The Minnesota Twins are already experiencing something in 2026 that few teams rarely do. They are playing in three home openers.
They opened the season in Baltimore last Friday. Took part in Kansas City's home opener on Monday. Now Friday, they get their own.
"Yeah, it's not often you see one team get to line up on the line three different times and be part of three different opening days with all the pomp and circumstance," Twins spokesperson Matt Hodson says. "And then everybody's hyped up for being able to do this third one back at home in front of our fans."
No matter how many home openers you play, however, doing it at home is a big deal.
"It's special when you get to line up on that baseline and hear your name called and and tip your hat to your hometown fans," Hodson explains. "I mean, that's what everybody plays for and I know everybody's eager and looking forward to doing it for a third time. But doing it at Target field."
There are numerous activities taking place throughout the day, including a pre-game happy hour, which will happen prior to Friday and Saturday home games all season.
"We're talking $2 beers, $2 hot dogs, $2 snacks from the time gates open to scheduled first pitch," says Hodson.
MORE: See the entire list of new food and beverages at Target Field
"And then some really fun pregame ceremonies where we're going to honor a group of Minnesota Olympians and Paralympians.
First pitch is scheduled for 3:10 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Weather looks like April. Could be better, could be worse. WCCO Meteorologist Chris Shaffer thinks temperatures in the 40s with a chance of rain is what fans should prep for.
Gates will open early, at 1:00 p.m. Twins legends Rod Carew (Gate 29), Tony Oliva (Gate 6) and Kent Hrbek (Gate 14) will open their namesake ballpark entrances at 1:00 p.m. Current Twins pitcher Pablo López (Gate 3), franchise icons Dan Gladden (Gate 6.5), and Kirby Puckett Jr. and Catherine Puckett (Gate 34), and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (Gate 34) will also officially open the Target Field gates too.
The first 10,000 fans through the gates on April 3 will receive a Twins Beanie, courtesy of U.S. Bank.
As has become tradition, the day will begin with the Twins Breakfast On The Plaza. Fans can drive, walk or bike down 7th Street (adjacent to the Twins New Era Team Store) to pick up a complimentary ballpark-inspired breakfast, enjoy live music and enter giveaways for Opening Weekend tickets. There's also some live entertainment from DJ Angel.
We'll also have a live broadcast of The WCCO Morning News with Vineeta Sawkar on News Talk 830 WCCO from 6:00-9:00 a.m. right there in the midst of it all. WCCO will also be live, with Adam and Jordana and nearby Kieran's Irish Pub from 9:00-12:00 p.m. WCCO's Chad Hartman will be live from Target Field at noon, leading up to the pregame show at 2:30 p.m. on 830 WCCO.
Plus, see what the team has in store for Friday's opener at Target Field
