Twins ready for Redmond's return as Marlins manager

CHICAGO – Mike Redmond last played for the Twins in 2009, but mentioning his name to former teammates brings smiles to their faces as they remember things he did to maintain a loose clubhouse and build camaraderie.

"I remember when he got that MRI of his shoulder and he said that they had found a Bud Light in it," Twins closer Glen Perkins said. "And then Budweiser sent him like six cases of beer."

Redmond's "Naked Walk" has been often documented, but catcher Joe Mauer said Redmond knew just when it was time to go streaking through the clubhouse.

"All of a sudden you see a 38-year-old walking around naked," Mauer said. "It sort of lifts the mood. He had good timing with that."

Redmond, who coined phrases such as "smell those RBI," will return to the Twin Cities on Monday as the first-year manager of the Miami Marlins, a team with a couple of top players but one that is not expected to contend in the National League East Division. Redmond was hired Nov. 1, then the roster was gutted.

It has forced Redmond, a catcher with the Twins from 2005 to '09, to shape the minds of several young players. But his former teammates believe that task is right up his alley.

"I knew it was going to happen sooner than later," Mauer said. "I'm really happy for him that it happened just two years removed from playing. I think he's in the perfect situation with the Marlins since they kind of went with a lot of younger guys. They've got the right manager to get those guys to play the game the right way. I'm really happy for him. It will be fun to see him."

Manager Ron Gardenhire dropped Hicks to the bottom third of the batting order, and it appears that it has helped Hicks relax.

"It's definitely still the same game no matter where you bat in the lineup, but you relax," Hicks said. "There are seven guys before me when I hit, so I definitely get to see a lot of information before I hit."

Hicks heads back to Target Field batting .059 for the season. He doesn't appear to be frustrated despite his struggles.

"I haven't seen him hanging his head or feeling sorry for himself, which is good," first baseman Justin Morneau said. "He still looks confident, which is important in this game."

• Outfielder Chris Parmelee was sore Saturday after being hit with a fastball on his right elbow. He felt much better Sunday and was available off the bench. "The doctor didn't think it was broken and neither did I," Parmelee joked. Gardenhire kept Parmelee out the starting lineup Sunday, going with Oswaldo Arcia in right.