild card winning GCL Nationals in the one game playoff. Following the season, Mauer was promoted to manager of the Florida State League Fort Myers Miracle, and Chris Heintz took the reins for the Twins. Like Mauer, Heintz was also a player in the Twins organization. He coached with the Beloit Snappers the final two months of the 2009 season. In addition to managing the Rookie-level club, Heintz also ran the Twins' extended spring training.
On July 25, 2010, it was announced that Tom Brunansky, member of the 1987 Twin's championship team, accepted a job to be the hitting coach for the team.
As of the 2021 season, there is no league limit to how many players can be on an active roster, but no team can have more than three players with four or more years of minor-league experience.
Roster
Season-by-season Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs FRL Twins1965 32-28 3rd Fred Waters No playoffsGCL Twins1966 24–24 3rd Fred Waters No playoffs until 1983 1967 29–29 3rd Fred Waters 1968 32–27 4th Fred Waters 1969 21–32 6th Fred Waters 1970 34–29 4th Fred Waters 1971 22–30 5th Fred Waters 1989 27–36 10th (t) Joel Lepel 1990 32–30 8th (t) Joel Lepel 1991 27–33 12th (t) Dan Rohn 1992 30–28 7th Jim Lemon 1993 23–36 12th Jose Marzan 1994 22–38 13th Jose Marzan 1995 20–35 14th Mike Boulanger 1996 30–30 9th Mike Boulanger 1997 28–32 8th Steve Liddle 1998 34-26 3rd (t) Steve Liddle Lost in 1st roundvs. GCL Rangers (1 game to 0)1999 33–26 3rd Al Newman Lost League Finalsvs. GCL Mets (2 games to 0)Won in 1st roundvs. GCL Rangers (1 game to 0)2000 33–23 4th Al Newman 2001 32–26 6th Al Newman 2002 35–25 4th Rudy Hernandez 2003 28–31 7th Rudy Hernandez 2004 31–26 5th Riccardo Ingram 2005 28–26 4th (t) Nelson Prada 2006 26–27 7th Nelson Prada 2007 37–19 3rd Nelson Prada Lost in 1st roundvs. GCL Yankees (1 game to 0) 2008 35–21 2nd Jake Mauer Lost in 1st roundvs. GCL Nationals (1 game to 0) 2009 34–21 3rd Jake Mauer Lost in 1st roundvs. GCL Nationals (1 game to 0) 2010 29–31 10th (t) Chris Heintz (2–5) / Ramon Borrego (27–26) 2011 31–29 6th Ramon Borrego 2012 33–27 6th Ramon Borrego 2013 28–32 8th (t) Ramon Borrego 2014 23–37 14th (t) Ramon Borrego 2015 27–32 9th (t) Ramon Borrego 2016 32–29 6th Ramon Borrego 2017 35–23 3rd Ramon Borrego Lost in 1st roundvs. GCL Nationals (1 game to 0) 2018 32–24 5th Dan Ramsay 2019 30–21 4th Robbie Robinson Playoffs cancelled due to Hurricane Dorian
References
External links Official website