Gotta Catch This One: Minnesota Twins To Host Pokèmon GO-Themed Game

If you're unfamiliar with Pokémon GO it's essentially a virtual scavenger hunt where you use your phone to collect Pokémon like baseball cards. Instead of finding them at your local card store, the game forces users (called “trainers”) to get outside and walk around their parks, neighborhoods, and now Target Field.

On Sunday, August 31st the Twins host the San Diego Padres and a Pokémon GO-themed baseball game. For those of you with kids 12 and under, you can make it a dually exciting day by being one of the first 5,000 fans to get a Twins “Squishie” pillow! Then, stick around after the day to run the bases (like every Sunday home game)! Okay, back to Pokémon GO.

In addition to the theme night, Target Field “will feature all-new, official club-branded PokéStops and Gyms” during the entirety of their season. The blog update from their website continues to say, “trainers can also check out newly created Official Routes at the ballparks!” Again, that's at every game! So what's special about the theme night?

The theme night will feature the PokéSrops, Gyms, and official routes noted above, but trainers can add on to the fun with:

• Pokémon GO and club-branded merchandise
• Exclusive in-game avatar items
• Timed Research awarding exciting Pokémon encounters
• Raid Battles where Trainers have a chance to catch Pokémon with a Location Background

While there are 13 other games (for now), this is the only time the Twins will be involved in one of these theme games.

Unlike the other three major sports, baseball is one that many people watch passively. While there are obvious downsides to this, such as hurting the sports marketability, MLB made a brilliant move here. Not only does it cater to the sector of the fan base they're allegedly losing, but it encourages the passive fan to get out to the ballpark. Bored at the game? Head to your nearest PokéStop! Headed to the restroom? Swing by a Gym on the way too or from!  It's a great and creative way to get people to the ballpark - even if they're not overly interested in the ballgame.

So, any Pokémon GO trainers here? Are you planning on attending the theme night? Join the conversation in the comments!