AJPettersen

I have been a resident of Minnesota my entire life, which probably makes me crazy for deciding to be a baseball player. Typically, November to March are off limits for outdoor baseball, making the offseason frustrating. In college this wasn’t a problem, as we had an indoor facility on campus and the Metrodome. As this offseason and the winter months approached, I realized how I took these facilities for granted. How would I workout now? Minnetonka I knew I would be living in Minnetonka about three days a week and in Rochester about four days a week for most of the offseason and would have to find places to workout in both locations. The high school football field in Minnetonka is domed for the winter and is usually accessible during school hours. Beyond that, my parents have a workout room in their basement that is perfect. I could do everything I needed. Now I had to tackle the other four days of the week.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Rochester I discovered that working out in Rochester was going to be difficult, when a simple Google search for indoor batting cages turned up nothing. I knew I couldn’t take four days off from hitting and throwing each week and expect to get better. I stumbled upon the email address for the baseball coach at the local college. I emailed him on a whim and was offered a volunteer coaching job. I zealously accepted and was given full use of all the facilities they had to offer. I could hit and throw in their fieldhouse and I could lift in their weight room. I had a fellow pro baseball colleague named Brandon Douglas to workout with. He was in AA for the Tigers last year and was very helpful because of his experience. What I Focused On Having 6 months to work on baseball was a dream come true. When I left instructs in the middle of October, I knew there were things I needed to improve. Two things I focused on were mental training and getting my body ready for the grind of 150+ games. I was first introduced to mental training in college. We focused on techniques that guided my four years of play, which I have continued to develop. Recently I became connected with a mental/vision training coach in Minneapolis. Whenever I was in the cities, I worked with him twice a week for an hour. His methods stretched my imagination for how I can grow in vision improvement, bat speed and confidence. Playing for 6 months straight will be something new for me. In college, the frequency of games isn’t nearly the same as a pro season. I knew I would need to put on weight and increase my flexibility to endure the year. I left the season around 155 pounds, which was the least I had weighed in a while. I hit the weight room hard and was able to add 10 pounds and increase flexibility. My body is now ready to make it through the season without any hiccups (barring another fastball to the nose). My first offseason of workouts were successful and I am excited to get the 2012 season started! I will be writing again in about a week to give my initial thoughts about spring training. Check me out on twitter: @apettersen1 Download attachment: AJPettersenGophers.jpg Click here to view the article

Seth recently wrote about his baseball background, so in the same spirit, I wanted to share a story of my own. We headed over to the field for some groundballs. Three young men trotted out after us, donning fresh spikes and jerseys without names on the back. When they joined me at SS, I thought it a good chance to welcome the new guys and practice some Spanish, so I struck up a conversation. We introduced ourselves and I learned they were from the Dominican Republic. Out of a hunch, I asked if this was their first time in the country, they said it was. This idea of dream chasing in a foreign country got me thinking.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] What is it about this game that pulled us in? And how did our stories become intertwined? I was 11 and Elliot was 9 when we discovered Splashbombs. Always looking for another game to play, we started brainstorming. Our yards weren't quite big enough for the confines of a full size wiffleball field, but this new foamy ball offered endless possibilities. So we took a standard yellow wiffle bat and went to work creating. We laid ground rules and got the neighborhood kids together to make a league. Splashball was created. Year one was played in my backyard, with a hose serving as the fence. One foul pole was a basketball hoop, the other was a swing set slide in the back corner of my yard. Four teams of two played about a 20 game season before a three game series championship to end the year. By year two, my dad had cut out a dirt infield, home plate and mound. He had even put up a mesh fence, with taller walls in right and center for extra character. We played and played all summer long until the sun would go down. Then the sunset couldn't stop us. My parents installed a light on the back of our house to allow for night games. By year three, we were playing an 80 game schedule with recorded stats and a draft to start the season. Complete with a minor league portion, I selected Elliot's little brother, Ryker, with my final pick-he was 5 at the time. A couple of years later, he would throw the first perfect game in Splashball history. Download attachment: center field.jpg The league faded as we became older with more responsibility, but I still have fond memories. I remember playing quadruple headers, I remember deep opposite field home runs, I remember seeing incredible catches. Looking back, I see my love for the game blossoming, I see instincts being born on a small field where quick reactions and athleticism were vital to success. Maybe that's why the league produced two D1 and three D2 baseball players, as well as one D2 softball player. Does that qualify as a feeder system? Looking beyond the game we played for endless summer days, I see my new friends doing the same. I consider that they, too, must have similar stories. I picture them playing a game on hot summer days in the streets, parks and backyards of their country-getting together with friends to enjoy the simple game we all love. The truth is we all have a baseball story, a background that got us to where we are right now. Whether it was Splashball in the backyard or pick up at the local park, we have something to tell. Our stories got my new friends and me to the same infield. A few kids from completely different parts of the world, sharing the same dirt, grass and groundballs-our past shining through in our present motions and instinctual movements. What a beautiful game. What is your story? What got you to where you are on your baseball journey? Write it in the comment section. Or, if you can do it in 140 characters, tweet me @apettersen1! Click here to view the article

The first full day of Spring Training was a whirlwind of activities. Being my first March in Fort Myers, I wasn’t completely sure what to expect. Here is how it went: Leave home for the airport. Say goodbye to my fiancé. Check my bags, just under the weight limit. Take my shoes off, walk through a small door, put my shoes back on. Sit and read Hunger Games. Hope they make it out alive. Hangout with Nate Hanson. Board the plane. Watch Cole Nelson try to fit his long legs in a very small space. Take off. Take a nap. Finish Hunger Games. I won’t spoil it. Drink a miniature glass of Diet Coke, no nuts or pretzels? Plane lands. Text everyone, “I’m here!” Grab bags. Hop in a van. Arrive at hotel. Sign my name on a computer screen. Arrive at my room. Roy Larson is staring at me. My roommate, Tyler Koelling hasn’t moved since he got here. Watch two teams punch tickets to the NCAA Tourney. Good luck against the one seeds. Start next Hunger Games book. Mind is blown. Crank up the AC. Go to sleep.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Wake up. Get dressed. Go to bus. See Miguel Sano. He yells, “Ayy papi!” Glad we are still pals. Small talk in Spanish with Kennys Vargas. Head to the field. Arrive at the Clubhouse. Scavenger hunt for my locker. There it is. Unload my stuff. Boxes of gear inside. Christmas in March. Get in a line. Weigh in. Measure my height. News flash, I’m still short. Pee in a cup. Pour urine into a vile. College prepared me for this. Get blood drawn. Nearly pass out. Take off shirt. Stickers placed all over. EKG. Stickers taken off. Sit in a chair. And another. And another. Stare in a machine. Read letters. Look ahead. Bright light in my eyes. Chin on a machine. PUFF. More lights, more staring. Get in another line. Deep breath. Chest my test. Woops, going too fast. Look in my ears. Turn my head annnd…cough. Get dressed and head to field. Warm up. Play catch. Mile run. Catchers and corners first. Watch Matt Parker move like a deer. He ran it in 5 and a half minutes? Cmon. Run my mile. Mouth is as dry as my humor. Get a drink. Shower. Eat lunch. Meet with peak performance specialist. Good to see Dr. Rick Aberman. Day concludes. Hop on bus. Arrive at hotel. I hope this gives a small glimpse into my first day of Spring Training. I am extremely excited to be in Fort Myers, and I am ready to start playing some ball! Follow me on twitter! @apettersen1 Download attachment: AJPettersen3.jpg Click here to view the article

While the frost persists in the north, the sun is shining here in Fort Myers and I wanted to give everyone an update on what’s going on. Baseball season always seems far away when the snow is falling, but it is right around the corner. Pitchers and catchers reported for big league camp today and minor league camp is coming up. I have been rehabbing my wrist here for the past month to get fully prepared for Spring Training and the season. A few of my friends and teammates from last season have shown up to start their training. Maybe you have heard of Miguel Sano? Along with Sano are Kennys Vargas and Eddie Rosario (who is preparing for the WBC). They have added some more fun to the clubhouse. There is a mix of pitchers and position players on the minor league side.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] A number of big leaguers have shown up in the past week and it has been cool to meet and chat with a few of them. Learning from those playing at the top is a great way to get better. It has been cool to spend some time working out alongside them. Download attachment: Hammond Stadium 2.jpg We have a consistent schedule Monday through Friday starting in the morning with rehab, followed by throwing, hitting, defensive work and lifting. We are usually at the field from around 7:30 until 12:30 or 1. There have been a few early visitors at the complex seeking autographs and conversation. If you are looking to escape the cold weather, I can assure you the weather is great in Fort Myers. We have seen hardly anything but sunshine for a month. If you do plan on visiting Spring Training, try checking out the minor league side as well. We are right across the parking lot from Hammond Stadium. If you see me, come say hello. I love interacting with everyone and would love to chat with you. I can even introduce you to some of the bigger names at minor league camp. This is just a quick look into what’s going on here in Fort Myers. I hope it gives people a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel that is a Minnesota winter. Get ready for baseball season because it’s coming soon! Follow me on Twitter @APettersen1 Click here to view the article

Happy Halloween to all, I hope you enjoyed the costumes and loads of candy. In keeping with the post surgery articles, I'll give an update on what's going on. I got my cast off a couple of days ago at the Mayo Clinic, here's how it went. The drive down to Rochester felt much faster this time because I was shedding a cast rather than getting one put on. The inability to scratch itches and straighten my elbow had gotten old. I went to the same unit as last time and met my new best friend-the nurse with the saw. He quickly removed the cast to reveal this: [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Download attachment: image (1).jpeg Download attachment: photo (4).JPG Can you guess which one I had surgery on? There was a lot of dead skin and my forearm was looking rather gaunt, but it was still attached. I swear I heard it gasp for air. I'm still taking guesses for how much weight my left arm lost in 6 weeks. The surgeon came in and did a quick check. He said everything looked to be progressing nicely and that the ligament was officially healed up. My arm didn't want to move from the cast position it was in, but it was time to start range of motion exercises. I need to regain full mobility before I can start strengthening. I was lucky to get to work with a physical therapist that had a lot of experience with athletes. She had been doing therapy for 28 years-she was a pro. We chatted while she did an arts and crafts project making a fitted splint. I learned that she is about to go on vacation-to run the New York City marathon, impressive. When the splint was finished she ran me through the list of motions I would do for 5 sets, 5 times per day. It sounds aggressive, but you wouldn't think so if you saw them. They consist of passive stretching-forward, back, side to side and twisting. If you can't picture that, check out this Wikipedia page-Passive stretching - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Measurements were taken to keep track of my mobility. When I hit certain check points, I can move on to other exercises. In a few weeks I will go back and see the doctor to get looked at again and hopefully advance my routine. So that's where I am currently with wrist surgery recovery, I'm right on track to be ready to play in Spring Training, which is encouraging. I hope you enjoyed my update, but if you didn't, hopefully this cute picture of Willa in her "rufferee" Halloween costume will suffice. Download attachment: image.jpg You can connect with me on Twitter (@apettersen1) or via email (ajpettersen1@gmail.com) Click here to view the article

Being a minor league baseball player has taught me to be an expert packer. I travel with a baseball bag and a backpack, what goes into my backpack has to serve a purpose because everything takes up space and there isn’t very much of it. Game Glove My glove gets treated well. I often use the phrase, "treat your glove well and it will treat you well." On airplanes it is carried on, if it is a passenger in my car it usually rides shotgun. Ask many infielders and they will tell you something similar. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]Electronics What did minor leaguers do before technology? I don't think I want to know. My Ipad gives me the internet, games and more while on the road. A wireless keyboard allows me to type articles on the run. My Ipod has 4000 songs at the touch of a button. Reading Materials I always travel with a book and my Bible. Right now my book is Wild at Heart. Reading is a great way to spend quality time on the bus and during locker room/hotel free time. Clothing Clothing is less important to minor league trips than it is to typical travel. I pack one or two outifts for a road trip. This includes the one on my back on travel day. Before you tell me that's dirty, keep in mind I am at the field for around 8 hours a day. This means I only wear my outfit for 6-8 hours each day. Clothing is the item that takes up the most room in my backpack, it needs to be packed with intent. If it isn’t going to be worn, it isn't making the trip. Miscellaneous Items An empty water bottle is a must. Staying hydrated on the road is vital. Sleeping on the bus is difficult at times, so I include a pillow and an eye cover. This ensures that I am always well rested. A bag of toiletries rounds out my travel bag for roadtrips. I travel light and keep things simple. Others travel with a couple of bags, while I prefer not to. How would you pack for a road trip if you were a minor leaguer? Is there anything else you would include? Follow me for the back end of the 2012 season! @apettersen1 Download attachment: AJPettersen4.jpg Click here to view the article

After I received so many responses on my first post about my wrist surgery, I decided it would be interesting to continue updating the Twins Daily community on my progress. Hopefully my journey provides everyone with a little insight into something different in the world of professional baseball. Today is 13 days post op. My wife and I took a short jaunt down Highway 52 to the Mayo Clinic. On the docket was a switch from a splint to a hard cast. We arrived at the 15th floor for my appointment. It's the kind of place that offers a surprise behind every door. Door A for pre op, door B for surgery, door C for casts-a super utility floor for a super utility guy. Makes me feel right at home. I was extremely excited for the arrival of a real cast as it meant a return to exercise, and a possible return to video gaming. The nurse came in and started cutting away, she got through all the fluff to reveal the forearm of a 7th grade boy. What happened? Download attachment: photo (2).jpg You don't want to see what's under there A new nurse named Bill entered with the PA who was present during my operation. She said Bill was the best at this-he had been doing it for 33 years. He was an experienced casting magician. After my arm was cleaned and sanitized, he started the wrapping process, I swear I heard him call out a few spells under his breath. After sufficient pre-wrapping material, Bill started getting the hard plaster material wet. He used some more wizardry and the cast began hardening. Download attachment: photo (3).jpg Going to need a silver sharpie so all my friends can sign it When the PA returned I asked an important question regarding video games. She said one hour of Madden at a time would suffice. Working out for the first time in a couple weeks felt great, even though I am still unable to use both arms. I thought it would only prevent me from doing bench press and push-ups. What I didn't imagine was difficulty...tying my shoes. I mean really, have you ever tried to tie your shoes with one hand? Do yourself a favor and do the one-handed shoe tying challenge today. It is incredible. I used my teeth and my other foot, and eventually got them tied loosely. The next step to look forward in my recovery is when the hard cast comes off in four weeks. I hope you enjoy a look inside my rehabilitation. While not one journey is the same, many ball players go through the process sometime in their career. To follow my journey and the randomness the offseason often brings, check me out on Twitter- @apettersen1 Click here to view the article

Download attachment: MinorLeaguePitchers09.jpg With Minnesota Twins minor leaguers officially reporting for camp tomorrow, we are doing our final preparations for the year. I wrote an article on Baseball America a few weeks ago that outlined a typical minor league offseason. This includes lifting activities slowing down and baseball specific activities ramping up. We are trying to best prepare our bodies for the rigors of the season. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] A couple of weeks ago we began taking live batting practice off of pitchers. Last year I was unable to do this until the first day of camp, so it has been nice to get some live hacks in. The first pitch I saw looked about 110 mph, but since then my eyes and body have begun to adjust. It is quite a change going from batting practice to hitting live for the first time in months. Last week I got hit on the thigh by an errant 2 seam fastball. I joked with Nate Roberts that I was now leading the HBP contest for the year. I am sure he will have the last laugh. A recent highlight has been talking with veteran players. Virgil Vasquez and Doug Bernier are two new free agent signings that have been playing the game for a long time. Learning how they go about their business on a daily basis has been really helpful. Their knowledge of the game is amazing. In a couple of days there will be close to 200 minor leaguers in the clubhouse and camp will begin. Games start fairly quickly thereafter. Like I said before, if you are here, I would love to meet and/or chat with you at the complex. I also hope the sunshine cooperates for everyone looking to get out of the slushy March weather in MN. Baseball season is just around the corner. I hope everyone is as excited as I am. On a side note, my wife and I went to a Florida Everblades game last night. It was my first professional hockey game and they put on a good show. If you are planning on coming down for Spring Training, I would recommend checking them out. You can connect with AJ through email (ajpettersen1@gmail.com) or on Twitter (@APettersen1) Click here to view the article

As the first half comes to a close, I thought I would write about the best moments of the season to this point. 67 games into my first professional season and I already have a number of memories I won’t forget. After 3 more games, we will be exactly at the midpoint. We have a number of stellar players on the way to the All Star game. I will be going home to see my friends and family.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Stadiums Throughout the Midwest Coming into the season, I had yet to see a Midwest League stadium. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Where Beloit has a quaint, personal feel to it, some stadiums are loud and large. From the all turf surface in South Bend to over 8000 fans during Memorial Day weekend in Kane County to the picturesque backdrop in Quad Cities, the Midwest League has a lot to offer. Each city and stadium presents a unique set of characteristics. Playing With and Against Friends When Dayton came to town, I was excited to see my roommate from college and good friend, Nick O’Shea. The visit was even better when both of our fiancés surprised us by coming to Beloit for a couple of games. Kyle Knudson came off the disabled list in the beginning of May and was sent to Beloit. It was great to play with him as I had in college. It’s always nice seeing familiar faces in the sometimes lonely world of minor league baseball. Having Visitors Being 5 hours from my hometown of Minnetonka, MN, I have had a number of visitors throughout the first half. My fiancé has visited a number of times, as have my brother, his wife and my parents. I have visitors from home, such as my friends from high school, my neighbor and a number of others. Being close to home makes it a lot easier for people to visit while I am in Beloit. Getting On the Mound I have missed being on the mound ever since I threw my last pitch in high school. I have been known to tell pitching coaches I am available if necessary, sneaking my way onto the bump on a few occasions since high school. I threw 2 outs in the Northwoods League in 2008 and 2 innings in the Cape Cod League in 2010. Coming into the year I made sure our pitching coach, Gary Lucas, knew that I had a scoreless streak spanning nearly four years. So when we got down big in a game in Quad Cities following a few extra inning games in Kane County, I knew my chance may be approaching. When ‘Luke’ and our manager, Nelson Prada, told to go to the pen to get loose, I got giddy. While warming up, Luke asked what pitches I threw. My response was, “Fast, curve and change…but mostly fast.” I threw a scoreless inning, thanks in large part to a fastball that came in well below the hitting speed (although I did break a bat). Territory Train Some of the biggest Twins fans came to town for a couple of games in the beginning of June. I was able to visit with them over lunch before a game in Beloit. It was great to chat baseball and life with some dedicated supporters of Twins baseball. Clinching the Wild Card Last night, we beat the Peoria Chiefs to clinch the wild card spot in the Western division. This was the culmination of consistent play and hard work. We had a great time celebrating our victory and we are looking forward to representing the Twins in the Midwest League playoffs in September. The first half has been full of highlights and I am sure there are more to come in the second half! Follow me on Twitter: @apettersen1 Download attachment: AJ Pettersen FSN.jpg (photo from FoxSportsNorth.com) Click here to view the article

We laid down on the floor for our last official night. The last night was spent the same as the first - on something other than a real mattress. Full circle. Download attachment: AJ Pettersen 2.jpg I always told myself I would be done playing if I experienced a long period of time without enjoyment. Passion and heart are what got me to such a point in my career and without them, it would become increasingly difficult. As this season wore on, I started to lose that heart and passion for playing the game I love. Managers, coaches and teammates noticed I wasn't the same guy I once was. My performance dropped, it wasn't the same as it had always been. For whatever reason, I didn't have the drive I once had. As my passion for playing wore off, my passion for coaching and teaching became even stronger. In Fort Myers, I was able to give tidbits of mental wisdom I had gained to young prospects. In New Britain, I discussed approaches with teammates. This kept me going, but I knew it couldn't sustain me as a player. So I retired from my professional career. Many people told me along the way to play until someone tore my jersey off and that's the way I played until this year. I gave baseball my all until the end, but once I lost that feeling, I didn't need the jersey ripped off because my dreams and priorities had changed. In my eyes, this didn't make my career a failure, it just made it complete. It was time to be done. I beat so many odds to play for as long and at as high of a level as I did. My parents thought I would grow up to be an artist when I was younger. Overnight, I became athletically inclined. At age 10, people said I ought to play second base because I would never be big and strong enough to play shortstop. I didn't make the varsity team in high school until my junior year. I thought I would have a nice Division 3 college career until the head coach at Holy Cross told me I had what it took to be a Division 1 player. Later, I signed to play at the University of Minnesota. Still, I was seen as a second baseman because I probably wasn't going to have much chance of playing SS at that level. I had no pro aspirations, I just wanted to get in the lineup. A little over a year later, I was Baseball America's First Team Freshman All-American Shorstop. A few years after that, the Twins called my name in the 25th round, which may have been the most emotional moment of my career. I remember looking back in time that day and wondering how it could be possible. Two years later, I was the first player from my draft class to reach AA. Beyond all the accolades and accomplishments, the relationships I have made are what I will take with me. I met my wife through a baseball connection. Four of the groomsmen in our wedding were teammates of mine at one point. I stay in close contact with many former coaches. I learned a number of lessons through the game as well. I learned how to interact and communicate with people from all kinds of different backgrounds. I learned how to work through the lowest lows, I learned how to deal with the highest highs. I learned how to cope with stress in a game where every move you make is seen. So, as my wife and I roll along on one more cross country trip, we talk about what's next and we ponder the future. We are excited about the unknown and that we will be going into it together. We will never forget the memories we have forged through my playing career and we are looking forward to forging more in whatever is next. I want to thank my wife for putting up with me, for traveling all around the country and for always supporting me. My family members were the best fans; thanks for great advice, answering late night phone calls and living the dream with me. I also want to thank everyone else who had an impact on my career at any time and the Twins for the incredible opportunity to play professional baseball. Thank you to the Twins Daily community for following along and for caring to read my thoughts and ramblings. Click here to view the article

I wasn’t in the lineup yesterday and I thought I would give you an idea of what the off day looked like for me. The minor league season is long, so having routines is important to staying fresh and ready when opportunities present themselves. My off day routine is a bit different than when I am playing. Pregame Knowing I wasn’t in the lineup for the game, I would need to get some extra work in to be prepared for the next time I was. I went out to hit in the cage a little early to work on some swing mechanics. Before stretch I informed the pitching coach that I could catch bullpens. It’s a good workout and helps to see balls out of the pitcher’s hand. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Jairo Rodriguez was the catcher for the game and Matt Koch (the other catcher) was the DH, so I figured I would give Koch a bit of a rest so he could be ready for the game. I caught a couple of pens, with Koch catching the rest. Lefty curveballs are still tough to catch, they aren't quite the same as they were in Little League. After stretching and playing catch, we took the field for batting practice. I took groundballs and made throws from shortstop. I usually will make a few more throws on an off day to give my arm a good workout. Again, the little things are what help to withstand the 140 game schedule. I hit in the last group off of the tall lefty pitching coach Gary Lucas. Post…Pregame (?) Once we get done with all of our pregame work around 4:45, we usually have about an hour and a half to eat, relax and get our minds right before the game. I took a few more rounds of BP in the cage with Tommy Watkins and JD Williams and headed in to get some food. JD and I volunteered to sign autographs before the game at 6. So after we ate and got dressed for the game we headed outside to mingle with the fans. This was a big night. Because it was a Saturday night and fireworks were to follow, there were around 2500 fans at Pohlman Field to see us take on the Clinton Lumberkings. It was fun to chat with some fans, sign autographs for kids and see all the people. Around 6:30, JD and I went inside to get our gear and headed out to the field. Gametime The big crowd was a fun dynamic for us. During the National Anthem, there were fireworks...the loud bang always makes someone jump. I would be the bullpen catcher/pitch charter/backup utility guy/late inning pinch runner for tonight’s game. Have to be ready for anything from the bench. When our starter got into trouble in the third, I headed down to the pen in case anyone needed to get loose. By the fourth, Cole Johnson was getting ready to enter the game. This would be my first in-game bullpen catching experience, pretty neat. In the sixth Bart Carter got loose and in the eighth Clint Dempster got ready. While the game didn’t turn out the way we would have liked, I got to experience something I hadn’t before. Baseball is always showing me something new and last night was no exception. Today we take on the Cedar Rapids Kernels and it’s National Guard Jersey day! Follow me on Twitter! @apettersen1 (photo courtesy Jim Crikket) Download attachment: AJPettersenSnappers.jpg Click here to view the article

All is well in the world. Spring Training is over and teams are in their affiliated cities. The beginning of the season means jersey selection, locker organization, paperwork and…walkout songs. This decision can be spur of the moment or have months of thought put into it. The reasons for choosing a particular song are unique to each guy. There are a few popular ways I have seen players do this in the past. Download attachment: musicnotes.jpg Play on Words Yesterday I was asking a few guys what they would be using for songs. Matt Summers told me he couldn’t think of anything so he went with “Summertime” by Kenny Chesney. This is clever for obvious reasons. A number of closers have used the song “Closing Time” in the past. Mitch Williams used the song “Wild Thing” to go along with his ‘style’ of pitching. I have had a tough time playing on a Scandinavian last name, so this one isn’t for me.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Funny/Crowd Pleaser I really enjoy when I hear this style as a walkout. They are especially good if a pitcher uses one (they get a longer section of the song) or if they are played at the perfect point in the song. During batting practice yesterday all of the walkout songs were tested over the loud speaker. Among the popular hits played were a number of Justin Bieber ballads. These songs are usually picked as a joke, but often are a hit with the kids in the crowd. I am excited for the first time “One Less Lonely Girl” is blasted over the speakers at Pohlman Field. In college our 2B picked his song to be a joke, but little kids danced and sang every time “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus filled the Metrodome. Good Beat/Lyrics This is the most popular method and the one that I typically use to pick my songs. It has been used by guys like Derek Jeter (Square Dance-Eminem). His song is cued up to say the words, “It feels so good to be back.” I used this my freshman year of college with “Love Me or Hate Me” by Lil’ Wayne. Last year I knew our home games would be at Target Field. The state of the art sound system contributed to picking “Buzzin” by Mann for its catchy beat. What Do You Like? This year I went with “Paradise” by Coldplay. What walkout songs do you like the best? Do you notice each song when you go to a game? Follow me this season! @apettersen1 Click here to view the article

We laid down on the floor for our last official night. The last night was spent the same as the first-on something other than a real mattress. Full circle. I always told myself I would be done playing if I experienced a long period of time without enjoyment. Passion and heart are what got me to such a point in my career and without them, it would become increasingly difficult. As this season wore on, I started to lose that heart and passion for playing the game I love. Managers, coaches and teammates noticed I wasn't the same guy I once was. My performance dropped, it wasn't the same as it had always been. For whatever reason, I didn't have the drive I once had. As my passion for playing wore off, my passion for coaching and teaching became even stronger. In Fort Myers, I was able to give tidbits of mental wisdom I had gained to young prospects. In New Britain, I discussed approaches with teammates. This kept me going, but I knew it couldn't sustain me as a player. So I retired from my professional career. Many people told me along the way to play until someone tore my jersey off and that's the way I played until this year. I gave baseball my all until the end, but once I lost that feeling, I didn't need the jersey ripped off because my dreams and priorities had changed. In my eyes, this didn't make my career a failure, it just made it complete. It was time to be done. I beat so many odds to play for as long and at as high of a level as I did. My parents thought I would grow up to be an artist when I was younger. Overnight, I became athletically inclined. At age 10, people said I ought to play 2B because I would never be big and strong enough to play SS. I didn't make the varsity team in high school until my junior year. I thought I would have a nice Division 3 college career until the head coach at Holy Cross told me I had what it took to be a Division 1 player. Later, I would sign to play at the University of Minnesota. Still I was seen as a 2B because I probably wasn't going to have much chance of playing SS at that level. I had no pro aspirations, I just wanted to get in the lineup. A little over a year later, I was Baseball America's First Team Freshman All American SS. A few years after that the Twins called my name in the 25th round, which may have been the most emotional moment of my career. I remember looking back in time that day and wondering how it could be possible. Two years later, I was the first player from my draft class to reach AA. Beyond all the accolades and accomplishments, the relationships I have made are what I will take with me. I met my wife through a baseball connection. Four of the groomsmen in our wedding were teammates of mine at one point. I stay in close contact with many former coaches. I learned a number of lessons through the game as well. I learned how to interact and communicate with people from all different backgrounds. I learned how to work through the lowest lows, I learned how to deal with the highest highs. I learned how to cope with stress in a game where every move you make is seen. So, as my wife and I roll along on one more cross country trip, we talk about what's next and we ponder the future. We are excited about the unknown and that we will be going into it together. We will never forget the memories we have forged through my playing career and we are looking forward to forging more in whatever is next. I want to thank my wife for putting up with me, for traveling all around the country and for always supporting me. My family members were the best fans-thanks for great advice, answering late night phone calls and living the dream with me. I also want to thank everyone else who had an impact on my career at any time and the Twins for the incredible opportunity to play professional baseball. Thank you to the Twins Daily community for following along and for caring to read my thoughts and ramblings.

We laid down on the floor for our last official night. The last night was spent the same as the first-on something other than a real mattress. Full circle. I always told myself I would be done playing if I experienced a long period of time without enjoyment. Passion and heart are what got me to such a point in my career and without them, it would become increasingly difficult. As this season wore on, I started to lose that heart and passion for playing the game I love. Managers, coaches and teammates noticed I wasn't the same guy I once was. My performance dropped, it wasn't the same as it had always been. For whatever reason, I didn't have the drive I once had. As my passion for playing wore off, my passion for coaching and teaching became even stronger. In Fort Myers, I was able to give tidbits of mental wisdom I had gained to young prospects. In New Britain, I discussed approaches with teammates. This kept me going, but I knew it couldn't sustain me as a player. So I retired from my professional career. Many people told me along the way to play until someone tore my jersey off and that's the way I played until this year. I gave baseball my all until the end, but once I lost that feeling, I didn't need the jersey ripped off because my dreams and priorities had changed. In my eyes, this didn't make my career a failure, it just made it complete. It was time to be done. I beat so many odds to play for as long and at as high of a level as I did. My parents thought I would grow up to be an artist when I was younger. Overnight, I became athletically inclined. At age 10, people said I ought to play 2B because I would never be big and strong enough to play SS. I didn't make the varsity team in high school until my junior year. I thought I would have a nice Division 3 college career until the head coach at Holy Cross told me I had what it took to be a Division 1 player. Later, I would sign to play at the University of Minnesota. Still I was seen as a 2B because I probably wasn't going to have much chance of playing SS at that level. I had no pro aspirations, I just wanted to get in the lineup. A little over a year later, I was Baseball America's First Team Freshman All American SS. A few years after that the Twins called my name in the 25th round, which may have been the most emotional moment of my career. I remember looking back in time that day and wondering how it could be possible. Two years later, I was the first player from my draft class to reach AA. Beyond all the accolades and accomplishments, the relationships I have made are what I will take with me. I met my wife through a baseball connection. Four of the groomsmen in our wedding were teammates of mine at one point. I stay in close contact with many former coaches. I learned a number of lessons through the game as well. I learned how to interact and communicate with people from all different backgrounds. I learned how to work through the lowest lows, I learned how to deal with the highest highs. I learned how to cope with stress in a game where every move you make is seen. So, as my wife and I roll along on one more cross country trip, we talk about what's next and we ponder the future. We are excited about the unknown and that we will be going into it together. We will never forget the memories we have forged through my playing career and we are looking forward to forging more in whatever is next. I want to thank my wife for putting up with me, for traveling all around the country and for always supporting me. My family members were the best fans-thanks for answering late night phone calls, great advice and living the dream with me. I also want to thank everyone else who had an impact on my career at any time and the Twins for the incredible opportunity to play professional baseball. Thank you to the Twins Daily community for following along and for reading my thoughts and ramblings.

We laid down on the floor for our last official night. The last night was spent the same as the first-on something other than a real mattress. Full circle. I always told myself I would be done playing if I experienced a long period of time without enjoyment. Passion and heart are what got me to such a point in my career and without them, it would become increasingly difficult. As this season wore on, I started to lose that heart and passion for playing the game I love. Managers, coaches and teammates noticed I wasn't the same guy I once was. My performance dropped, it wasn't the same as it had always been. For whatever reason, I didn't have the drive I once had. As my passion for playing wore off, my passion for coaching and teaching became even stronger. In Fort Myers, I was able to give tidbits of mental wisdom I had gained to young prospects. In New Britain, I discussed approaches with teammates. This kept me going, but I knew it couldn't sustain me as a player. So I retired from my professional career. Many people told me along the way to play until someone tore my jersey off and that's the way I played until this year. Once I lost that feeling, I didn't need the jersey ripped off because my dreams and priorities had changed. In my eyes, this didn't make my career a failure, it just made it complete. It was time to be done. I beat so many odds to play for as long and at as high of a level as I did. My parents thought I would grow up to be an artist when I was younger. Overnight, I became athletically inclined. At age 10, people said I ought to play 2B because I would never be big and strong enough to play SS. I didn't make the varsity team in high school until my junior year. I thought I would have a nice Division 3 college career until the head coach at Holy Cross told me I had what it took to be a Division 1 player. Later, I would sign to play at the University of Minnesota. Still I was seen as a 2B because I probably wasn't going to have much chance of playing SS at that level. I had no pro aspirations, I just wanted to get in the lineup. A little over a year later, I was Baseball America's First Team Freshman All American SS. A few years after that the Twins called my name in the 25th round, which may have been the most emotional moment of my career. I remember looking back in time that day and wondering how it could be possible. Two years later, I was the first player from my draft class to reach AA. Beyond all the accolades and accomplishments, the relationships I have made are what I will take with me. I met my wife through a baseball connection. Four of the groomsmen in our wedding were teammates of mine at one point. I stay in close contact with many former coaches. I learned a number of lessons through the game as well. I learned how to interact and communicate with people from all different backgrounds. I learned how to work through the lowest lows, I learned how to deal with the highest highs. I learned how to cope with stress in a game where every move you make is seen. So, as my wife and I roll along on one more cross country trip, we talk about what's next and we ponder the future. We are excited about the unknown and that we will be going into it together. We will never forget the memories we have forged through my playing career and we are looking forward to forging more in whatever is next. I want to thank my wife for putting up with me, for traveling all around the country and for always supporting me. My family members were the best fans-thanks for answering late night phone calls, great advice and living the dream with me. I also want to thank everyone else who had an impact on my career at any time and the Twins for the incredible opportunity to play professional baseball. Thank you to the Twins Daily community for following along and for reading my thoughts and ramblings.

I laced up my spikes for another opening day, my 4th as a pro. Over all the years of playing, there have been a number of memorable moments. They can be best described by the feelings that accompanied them. The feeling of over 10000 fans shaking the ground beneath me at an NCAA regional final, the feeling of winning a Big Ten Championship, the feeling of clinching a playoff berth. It's feelings like these that stick in my head, it's these feelings that keep me trucking along. For so long, I have been on a quest for these feelings-splitting my attention between my quest and the seemingly mundane parts of the game. As professional seasons drag on, people often refer to players "grinding it out." I have bought into this mentality, trying to grind through the tough parts of the season to get to the meaningful moments-the big games, the playoffs, the extra inning finishes. For the past three years, these meaningful moments have been short lived and I have gone home wanting more. As humans, that's our nature. It's built in for us to be on the lookout for these times, these great feelings. We want a grand memory to hold in our minds. This way we can look back on our lives with joy. But what if we didn't have to look back? My friend, Charlie, recently sent a message wishing me luck on the season. He is a retired professional pitcher who now works with my dad. The last paragraph of his note caught my attention- "See it and hit it, guy. Savor the liners and the 3 for 4 days. No matter what, just do your thing. It's all cake." Lately, I have begun to look for these feelings in everyday life, trying to experience the big moments in the small and mundane times. The feeling of a barreled ball in batting practice becomes different, a range play off of a fungo becomes something more. Truthfully, it's the same feeling I get when I'm on a walk with my wife, in the living room dancing with my niece, or watching football on a Sunday afternoon on my parent's couch. I have been "savoring" these times. Paying closer attention to them-savoring the feelings, savoring the small moments. Less and less time is spent looking back on old moments or towards new ones when I realize they are always right in front of me. I can experience that joy every day, all the time. I'm not expecting anything big, just looking for life to happen and appreciating it when it does. That is the greatest gift-joy is always attainable, even in the smallest of moments. So this season, my battle and my grind is to stay focused on the little things. To appreciate the mundane moments I had previously skipped over. To savor each and every one of them, to spend less time searching and more time experiencing. Because at the end of the day, "it's all cake." Follow me this year on Twitter! @apettersen1

He was there again this morning. In khaki shorts, an old t-shirt and a ball cap, he was unassuming. He easily could have been missed, but I noted his presence in the back of my mind. The first time I saw him, I couldn't figure out the meaning. He wound up and fired again and again. His easy left handed arm action suggesting he had done this many times before. The big wall in the center of the complex was his catcher, returning each throw on a roll so he could reload and unfurl another. Every pitch made the same low pitched 'thump' as the previous one. He needed no crowd, no cheers, no teammates. It was only him and the wall. Old lefty, what are you teaching me? I stumbled upon the article written by ex-big leaguer Adrian Cardenas again. In it, he details the reasons he quit baseball. Initially, I thought it was well written and interesting, but I didn't think it applied to me. While I appreciated the quality writing and the challenge to the norm, I couldn't relate to his reasoning. Then I read it again and the ending stuck out: "For whatever reason, I was never the sort of player who could enjoy a game, a play, or a hit before moving on to prepare for the next one. It was only after I quit that I wished I hadn't always kept my head down, relentlessly climbing to reach the top of the game, to fulfill an American dream. I wish I had looked up more often, even at the cost of some of my success. The American dream didn't tell me that an experience only matters if I acknowledge it, that losing yourself in the game is a good way to lose what makes life meaningful. When you're standing at the plate and you hit a sharp foul ball to the backstop, the spot on the bat that made contact gets hot; the American dream forgot to tell me to step back and enjoy the smell of burnt wood." Ex-big leaguer, what are you teaching me? So often I look for what's next. In minor league baseball, this is the steep mountain each player is attempting to climb. I slowly make my way up, but there is always the possibility of falling. So I keep my head down, only occasionally appreciating the moment, constantly worrying about the future. This can motivate, but it fails to encourage what Cardenas calls "acknowledging the experience." If I am always looking for what's next, what am I missing right in front of me? How often do you do this in your own life? How often do you reach for what's next, without acknowledging your experience? How often do you stop and appreciate the seemingly meaningless events that happen every day? How often do you enjoy the smell of burnt wood? So on a quiet morning, I have acquired wisdom from watching the old lefty. And on a slow evening, I have understood the cry of the ex-big leaguer. They both have taught me an important lesson-gratitude for each moment, each feeling, is the best way to gain experience. The quickest way to a more fulfilled life is appreciation for what is right in front of me-the feeling of fresh dirt beneath my feet and laces on my fingers. It is these present moments, on and off the field, where I find joy. So I hope more often this year I can stop and be grateful for the sounds, the smells and the moments just as they happen, because that's the way they were intended to be experienced. Whether it's professionally or as an old man throwing the ball against a wall, that feeling is never far away. Follow me on Twitter! @apettersen1

He was there again this morning. In khaki shorts, an old t-shirt and a ball cap, he was unassuming. He easily could have been missed, but I noted his presence in the back of my mind. The first time I saw him, I couldn't figure out the meaning. He wound up and fired again and again. His easy left handed arm action suggesting he had done this many times before. The big wall in the center of the complex was his catcher, returning each throw on a roll so he could reload and unfurl another. Every pitch made the same low pitched 'thump' as the previous one. He needed no crowd, no cheers, no teammates. It was only him and the wall. Old lefty, what are you teaching me? I stumbled upon the article written by ex-big leaguer Adrian Cardenas again. In it, he details the reasons he quit baseball. Initially, I thought it was well written and interesting, but I didn't think it applied to me. While I appreciated the quality writing and the challenge to the norm, I couldn't relate to his reasoning. Then I read it again and the ending stuck out: "For whatever reason, I was never the sort of player who could enjoy a game, a play, or a hit before moving on to prepare for the next one. It was only after I quit that I wished I hadn't always kept my head down, relentlessly climbing to reach the top of the game, to fulfill an American dream. I wish I had looked up more often, even at the cost of some of my success. The American dream didn't tell me that an experience only matters if I acknowledge it, that losing yourself in the game is a good way to lose what makes life meaningful. When you're standing at the plate and you hit a sharp foul ball to the backstop, the spot on the bat that made contact gets hot; the American dream forgot to tell me to step back and enjoy the smell of burnt wood." Ex-big leaguer, what are you teaching me? So often I look for what's next. In minor league baseball, this is the steep mountain each player is attempting to climb. I slowly make my way up, but there is always the possibility of falling. So I keep my head down, only occasionally appreciating the moment, constantly worrying about the future. This can motivate, but it fails to encourage what Cardenas calls "acknowledging the experience." If I am always looking for what's next, what am I missing right in front of me? How often do you do this in your own life? How often do you reach for what's next, without acknowledging your experience? How often do you stop and appreciate the seemingly meaningless events that happen every day? How often do you enjoy the smell of burnt wood? So on a quiet morning, I have acquired wisdom from watching the old lefty. And on a slow evening, I have understood the cry of the ex-big leaguer. They both have taught me an important lesson-gratitude for each moment, each feeling, is the best way to gain experience. The quickest way to a more fulfilled life is appreciation for what is right in front of me-the feeling of fresh dirt beneath my feet and laces on my fingers. It is these present moments, on and off the field, where I find joy. So I hope more often this year I can stop and be grateful for the sounds, the smells and the moments just as they happen, because that's the way they were intended to be experienced. Whether it's professionally or as an old man throwing the ball against a wall, that feeling is never far away. Follow me on Twitter! @apettersen1