Leftfield

After another trip kept me away from the internet, I am back and ready to finish the team preview and prepare for the upcoming season. With only 20 days left until the season opener, there is a lot to talk about and a lot that still needs to happen for the 2008 Twins.

Thankfully, the leftfield position which has been a question mark ever since Shannon Stewart left is now a certainty. Newcomer, Delmon Young, will be manning the leftfield wall with his cannon arm and immense amount of potential.

In his rookie season, Young hit .288 with 13 HRs, 93 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, and finished 2nd in the AL Rookie of the Year award to Boston's Dustin Pedroia. Young who is incredibly young, only 22, comes to the Twins as a former #1 overall pick (the Twins now have two on the roster with Young and Joe Mauer) with loads of potential and a tarnished reputation. Known mainly for his infamous bat throwing incident at AAA Durham which cost him 50 games, Young is believed to be a bad boy across MLB but the Twins say he has since cleaned up his act and has shown nothing but maturity and hard work during Spring Training.

I believe Delmon has the capability this year to hit .300 with 20 HRs, knock in 100 RBIs and steal 20 bases. This is obviously a big year, but Young's ability is too good and in his second year in the Majors it is fair to predict bigger and better things. However, without putting too much pressure on the 22-year old, the Twins need Young to have this type of a season. Young was acquired to fill the void left by veteran Torii Hunter and although those are big shoes to fill, I believe he can do it.

I'm excited to watch Young this year and I hope to see him become a mainstay and a star in the Twins lineup for the next 10 years. I'm confident that Young has moved on from his troubled past and I think the Twins clubhouse will be a positive place for him and will give him the opportunity to start over.

SPRING TRAINING NEWS

Looks like new pitcher Livan Hernandez will be starting the season opener. One word: Yikes! I sure hope this visual does not describe the Twins 2008 season.

The centerfield battle is still in full swing but may have lost one competitor. Manager Ron Gardenhire hinted that the starting role is now between speedster Carlos Gomez and Denard Span.

FANTASY ZONE

Delmon Young and Carlos Gomez represent the two Twins in camp with the most potential as well as the most question marks. ESPN Fantasy Baseball looks at these two young stars from a fantasy perspective.