Florida Complex League Twins Explained

Florida Complex League Twins
Allyears:1965–1971, 1989–present
City:Fort Myers, Florida
Uniformlogo:Minnesota Twins Insignia.svg
Class Level:Rookie
Current League:Florida Complex League
Division:Southern Division
Past League:Gulf Coast League (1966–1971; 1989–2020)
Florida Rookie League (1965)
Majorleague:Minnesota Twins
Nickname:FCL Twins
Pastnames:GCL Twins (1966–1971; 1989–2020)
FRL Twins (1965)
Ballpark:Lee County Sports Complex
Leaguenum:0
Leaguechamps:None
Divnum:2
Owner:Minnesota Twins
Manager:Robbie Robinson
Gm:Tom Saffell

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.[1]

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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

Season-by-season

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs
align=center colspan=6FRL Twins
1965 32-28 3rd No playoffs
align=center colspan=6GCL Twins
1966 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)
1992 30–28 7th
1993 23–36 12th Jose Marzan
1994 22–38 13th Jose Marzan
1995 20–35 14th
1996 30–30 9th Mike Boulanger
1997 28–32 8th
1998 34-26 3rd (t) Steve Liddle Lost in 1st round
vs. GCL Rangers (1 game to 0)
1999 33–26 3rd Lost League Finals
vs. GCL Mets (2 games to 0)
Won in 1st round
vs. GCL Rangers (1 game to 0)
2000 33–23 4th Al Newman
2001 32–26 6th Al Newman
2002 35–25 4th
2003 28–31 7th Rudy Hernandez
2004 31–26 5th
2005 28–26 4th (t) Nelson Prada
2006 26–27 7th Nelson Prada
2007 37–19 3rd Nelson Prada Lost in 1st round
vs. GCL Yankees (1 game to 0)
2008 35–21 2nd Lost in 1st round
vs. GCL Nationals (1 game to 0)
2009 34–21 3rd Jake Mauer Lost in 1st round
vs. 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 round
vs. GCL Nationals (1 game to 0)
2018 32–24 5th Dan Ramsay
2019 30–21 4th Robbie Robinson Playoffs cancelled due to Hurricane Dorian

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gulf Coast League Twins. 2009-10-22.
  2. Web site: GCL Nationals 1, GCL Twins 0. 2009-10-22.
  3. Web site: Twins announce Minor League staffs. 2009-10-22.
  4. Web site: Tom Brunansky glad to be back with the Minnesota Twins . 25 July 2010 .
  5. Book: The Official Professional Baseball Rules Book . Office of the Commissioner of Baseball . . 2021 . mlbpa.org . 10–11, 100 . June 26, 2021 . November 29, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201129120209/https://registration.mlbpa.org/pdf/MajorLeagueRules.pdf . dead .