The Minnesota Twins Baseball Fantasy Camp is the officially licensed fantasy camp of the Minnesota Twins. The camp is a perfect opportunity for Twins fans or other baseball fans to share in the major league baseball experience. Held each year at the Lee County Sports Complex - Twins Spring Training facilities in Ft. Myers, Florida, the camp provides participants the opportunity to dress in a big league locker room each day, wear a major league uniform, play a minimum of 7 games on the same beautiful and well manicured diamonds used by the Twins, be coached by former major league greats and rekindle the passion you had as a child for America's pastime.
The camp is held in beautiful Ft. Myers, Florida and his conducted at the CenturyLink Sports Complex – Winter Home of the Minnesota Twins. The camp is typically held during the second week of January. The 2023 camp is tentatively scheduled to be held January 7th-14th. Recommended travel dates, to ensure that you're in camp for all of the week's festivities, are Saturday, January 7th (plan on arriving by late morning, or early afternoon), with a departure of Sunday, January 15th when you'll check out of your hotel room.
Any player 30 years of age or older is eligible to attend. Campers age 25 or older are also eligible to participate in the camp, provided they are playing with an eligible relative (parent, grandparent, etc.). However, while campers below the age of 25 are eligible to pitch at camp, they can only pitch 3 innings for the week, they must appear as a game starter, may only make one appearance, and only in Monday or Tuesday's pool games. They are also eligible to pitch in the "Pro-Camper" game played on Friday afternoon. Campers below the age of 30 will also not be eligible to receive camp awards in the "MVP", "Silver Slugger", "Gold Glove", "Cy Young" or "Rookie of the Year" categories. They would be eligible for the "Kirby Puckett" award given to that camper that most reflects the passion, positive attitude and love of the game that Twins Great, Kirby Puckett brought to the field each day.
The camp truly attracts players of all ages and of all levels – from players who may not have played since little league to those who may have played college, amateur or minor league ball. Following opening day stretching, baseball clinics and an inner-squad game, our former Major Leaguers, who will serve as your coaches, draft their teams for the week. The teams always prove to be very balanced and competitive.
The answer is quite frankly, as much as you want. Every camper will be scheduled to play a minimum of 7 games during the week (double headers most days). To ensure that "at bats" are equally distributed, batting orders are set to run consecutively from game to game. In other words, whoever was due up after the last out of the previous game, becomes the lead-off hitter for the next game. In addition to the daily games, you will find our staff of Pro's more than happy to work with you on additional batting practice or to share other tips that can improve your game.
Our camp staff consists of many of the greats from Minnesota Twins history and past camps have included such Twins greats such as Harmon Killebrew, Bert Blyleven, Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, Kent Hrbek, Frank Viola, Bill "Soup" Campbell, Jeff Reardon, Tom Brunansky, Rick Aguilera, Gene Larkin, Tim Laudner, Scott Erickson, Steve Lombardozzi, Phil Roof, Dick Stigman, Tommy Watkins, Glen Perkins, JC Romero, Juan Rincon, Eddie Guardado, Toby Gardenhire, - most of whom have been with us for at recent camps. In addition to the former Twins, its not uncommon to see current Twins like Jorge Polanco, Luis Arraez, Miquel Sano, or others at the facilities preparing for the approaching season.
In addition to the former major league players, you will also work with some of the same clubhouse staff that looks after the Twins major league team. Our training staff is also made up of members of the Twins staff and will be there to professionally treat any aches or pains that you might develop or to coach you on injury prevention. Twins Massage Therapist, Kelli Bergheim is also available for optional care at a very modest price.
Without fail, the most frequent feedback we get from campers concerns there amazement as to just how approachable our Pro's are, and how much quality time they spend with each of the campers. In addition to the time in the clubhouse and fields, our Pro's attend the evening dinners and events and are more than willing to pose for pictures and to sign autographs. We also have a camp photographer who will be taking action photos, or poses with Pro Legends or teammates that you would like. This is an optional service.
All you'll need to bring is your glove, shoes (we prefer rubber spikes - but steel spikes are allowed) and your personal undergarments (navy blue sleeves or a T-shirt, jock, compression shorts, sanitary socks, etc.). We'll provide you with a home and away MLB jersey of the team of your choice, game pants, belt, socks and a New Era fitted hat. We will also equip each team with batting helmets, catcher's gear, bats, balls, etc. The Minnesota Twins Fantasy Camp uses only wood bats. We will have an adequate supply of wood bats in various sizes for campers to use. You are certainly welcome to bring along a personal bat to use at camp, but the camp cannot be responsible for personal bats broken by you or another camper during the course of play.
Several years ago we made the decision to use wood bats exclusively at the Twins Camp. The goal was to enhance safety to our campers and to recreate, as best we can, a real "Big League" experience. The camp provides wood bats for use by the campers in a variety of lengths, styles and weights. We're also happy to have as a camp partner, Max Bats, Inc. of Brooten, Minnesota. Max Bats are used by many current major league players and registered campers are eligible for a "camp discount" through Max Bats should they decide to buy and bring their own timber to camp. If you're interested in purchasing your own bat, please contact us at info@yuratwin.com to learn how you can order and receive your camp discount.
Our goal is to recreate a real major league experience. To that end, while at camp you'll be assigned your own big league locker and your uniforms, sleeves or T-shirts, and baseball underwear will be laundered daily by our team of clubhouse professionals. You will also have available to you, our team of professional trainers to assist you in working through any injuries, aches or pains that you might encounter from a week of baseball. Trust us when we say that our trainers will do everything in their power to get you out on the field each day.
While many of our campers do elect to rent their own cars during camp week, we do provide daily round-trip shuttle service from the hotel to the ballpark. We have traditionally negotiated a camp "discount" with one of the major rental car companies and would plan do so again next year. We will make that discount information as we approach camp week.
Yes, a vendor will be on hand to make available, at very attractive prices, bats, Rawlings baseballs or other items that you might want to have signed by the Pro's or your teammates.
Our camp headquarters is the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Bell Towers in Ft. Myers. Your registration fee includes your hotel stay (double occupancy – single occupancy is available for an additional $625 for the week), a breakfast at the clubhouse each morning, daily lunches at the ballpark, the welcome reception (full banquet meal), as well as the four evening banquets included in the schedule.
Any reservation for an additional night at the hotel due to early arrival or late departure can be made through the camp. By booking through the camp, we can adjust your room reservation in advance of camp and ensure you receive the camp rate of $175.00 per night - which includes the 11% state and local taxes.
The Twins Fantasy Camp is truly a family affair! Each year, on average, approximately 35-40% of our campers will have their spouse or significant other accompany them to Ft Myers. Private rooms for you and your spouse are available upon request, and private rooms do require an additional $600 up-charge.
Spouses or friends may also join you for lunch or one, or all of our evening banquets. There is an additional per meal charge for family members and friends. Reservations can be made for family members at the registration desk on the opening Saturday registration. Family and friends are welcome to join us at any of the baseball games played the week of camp at no charge.
Attire for the camp is casual. We recommend business casual for the farewell and awards banquet as we will be taking photos of award recipients that evening and will use those photos in our camp newsletter. The sunshine of Florida in January is a real departure from the cold and snow that we find in the upper Midwest. Don't forget your swimming trunks – the Crowne Plaza has a full size outdoor pool if you want to take a dip or just lay in the sun. However, the evenings can be cool and recommend that you bring a light jacket with you.
Yes, at each camp we make several awards in both an over and under age 50 categories, including camp the "Silver Slugger", "Most Valuable Player", "Cy Young", "Gold Glove", "Rookie of the Year" and others. We also recognize an MVP for each of the games played. All recipients are selected by our staff of former Major Leaguers. Again, campers under the age of 30 would only be eligible for the "Kirby Puckett" Award. In 2017, we also added recognition for a Most Valuable Player to be named by each of the teams participating in camp. As with the other awards, those team MVP's are selected by their Pro Staff coaches. The "Silver Slugger" Award goes to that camper who has the highest batting average with the qualifying number of "at bats".
The camp experience, which includes your personal uniforms, cap, meals, room, instruction from the Pro's and awards, the cost is $5,495 - plus tax, ($4,995 - plus tax for Returning Campers as they already have their personalized uniform). A $1,250 deposit is required with registration and the balance due by November 1st, 2024. Because we have to make commitments and pre-payments to the hotels and caterers in advance of the camp, cancellations after November 1st will result in the forfeiture of $500 of the original deposit (however, you can be use this $500 as a credit for a future camp). Cancellations after December 1st are not eligible for refund as we have committed funds by that time. However, we may be able to arrange for the cancelled camper to use those funds already committed to a future camp.
All base fees assume a semi-private room (you would either select or be assigned another camper room-mate). Private rooms are available upon request for an additional $750 for the 8 night stay at the camp hotel.
Each year we do have campers that either live or own a second home in the Ft Myers area. Any camper that does not require lodging at the camp hotel is eligible for a $600 discount for the week. That amount can be subtracted from the posted registration fees for camp. We are often asked if we feel it important that first year campers stay at the hotel to get the complete experience. We believe that to be an individual call. However, it is not uncommon to spend time visiting with the Pro Staff members after any of the evening events. We also know that many life long friendships have been forged by spending time with your fellow campers.
As stated earlier, veterans receive a discount because they already have their uniforms. Repeat participants can also receive a discount by registering the week of camp for the following year. Any camper not needing a hotel room also receives a $500 discount off the listed registration price.
You can register on-line by clicking on the registration icon found on the Minnesota Twins web site or by visiting our home page at www.yuratwin.com. You may also contact us and register by phone at 1-800-592-2714. While we prefer Discover, Master Card or Visa, we do also accept American Express Cards. An additional $200 will be added to the appropriate base rate for campers paying via credit card. Due to the current inflationary environment and our need to contract hotel rooms and other aspects of the camp a year in advance, this is unfortunately one of the only hedges we have to protect against those increasing costs.
We are also more than happy to take personal checks in lieu of the use of a credit card and/or discuss a payment plan that best matches your needs.
If you still have a question that we haven't addressed here, please don't hesitate to call and speak live with us! We're happy to answer any of your questions. You can reach us toll free in the office at 1-800-592-2714, or call Stan on his cell phone at 712-540-6707. Of course you may e-mail your question to us at info@yuratwin.com as well.