GAME CHANGER AT LEE HEALTH: Minnesota Twins vs. Boston Red Sox Announce Stunning New First Pitch Time — Opening Week Just Got Shaken Up
Spring Training is already electric, but the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox just sent Opening Week into overdrive with a major first-pitch time change at the Lee Health Sports Complex — and fans across Florida and New England are scrambling to adjust.

This isn’t a minor tweak.
It’s a full-on scheduling shakeup that affects travel plans, TV lineups, streaming windows, and the all-important early scouting of pitchers and prospects.
⏰ OFFICIAL NEW FIRST PITCH TIME — CONFIRMED
Date: Opening Week Game
Location: Lee Health Sports Complex, Fort Myers, FL
NEW First Pitch: 12:05 PM ET
(previously scheduled for 1:05 PM ET)
Yes — the entire game is now shifting one full hour earlier, catching many fans off-guard and sending social media into a frenzy.
Team insiders say the adjustment is tied to broadcast alignment, facility scheduling, and ensuring the Twins’ pitcher rotation syncs with Opening Day timelines.
âšľ WHY THIS TIME CHANGE MATTERS
Spring Training isn’t just warm-ups.
Time changes like this reshape player usage, bullpen strategy, and fan turnout — especially during Opening Week.
For the Minnesota Twins
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Pitchers now warm up earlier, affecting planned innings distribution.
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Lineup competition intensifies as players adjust their routines.
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Coaches say the earlier start helps “mirror Opening Day pacing.”
For the Boston Red Sox
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This impacts evaluations of young arms fighting for final roster spots.
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The Red Sox expect to debut several high-priority prospects earlier in the afternoon.
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Analytics personnel reportedly requested the earlier time to better align data-tracking with internal metrics windows.
Fans attending in-person should plan for earlier arrival due to expected heavier traffic around the ballpark.
📺 UPDATED WATCH OPTIONS
The schedule shift also changes broadcast windows — here’s the updated list:
TV
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NESN (Red Sox region) — now airing earlier
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Bally Sports North (Twins region)
STREAMING
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MLB.tv (subject to blackout rules)
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NESN 360
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Bally Sports App
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FuboTV / DirecTV Stream / YouTube TV (regional availability)
Fans are urged to refresh their streaming apps and check listings again — many platforms haven’t updated the new time automatically.
📌 THE REMINDER YOU MUST SET BEFORE GAME DAY
Before this game begins:
âś” Set TWO reminders: 11:45 AM ET and 12:00 PM ET
âś” Update your MLB.tv and NESN/Bally apps
âś” Plan for earlier traffic if attending live
✔ Be prepared for roster news — earlier first pitch means earlier lineup releases
Missing the first inning could mean missing:
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The Red Sox debut of a top prospect
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The Twins unveiling a new bullpen experiment
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A critical pitcher battling for his Opening Day role
🔥 OPENING WEEK JUST WENT PRIME TIME
With the new first pitch locked in, excitement is building fast.
Both clubs are loaded with storylines — from Boston’s rebuilt farm system to Minnesota’s rotation battles — and this timing shakeup only adds to the intensity.