Twins announce plans for 2023 Winter Caravan presented by Case IH
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Twins today announced that the club’s Winter Caravan, one of the longest-running and most extensive offseason fan engagement tours in professional sports, will return this month after a two-year hiatus. The 61st edition of the Twins Winter Caravan, presented again in 2023 by Case IH, is scheduled for January 24-31 and features Twins players, coaches, alumni and broadcasters traveling to 12 communities in Minnesota, North and South Dakota, and Iowa.
“We are truly ecstatic to get back on the Winter Caravan trail and bring Twins Baseball directly into the communities where our fans live, work and play,” said Twins President & CEO Dave St. Peter. “The Caravan is a beloved tradition that continues to unite generations of Twins players and fans, and we are thankful to Case IH for again helping us spread the joy of baseball throughout the Upper Midwest.”
The 2023 Twins Winter Caravan presented by Case IH features a trio of groups traveling to different locales; each day of their respective tours will include a community enrichment activity, along with traditional “Hot Stove” programming (including question-and-answer, autograph and meet-and-greet sessions) in partnership with the Treasure Island Baseball Network.
Additionally, the Twins will participate in, and provide support for, events on January 23 (Baseball Old Timers Hot Stove League in St. Paul, Minnesota), February 1 (Let’s Kick Hunger Day Radiothon to benefit Second Harvest Heartland), February 4 (Justin Morneau Ice Fishing Tournament in St. Isle, Minnesota to benefit United Heroes League) and February 8 (Black Woods Blizzard Tour in Carlton, Minnesota to fund the fight against ALS).
More information on each of these events is available below or online at twins.com/caravan.
2023 Twins Winter Caravan – Leg 1 (Tuesday, January 24 – Wednesday, January 25)
Attendees: 2022 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Tony Oliva and his wife Gordette; Twins Hall of Famer and current television analyst Justin Morneau; Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers and left-handed pitcher Caleb Thielbar; and longtime Twins television play-by-play voice Dick Bremer.
Stops:
Tuesday, January 24: Tulare, South Dakota (Hitchcock-Tulare Elementary School) for a visit with students and community members in Gordette Oliva’s hometown; and Brookings, South Dakota (South Dakota State University) for a Hot Stove event in partnership with WNAX-AM at the shared alma mater of Caleb Thielbar and his wife, Carissa, who is in her ninth season as an assistant women’s basketball coach for the defending WNIT champion Jackrabbits.
Wednesday, January 25: Luverne, Minnesota (Minnesota Veterans Home) for a private visit with veterans; and Mankato, Minnesota (The Kato Ballroom) for a Hot Stove event in partnership with KTOE-AM.
2023 Twins Winter Caravan – Leg 2 (Tuesday, January 24 – Wednesday, January 25)
Attendees: Twins Hall of Famer and longtime radio voice Dan Gladden; Twins utility player Nick Gordon, infielder Jose Miranda and third base/outfield coach Tommy Watkins; and Twins broadcaster Kris Atteberry.
Stops:
Tuesday, January 24: Minneapolis, Minnesota (Southside Village Boys & Girls Club) for a private youth clinic in partnership with Twins Triple-A affiliate the St. Paul Saints; and St. Cloud, Minnesota (Rivers Edge Convention Center) for a Hot Stove event in partnership with WJON-AM.
Wednesday, January 25: Fargo, North Dakota (Sanctuary Events Center) for a Hot Stove event in partnership with KFGO-AM.
2023 Twins Winter Caravan – Leg 3 (Sunday, January 29 – Tuesday, January 31)
Attendees: Twins manager Rocco Baldelli and hitting coach David Popkins; Twins right-handed pitcher Louie Varland; former Twins pitcher and current broadcaster and special assistant LaTroy Hawkins; and Twins radio play-by-play voice Cory Provus.
Stops:
Sunday, January 29: Welch, Minnesota (Treasure Island Resort & Casino) for a Hot Stove event in partnership with KWNG-FM; and Minneapolis, Minnesota (Target Field) for a private dinner and night of watching football with youth from local nonprofit ACES (Athletes Committed to Educating Students).
Monday, January 30: Rochester, Minnesota (Whistle Binkies on the Lake) for a Hot Stove event in partnership with KROC-AM.
Tuesday, January 31: Rochester, Minnesota (Ronald McDonald House) for a private baseball day with RMHC children and their families; and Mason City, Iowa (Music Man Square) for a Hot Stove event in partnership with KGLO-AM.
The Twins will also lend their participation and support to the following events throughout the region:
- Baseball Old Timers Hot Stove League on Monday, January 23. This event at the Southview Country Club in St. Paul, Minnesota will feature Twins Hall of Famers Jerry Bell (former club president), Dan Gladden (former outfielder and longtime radio voice) and Jim Rantz (former farm director); Twins President & CEO Dave St. Peter and club Senior Vice President, General Manager Thad Levine; Twins right-handed pitcher Louie Varland and club broadcaster Kris Atteberry; St. Paul Saints Executive Vice President / General Manager Derek Sharrer; and University of Minnesota head baseball coach John Anderson.
- Let’s Kick Hunger Food Drive in partnership with News Talk 830 WCCO to benefit Brooklyn Park, Minnesota-based Second Harvest Heartland on Thursday, February 2. Twins radio play-by-play voice Cory Provus will join Atteberry and St. Paul Saints Vice President / Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations Sean Aronson in leading an hour of WCCO’s radiothon raising funds to end hunger, with the Twins matching all donations up to $10,000.
- Justin Morneau Ice Fishing Classic presented by UPS to benefit United Heroes League (UHL) on Saturday, February 4. This event in St. Isle, Minnesota, led by Twins Hall of Famer and current television analyst Justin Morneau, benefits UHL in its efforts help military families heal, build friendships and engage in their communities through sports. Additionally, the Twins will support UHL with a financial donation of $2,500.
Black Woods Blizzard Tour in partnership with Never Surrender, Inc. and KDAL-AM on Wednesday, February 8. This four-day event, which begins the evening of February 8 in Carlton, Minnesota, raises funds for ALS research, organizations providing services that empower people living with ALS to be more independent, and financial assistance for full-time family caregivers for those afflicted with ALS. The Twins will present a $10,000 check at the kick-off dinner to support Never Surrender, Inc.