Twins Opening Day 2012: Minnesota Announces Starting Lineup

The Minnesota Twins have announced their Opening Day 2012 lineup for Friday's game against the Baltimore Orioles, and there are certainly a couple of new faces to get acquainted with. Here is the full batting order:

1. Denard Span, CF
2. Jamey Carroll, SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Justin Morneau, DH
5. Josh Willingham, LF
6. Ryan Doumit, RF
7. Danny Valencia, 3B
8. Chris Parmelee, 1B
9. Alexi Casilla, 2B

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire is hoping that his LF/RF combination of Willingham and Doumit will be enough of a blend between Willingham's offense and Doumit's defense to get the job done this season. Speedy outfielder Ben Revere, who is expected to share time with Span in center and fill in whenever applicable at the corner outfield positions, did not make the Open Day lineup, but should see the field as a pinch runner in the later innings.

The Twins will send righthander Carl Pavano to the mound to face off against Baltimore's Jake Arrieta in Friday's 3:05 pm ET game. Minnesota lost an American League-worst 99 games last year, but could be a surprise team in 2012 if things fall into place and it can escape the injury bug.

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