As spring games begin for Twins, let the questions (and answers) begin

FORT MYERS, FLA. – Trevor Plouffe looked at the workout schedule for Tuesday and grimaced slightly when he saw the list of drills.

The Twins on Tuesday completed only their fourth full-squad workout of spring training, the fewest of any team in the league, because they traditionally report later than most clubs. But Plouffe was antsy even before Tuesday's session.

"Trust me," he said. "All of us are ready to play."

Plouffe and others will get their wish Wednesday when they face Boston in the Grapefruit League opener at JetBlue Park. Manager Paul Molitor and his staff can begin the evaluation process that eventually will shape their 25-man roster for Opening Day.

There are many story lines in this camp as the Twins look to take the next step after finishing 83-79 last season. Here are five important aspects of this team to watch closely as the spring games begin:

Although the Twins failed to bring in a quality reliever to add some punch to the bullpen, they do have an array of arms to fight for what might be one extra spot in the bullpen. If the Twins go with a seven-man relief corps, Glen Perkins, Kevin Jepsen, Casey Fien, Ricky Nolasco and Trevor May are virtually assured five of the spots. If Michael Tonkin shows anything, he'll likely make the team because he's out of options. That leaves one spot.

Molitor made things interesting Monday when asked about the likelihood of taking another lefthander north.

That means lefthanders Fernando Abad and Taylor Rogers are in the mix — and righthanders such as J.R. Graham, Alex Meyer and Ryan Pressly are on the outside looking in. But this is a fluid situation. What if starters Tyler Duffey or Tommy Milone falter, opening a spot for Nolasco or May to enter the rotation, freeing up another bullpen spot? What if there's an injury or trade? What if the Twins go with 13 pitchers? This situation will take all of spring training to play out.

Byron Buxton has been given the center field job, it seems. But the elite prospect must prove he has made strides from a year ago, when he looked overmatched at the plate and another injury — this time a sprained left thumb — cut into his development time. He struggled to square up breaking pitches and constantly was behind in the count. Buxton stole plenty of bases in the minors, but he will need more than raw speed to do that in the majors. He has elite speed, range and arm strength in the outfield. And when he puts the ball in play, he can create chaos on the base paths.

But this spring he has to show he can make adjustments and have a frequent impact in games. If he shows that he needs more time at Class AAA Rochester, then the Twins have to improvise. Eddie Rosario could slide over to center with Oswaldo Arcia perhaps moving into left field. Or Danny Santana could open the season in center.

Maybe the Twins would look at prospect Max Kepler. Things would be easier for the Twins if Buxton plays well in spring training.

"He came up here last year and wanted to show respect to veterans and not make waves, so part of it was feeling his way," Molitor said. "I think his struggles affected the presence I know he can have on the baseball field. I think through either reflection or study or work, he's got that back a little bit. He's walking around here like a confident young man."

"We know he is going to run some bad routes here and there," Davis said, "but the main thing is to make sure he makes all the routine plays, make sure he throws the ball to the right bases, keeps his throws down. And just keep him engaged." Everyone will see how engaged Sano is starting Wednesday, when his transition from third base to the outfield begins in earnest. How rough will his rough spots be? Twins Gold Glover Torii Hunter has spent the early mornings this week on the field with Sano, working on the finer points of playing the outfield.

How much Mauer's vision was affected last season, we never will know. But what everyone wants to know is if there's anything left in his bat. Mauer is coming off his worst season as a pro, and his decline in recent years has hurt the team and put the $184 million contract he signed in 2010 under more scrutiny than ever. But there have been cases of players having a couple of lean years in the middle of their careers before surging later. A return to — or even near — his All-Star form would be a huge boost to a club that sorely needs No. 7 to be No. 7 again. So the start of spring training games gives Mauer the opportunity to offer some hints that he's ready for a comeback season the Twins sorely need.

The Twins are bracing for an adjustment period for Korean slugger Byung Ho Park as he dips a toe in the major league waters for the first time. He made an inauspicious start to his Twins career when he swung and missed the first batting practice pitch thrown to him Saturday — by 58-year-old Mike Quade. The Twins note how fellow Korean Jung Ho Kang looked as if he was in over his head last year in his first experience in the majors but was productive by the end of the season for the Pirates.

The Twins will get to see, starting Wednesday, just how patient they will have to be with Park. Park reported early to camp to begin his assimilation, has worked hard, understands English fairly well and has been willing to be coached, especially on fielding. The Twins have reached out to the Pirates for advice on how they nurtured Kang through his rookie year.

"I believe this is a huge challenge or him," General Manager Terry Ryan said of Park, "because he knows a lot of people are going to be watching. Not just over here but in Korea.''