FORT MYERS, Fla. — Twins manager Rocco Baldelli doesn’t want to put too much pressure on anyone, particularly since it’s the first week of spring training. But Byron Buxton has no problem setting some aspirational goals for himself.

With his knee feeling good, the center fielder is ready to start wreaking havoc on the bases once again. He has his eyes set on a nice, round number and he’s already been talking about it with utilityman Willi Castro, who had a team-leading 33 stolen bases last year.

“We got about 30,” Buxton said. “Me and him, 30 apiece. We’re good. Means I’m on a lot and running a lot. I feel good. I feel real good.”

A dynamic stolen base threat, Buxton has never reached 30 steals in a single season in the big leagues. His career high came in 2017 when he swiped 29 bags and got caught just once. Though he was dealing with a painful right knee last season, he stole nine bases and was not caught once. He hasn’t reached double digits since 2019, when he stole 14.

The Twins’ Byron Buxton steals second base ahead of the throw to Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia in the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

This talk is yet another sign that the center fielder, who was leading the group in sprints on the back field earlier on Monday, has been feeling healthy after undergoing a second surgery on his knee after last season.

Buxton had a productive day on the field Monday, hitting what would have been a double out to center field during his first at-bat of live batting practice off a Bailey Ober slider.

“I wasn’t going up there to take no pitches,” he said. “Like, I’ve got to get myself ready for these games, too.”

Buxton, who said a couple of days ago that he had some nerves about getting back into the outfield after not appearing in a major-league game in center last year, also got some practice in out there, taking some high fly balls from outfield coordinator Mike Quade and third base/outfield coach Tommy Watkins.

That helped his nerves dissipate by the time he hit the main field and nabbed a Carlos Santana fly ball during live batting practice.

“I think we’re seeing a happy and healthy player right now,” Baldelli said. “… He’s going to use this time to get ready for his season, and I know there’s a whole lot of things to talk about when it comes to Byron. but he really is doing great physically right now.”

Lee to move around infield

The Twins plan to shift top prospect Brooks Lee around the infield this spring, letting him get some time in at second base, third base and shortstop to prepare him for what he might see at the major-league level. Lee, drafted eighth overall in 2022, ascended to Triple-A at the end of last season and could be knocking on the door of the major leagues soon.

Last season, he played primarily shortstop with a bit of third base sprinkled in. He hasn’t played second base as a professional, but Baldelli said he thinks the 23-year-old is ”reasonably comfortable” there. That could be the spot that Lee is most likely to see time at in the majors with Carlos Correa and Royce Lewis seemingly entrenched in their positions on the left side of the infield.

“I talked to Brooks. He’s like, ‘Listen, I’ve been working at these other positions my whole life,’ ” Baldelli said. “He’s like ‘This isn’t new to me. I’ll be ready to play wherever you need me to play.’ We’re going to move him around.”

Briefly

Baldelli said Chris Paddack is expected to make his spring pitching debut on Friday when the Twins play host to the University of Minnesota in their first game of spring training.

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