Twins Caravan In Owatonna

Minnesota Twins Caravan made a stop at Plaza Morena in Owatonna on Thursday, Jan. 28. After a highlight video, Sports Director Roy Koenig introduced former player and now broadcaster Dan Gladden, who asked how many people walked in not knowing the Twins were stopping by to a crowd mostly of Twins jerseys.

Gladden then introduced, after being heckled, infielder Eduardo Escobar and newly acquired Yankees catcher John Ryan Murphy. Because Escobar, from Venezuela, spoke mostly Spanish, Miguel Ramos from the Twins organization was there to help out.

Gladden went into the crowd for a Q&A. Many questions were about Twins prospects, which he said all were. Pitching was brought up. Gladden mentioned Phil Hughes, Ricky Nolasco and Irvin Santana were among the starters.

I asked if the players ever would consider doing the Polar Plunge on Saturday. Gladden explained that there are certain winter sports -- hunting, fishing and polar plunging. Would you do that?  Escobar shook his head vigorously. Murphy says he does hunting and fishing but nothing with ice. I was able to ask Gladden if he had, which he did in Arizona.

Murphy thought this was pretty cool being on the Caravan; the Yankees did not do anything like this.

Murphy grew up a Boston Red Sox fan because he met Nomar Garciaparra at an early age. He was drafted by the Yankees and had the number 66. Now with the Twins he is No.12. Escobar was No. 62 with the White Sox and now No. 5 with the Twins.

Gladden went on to talk about all his numbers. He traded No. 32 once with Steve Carlton, when they were on the same team, for 25, but when Gladden received No. 32 with the Twins, he did not give it up to Carlton when Carlton came to the Twins.

It was a fun evening of Twins talk at Plaza Morena in Owatonna on Thursday.