Twins open their hearts to welcome back Carew

FORT MYERS, FLA. – The Twins had a surprise for Rod Carew when the Hall of Famer walked into 2016 training camp for the first time Saturday. Every player, coach and staff member was wearing a pink T-shirt emblazoned with the "Heart of 29" logo of his new heart-health charity.

It was a touching gesture for the team's longtime spring coach, and it presented Carew with a challenge he didn't expect.

"To walk in the locker room and see all these guys wearing the shirts, it's kind of emotional," Carew said. "And I don't want to get emotional on the baseball field, because there's no crying in baseball."

There was plenty of smiling Saturday, though, because Carew has reached a major milestone, just five months after suffering a heart attack so severe he twice had to be revived by paramedics after going into cardiac arrest: He is back on a diamond. Carew will handle the same bunting, batting and baserunning instruction that he has for more than a decade.

"As soon as we get [hitters] in the cage, that's where I'm headed," the 70-year-old Carew said. "I came here to work, I didn't come here to do nothing."

Carew spent the day observing Twins hitters and offering occasional tips — he spent five minutes with utility man Danny Santana, demonstrating an adjustment in his swing — all the while wearing a battery pack that keeps his damaged heart beating. Carew hopes to receive a heart transplant in about four months, but he said he feels more than healthy enough again to help the young Twins hitters.

"Hopefully by tomorrow, I'll do some soft-toss [instruction] in the cage, probably throw a little bit of batting practice," he said.

The Twins sounded thrilled to see their longtime mentor.

"I can't say enough good things about Rod," second baseman Brian Dozier said. "What he has meant to me and my life, as far as the Christian man he is, the influence he has had on me — we're right behind him, every step of the way."

Added Joe Mauer, whose three batting titles are four fewer than Carew won with the Twins, "To see him still want to help the young guys here, after all he's been through, it tells you what kind of guy he is."

But can he still lay down a drag bunt as a demonstration for future Twins? Carew got into his stance, imaginary bat in his hand, and pantomimed making contact. "Maybe so," he said. "But I don't know about running down the line."