FORT MYERS, FLA. – Luke Raley was trying to act like a major leaguer, trying to play it cool as Rocco Baldelli introduced the Twins spring training coaches last month. But the 12-year-old fan in him was too thrilled to be contained.
Standing there was none other than Joe Nathan.
"He threw a ball to me when I was a kid!" Raley said, the gee-whiz still strong 10 days later.
That was in Cleveland at what's now called Progressive Field, not far from where Raley grew up a devoted Indians fan, used to sitting in the stands and rooting against the Twins.
"It's almost surreal to be here now," the 24-year-old outfielder said, "knowing that if I make it up to the big leagues, I'm going to be playing the Indians."
That hadn't occurred to him until July, when the Dodgers, who had drafted him in the seventh round in 2016, told him to pack his gear and head to Class AA Chattanooga: He had been traded to the Twins as part of the Brian Dozier deal. He had heard rumors that he might be included in a trade for Manny Machado, but when Los Angeles pulled off that deal without him, he thought he was safe.
"It was a huge shock. Took me totally by surprise," Raley said. "It's a weird thing to go to a new team for the last month of the season, with guys I'd never met before. You spend all your time getting to know people."
The Twins have only known him for a few months, but they are impressed. Raley can play all three outfield positions, his .361 on-base percentage in the minors shows he can control the strike zone, and his .467 slugging percentage — well, that's gotten him some attention.