FORT MYERS, Fla. — Ty France spent this offseason simplifying things in the batter’s box, getting back to his roots. He seems encouraged by the early results that he’s seeing.

Both France and Harrison Bader, whom the Twins signed to one year-deals earlier this month, hit home runs on Tuesday in the Twins’ 5-4 win over the New York Yankees at Hammond Stadium.

France is trying to rebound after a tough 2024 season at the plate in which his power and production were down. The veteran signed a one-year, non-guaranteed deal with the Twins and figures to factor heavily into their first base plans.

“I feel like my old self, just moving the ball all around the field,” France said. “When I’m hitting the ball the other way, usually I’m pretty dialed in. So far, camp has been good. I’m going to try to keep it rolling.”

The infielder got ahold of a Carlos Carrasco first-pitch sinker in the second inning and took it out to right field, tying the game at the time. The very next inning, Bader hit his first of the spring, as well, sending a slider out past the left-field fence.

Bader hit .273 with a .733 OPS in the first half of last season with the New York Mets but his numbers tailed off in the second half. He agreed to a one-year deal with a mutual option this month and will back up Byron Buxton in center and play some corner outfield, as well.

“Those guys have fallen in with the group very well. We’re going to run them out there, get them a bunch of at-bats,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “The more at-bats you get, the more comfortable you get in spring, and I think both of them want the at-bats, too. So, we’ll give them to them. The early returns in these spring training games, they’re good.”

Ramírez fights for 10 years

Fewer than 10 percent of players who have ever slipped on a major league uniform have reached a decade of service time. That lofty number is in Erasmo Ramírez’s sights — it’s just taking a bit longer than the pitcher would liked.  He currently sits at nine years, three days of service time.

“It’s just moving slowly, too slow,” Ramirez said with a laugh. “I wish it moved a little faster, but it’s just life. I cannot change what I did in the past, but I can work on my present. Hopefully I have a better future.”

And he hopes that future is with the Twins. Ramírez signed a minor league deal with an invite to spring training after spending last year with the Rays. The 34-year-old pitched in 13 games last year, posting a 4.35 earned-run average.

He’s pitched for six different MLB teams across 13 seasons but is likely to begin the season at Triple-A St. Paul, waiting for an opportunity. The best thing for him to do now, he said, is wait for and earn his chance.

“I’ve never been a hard-thrower,” he said. “I depend on my command. My command is big. I know I can compete. As of right now, I just want to be able to compete and after that, when the speed shows up, good luck to the hitters.”

Briefly

The Twins will make the journey north to Lakeland on Tuesday to face the Detroit Tigers. Andrew Morris, one of the organization’s top pitching prospects, is slated to start the game against reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. … When Matt Canterino took the mound on Tuesday in the seventh inning, it had been more than 900 days since his last appearance in regular season game (he pitched in spring training games last spring) due to injuries. It may not have been how he would’ve scripted it — he walked three batters — but he came away with a scoreless frame. … Outfielder DaShawn Kiersey Jr. delivered a walk-off hit on Tuesday to lift the Twins to their second victory of the spring.