Rochester — The 2025 Twins Winter Caravan’s first leg kicked off on Tuesday at the Mayo Clinic’s children’s wing at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester. Attendees spent over an hour with patients and their families, giving many dealing with medical hardships a chance to break away from their routine and enjoy a visit from current and former MLB players.

“You get a day like today when they get a break from their routine that they do day in and day out,” said Twins.TV Play-by-Play man Cory Provus. “To break it up, getting a chance to see TC Bear, getting a chance to mingle with a former MVP in Justin Morneau, and meeting two current players is a memory that I hope that the children, but also their families, will take with them forever.”

The Caravan can sometimes simultaneously highlight that Twins Territory is big and small. Saint Marys is a place where that manifests.

Patients go there from all over the country for treatment, and sometimes, they’re coming from a place where Twins fans are not expected to be found.

Nash Reinan is a 13-year-old boy from Salida, Colo., who has been at Saint Marys for the last few weeks.

Tuesday was his day to be discharged after undergoing nuss surgery to help his lung capacity and heart. Reinan is a fan of the Twins and Colorado Rockies.

He was excited about the team visit and was extra enthusiastic about meeting Justin Morneau, a Twins legend who spent two seasons in Denver.

“I had no idea the Twins were going to be here,” said Reinan. “So when we came here and heard the Twins were coming, I was blown away because I’ve been to Twins games and went to Target Field a while ago. It was amazing, I loved it. I would have brought my Twins hat if I knew this was happening.”

“I told him he had to be sick until the Twins got here,” Jay Reinan, Nash’s dad, joked.

Jay Renain asked one of the family’s favorite players what it was like to hit at both Target Field and Coors Field as home ballparks to break the ice.

But the family got to talk with Morneau and grab an autograph from him after the Q&A portion.

“I think it’s important for anyone to remember whatever you’re doing that, every little bit adds up,” said Morneau. “And every small thing you can do can make a difference in somebody else’s life. And I think doesn’t always have to be a grand gesture, and sometimes it can just be going out and putting a smile on somebody’s face.”

While T.C. Bear entertained kids and their families with his dance moves to Chappel Roan’s ‘Hot to Go,’ the players advised kids on what they have done for themselves to accomplish their dreams.

Nash Reinan is a ballplayer and was thrilled to hear the advice from these players. He has aspirations to keep playing the game for as long as he can and plans to share advice from Morenau, Zebby Matthews, and Austin Martin with his friends and teammates in Salida.

“I find it to be really good advice because there are so many things I want to do in life that I never thought would be possible,” said Reinan. “Like, for example, I never thought I was going to meet an actual Twins player, so that happens. It just goes to show that if you want something bad enough, it can possibly happen.”

“I’ve never forgotten what it was like to grow up and have posters of NHL goalies or Major League Baseball players on my wall, and I wanted to be those guys one day,” said Morneau. “So I think to being able to connect with people, I think that’s what makes sports special, too, is there’s those connections.”

The Caravan provides time for young athletes like Reinan to meet MLB players for the first time and get their advice. It’s also a time for young MLB players like Matthews and Martin, who are on their first Winter Caravan, to pick the brain of a former MVP in Morneau on what it takes to be a strong role model both on and off the field.

“I think our job, especially in the booth, is to call the game, but also to relate the personalities and let people in a little bit on the type of people they’re cheering for,” said Morneau. “And people have their sports figures that they look up to, and you want them to be good people. … It’s important for us to build those relationships and be able to let Twins fans know, ‘Hey, these are some good guys.’”

Renian said his coaches often move him around the outfield, so he talked to Martin before he left and asked him what it’s like to change positions frequently. Following a fond send-off from the Twins visit, Renian felt more confident than ever about picking up his bat and glove for the upcoming baseball season.

“I was hoping with the surgery I’d be able to recover before the season,” he said, “which I should be able to.”