Doug Mienkiewicz
The Minor League camps have yet to be constituted but Chattanooga area fans can catch a glimpse into the character of their new manager Doug Mientkiewicz and a possible 2015 Lookouts' player, Tyler Grimes, through a recent story in at the Twins Daily website. (Incidentally, Mientkiewicz could be seen playing with the 2002 Minnesota Twins in Game 5 of the 2002 ALDS that was shown Thursday afternoon on ESPN Classic.) Through the experiences of Grimes, readers gain an understanding of the trials-and-tribulations of playing in the Minor Leagues.
This article written by Seth Stohs of Twins Daily has been edited.
Last summer while playing minimally with the Class-A Twins' Ft.
Myers Miracle, Tyler Grimes contemplated his future in baseball. He also contemplated his future outside of baseball. His manager, Doug Mientkiewicz, talked him into sticking it out through the rest of the season. He started playing almost every day, and he was a huge part of the their Florida State League Championship run. Now he’s in the Minnesota Twins Major League Spring Training.
Grimes had spent his offseason doing a lot of thinking. “It was probably the toughest offseason I’ve ever had. This is all I’ve known, the game of baseball. I was ready. I was ready to go out in the real world and start my life and move on.”
Grimes was the Twins fifth round draft pick in 2011 out of Wichita State. He was drafted as a shortstop and played middle infield his first two seasons, both at Beloit. At the Instructional League after the 2012 season, the Twins moved him from the middle infield to behind the plate.There was an adjustment. He had to learn a new position, and learn how to work with pitches. He also had to learn that he wasn’t going to play everyday the way a position player would.He returned to the Midwest League in 2013, this time to Cedar Rapids.
In 2014, he moved up to the Ft. Myers Miracle. Again, he played in about half of the team’s games and rarely caught. He would DH, play some in the outfield and some in the infield. He was wondering a lot about things already then.
In June, he went to manager Doug Mientkiewicz and told him that he was thinking that he would be done with his professional baseball career. He gives a ton of credit to the former Twins first baseman for keeping him playing and more.
“Doug Mientkiewicz helped me a lot. I mean, he’s basically been my mentor since last year got started. We built a close bond with one another, and I kept in touch with him throughout the offseason. He’s always been positive to me. He’s definitely helped me big time in my career. And, it’s only been a year that he’s been with me. But last year, he played a big role in a lot of things. To be able to play for a guy like that, and his mentality, I was blessed to have him.”
Mientkiewicz told him to be patient and stick with it. Soon after, Eddie Rosario moved up to New Britain, and Grimes found himself starting most games in center field. He played there until Byron Buxton, and later Jason Kanzler, were in Ft. Myers.
“It didn’t matter where I played. Give me a glove and hit me nine. I want to be a part of these guys and be a part of this team. I want to help us win. You get humbled in this game in a lot of ways. Last year was good for me. I loved showing up to the field every day knowing I was going to play. As long as I was in the lineup, I didn’t care. From one to nine, I didn’t care. I was excited and I was going to make the most of it. It was different at first playing outfield. I’d never played outfield. I kind of taught myself as it went.”
As the playoffs approached, Levi Michael was promoted to New Britain. Grimes became the Miracle’s starting second baseman. He had at least played quite a bit at that position in the past and took ground balls there frequently.
His Miracle team went to the playoffs and kept on winning. Grimes certainly enjoyed that playoff atmosphere. “It was fun. Doug’s a real intense guy, but when we got to the playoffs, he was the calmest one out of everyone. We had a lot of fun. We had a good group of guys. It was special to win the first championship in Miracle history. We were all pretty excited as a team, but even more for him because he gets the most out of his players. To get that with him and the group of guys that we had was a pretty special moment.”
He said the players on that team all had each other’s back. “Everybody was contributing. I think I popped up a bunt and Jason Kanzler came up and hit a big home run. That’s what this game is about and everybody picking each other up and that’s what we did. It’s tough to win a championship, but with those guys and the way we picked one another up, it was a good feeling.”
In December, Grimes got a phone call from Twins General Manager Terry Ryan who talked to Grimes and invited him to big league spring training as a non-roster player. Grimes said he told Ryan, “Thanks Terry, but it’s time to move on.”
“It was tough. The season is a different monster. Not a lot of people get what we go through. The money? You’re making under the poverty level. I mean, I could go to McDonald's and flip burgers and make more than what we make. I have to be realistic with myself. You have to come to reality sometime. You can’t play this game forever.”
When Grimes got the call from Ryan, he was surprised. “At that time, I was kind of on the ropes of if I was going to come back or not. So, we had a long talk about that. He gave me a night to sleep on it. I called him back an hour later and let him know that I was coming down.”
Ryan said that it wasn’t the response he expected. A lot of players will go back and forth on whether to keep playing, but typically not when they get invited to big league camp. Ryan said, “He was questioning whether or not he had enough ability, and that bothered me because I believe he’s got some ability, otherwise we wouldn’t have invited him. He’s got a bit more ability than he gives himself credit for.”
Ryan is glad that Grimes quickly changed his mind. “It was a little different, but everything’s alright now. We’re glad he’s here, and so is he, I believe.”
Grimes would agree. “He had more confidence in me than I had in myself probably. Just to hear that from our GM and for him to let me sleep on it, it showed me a lot from Terry Ryan. I’m so happy that I’m here and he’s given me this opportunity.”
It was definitely the right choice for Grimes, and he has enjoyed his time in big league camp.
“It’s been good. I grew up watching Torii Hunter, Joe Mauer, and now I’m in the same clubhouse as them. It’s pretty cool. It’s a good experience. I’m just trying to take in everything that I can. It’s a good experience and I’m just trying to take in everything I can. There’s never enough learning in this game. Everything’s new. You can learn something new every day. I’m enjoying it. Getting this atmosphere, big league atmosphere. Being with some of my teammates that I’ve played with, it’s been comfortable. They’ve made us comfortable for all of us young guys. These are all great guys. Veteran leadership, it’s awesome.”
Who knows what the future holds for Grimes. He hopes to move up to Chattanooga. “I’d love to be in Chattanooga. It’d be nice to be with Doug and a bunch of my former teammates from last year. We had a good camaraderie in the clubhouse and had a lot of fun. Other than that, enjoying it while I can and letting everything take care of itself.”
He seems happy and content. “I’m just trying to take one day at a time and let God take care of everything.”
-- Source: The Twins Daily