Batters at Target Field won’t be able to see the forest or the trees, as the Minnesota Twins took down 14 spruce trees that comprised the ballpark’s batter’s eye last season after complaints from batters.
The 14 trees weren’t fed to the choppers: they were dug out and transported to Bergen’s Greenhouse in Forest Lake, Minn., where they’ll be stored before being resold. Two of the trees will be replanted near the Target Field parking ramp on Twins Way; one will be given away to a season-ticket holder; one will be auctioned off, with the proceeds benefitting the Minnesota Twins Community Fund; and the rest will be planted in Minnesota State Parks within 150 miles of the Twin Cities.
“All of the trees were professionally uprooted, properly bundled and successfully shipped to the greenhouse,” said Larry DiVito, Twins head groundskeeper. “They will be cared for indoors until the weather is right to replant them.”
All 14 trees were “authenticated” by Major League Baseball, affixed with a MLB hologram.
Not the first time a team has failed with using trees as a batter’s eye; the Seattle Mariners took down pine trees at Safeco Field after similar complaints from batters.