Target Field where the Twins played Kansas City thee previous afternoon.dddddddddddd.We all know hes been through a difficult journey here as of late, but I think its been a beneficial one for him

DENVER -- As a longtime shortstop, Ian Desmond knows all too well the value of a good first baseman.Hes vowing to be that reliable as the Colorado Rockies convert him to a position hes never played. He doesnt even have a first basemans glove of his own yet, borrowing one from a buddy until his arrives in the mail.Although the Rockies solution at first base seems out of left field -- Desmond did play 29 games in left for Texas last season -- its really not that farfetched. Or so the Rockies are banking on, finalizing a $70 million, five-year contract Tuesday with the two-time All-Star whos gone from shortstop to outfielder and now back to the infield.I have all the faith in the world that Ians going to be a good first baseman, Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich said.The 31-year-old Desmond will take over for Mark Reynolds, whos now a free agent. And while Desmond cant recall ever playing the position, even as a kid, he did prove to be a fast learner last season when he moved from shortstop to the outfield for the Rangers.I know what it takes to be prepared every day and thats what Im going to do, said Desmond, who had his wife and young kids sitting in the front row for his introductory news conference.Desmond played at an All-Star level for the Rangers in 2016, hitting .285 with 22 homers and 86 RBI as he split time between left and center.Before that, he was a shortstop for the Washington Nationals.The Rockies gave him a lucrative deal to learn a new skill set at Coors Field, where hes a .379 career hitter in 23 games.Yes, the ball does fly here. Yes, it is a good place to hit, Desmond said. For me, personally, the reason I play well here is because I like coming here. I enjoy coming to Colorado. I enjoy the people in the city. Im from small town in Florida, where when you put the blinker on to change lanes, the people behind you wave. Thats very common here.To hone his fielding skills, he borrowed one of the gloves of Correlle Prime, who just so happens to be a first baseman in the Rockies system. Years ago, Desmond took Prime under his wing when Prime worked out at the same hitting facility in the Sarasota, Florida, area.Little did the friends realize one day they would be in the same organization -- playing the same position.Its bittersweet for me, Desmond said. Trying to get this young man prepared for the big leagues and hes a first baseman and Im proud of how far hes come and the progress hes made. Now, I come in and play first base. Were talking and its like, I would rather it be me than anybody else.Now I get to go to spring training with him. Now he gets to watch me work during the season. I get to see what he does firsthand and see if theres anything I can help him with. Just be there to support him.One things for sure: Desmond has a talented infield to work with in third baseman and perennial Gold Glover Nolan Arenado, shortstop Trevor Story and second baseman DJ LeMahieu.Desmond certainly wont force his way into a leadership dynamic, either. Not his style. Hes more of a quiet leader.You cant come here and expect to be the man, Desmond said. Im going to come in with a lot of respect for those guys, just get in where I fit in.Hes not sure where he might bat in a potent lineup that also features outfielders Charlie Blackmon, Carlos Gonzalez and Gerardo Parra. Hes on board with wherever first-year Colorado manager Bud Black pencils him in.Im going to work as hard as I can right now to be the best first baseman I can be, Desmond said. Ill keep the other tools fresh also, just to try to be as much of a help as I can.I think about the opportunity here and I think about how much of a sports town this is, how deserving these fans are. 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ARLINGTON, Texas -- Minnesota Twins pitching coach Neil Allen rejoined the team Thursday, six weeks after his arrest on suspicion of drunken driving.Allen was back for the start of a four-game series at Texas, the last games before the All-Star break.That was just more timing of him completing the clubs requirements and things that he needed to do, manager Paul Molitor said, without getting into specifics. I know hes excited, hes walking around with a big smile on his face today. Probably a little nervous, but thats good too.The Twins suspended Allen indefinitely after his arrest in the early morning hours of May 27 in downtown Minneapolis.According to the Hennepin County Sherriffs Office, Allen was arrested at 1:59 a.m. that Thursday for third degree driving while impaired and refusal to submit to a sobriety test. The 58-year-old Allen was stopped about 10 blocks from Target Field where the Twins played Kansas City thee previous afternoon.dddddddddddd.We all know hes been through a difficult journey here as of late, but I think its been a beneficial one for him, Molitor said.I think for the most part, hes going to be the same guy, he said. I think that the one thing, without divulging too much, that it was time for him to kind of reflect on some things in his life that have happened, and get some perspective back, as well as strength. Hes doing well.This is Allens second season with the Twins after eight seasons coaching in the Tampa Bay organization.Eric Rasmussen, the minor league pitching coordinator for the Twins, had filled in as pitching coach during Allens absence. In Rasmussens last game, Ervin Santana struck out eight without a walk in a two-hitter as the Twins beat Oakland 4-0 on Wednesday night. ' ' '