The Mighty Mussels gather around manager Brian Meyer before a workout this week at Hammond Stadium at the Lee Health Sports Complex. CJ HADDAD

Baseball fans across Southwest Florida have lots to look forward to over the next six months, as the boys of summer are back in Fort Myers for another season of Mighty Mussels baseball.

The Single-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, this year’s Mighty Mussels squad is chalk-full of talent, including the No. 1 and No. 7 prospects in the organization starting the year with the club.

This Friday night marks the 31st season of the team being affiliated with the Twins, as they open with a three-game set with the Tampa Tarpons.

“It feels good to be back here in Fort Myers,” said Mussels manager Brian Meyer, now in his fourth season as skipper and fifth overall with the Twins. “I enjoy coming here to the ballpark every single day. The staff I get to work with from the Twins (to the Mussels), just all around, it’s a very comfortable setting.”

Opening Night will feature the first of 13 post game fireworks shows at Hammond Stadium this season, along with other promotions and giveaways for Mighty Mussels fans.

The three-game homestand against the Tampa Tarpons features free tickets for children, an Easter Egg Hunt and opportunities the kids to run the bases and play catch on the field. There are plenty of promotions for adults, too, including 2-for-1 drink specials, swag giveaways and yoga on the field.

Even dogs have their day at Hammond Stadium for Bark in the Park.

As for the product on the field and what Meyer has seen early on from this year’s bunch, it should be a promising and exciting season for the team and fans alike.

“I’m excited,” Meyer said. “It’s a learning league, and we’ve got a lot of learning to do. Really an emphasis on the fundamentals with a young group. If you look at the trend of the league, the league is getting younger every year. Guys are getting pushed sooner than they ever have, and so it’s a refreshing system to come in and really focus on fundamentals and build these guys up as quickly as we can.”

Meyer spent 15 years in college baseball, and this being these players first stop after Rookie or Complex League ball is something he enjoys immensely.

“You bring out the true teacher in a lot of us down here, which I really enjoy,” Meyer said.

Some of Meyers’ key cogs this year include Twins No. 1 prospect (No. 10 overall according to MLB Pipeline) outfielder Walker Jenkins, and Twins’ No. 7 prospect, right-hander Charles Soto.

Jenkins and Soto were both selected in the 2023 MLB draft, taken 5th and 34th overall, respectively.

Jenkins played 26 games between the Florida Complex League and Mighty Mussels last year after being drafted, hitting .362 (.392 with Fort Myers) with 12 extra base hits and .989 OPS.

“It was a ton of fun,” Jenkins said of the small taste he got of pro ball last year. “Obviously a learning process. Learned about myself, my routine and how I need to go about it. But it just all goes back to being fun. Getting to play baseball as a job, it doesn’t really get better than that. When it comes to this year, I’m really looking forward to it. I get out and do it every day, rain or shine I’m going to learn, going to grow, I’m going to get better. I’m really pumped for it.”

The 6-foot-3, 19-year-old Jenkins said the unknown journey of what the season will hold is the most exciting part.

“I’m going to learn things I don’t even know I’m going to learn,” said the North Carolina native. “Just figuring out the process.”

As for his approach at the plate, Jenkins said he tries not to think too much.

“I’m someone that tries to hunt pitches in the middle and hit it early if I can and see it out of the hand,” Jenkins said.

Of Jenkins, Meyer said, “He’s a special player, and there’s a reason why he was drafted high. Not just for what he does on the field, but how he carries himself off the field and the determination that he has day in and day out. It’s exciting for me as a manager to be able to be his first professional manager and to see him go about his business and pass along that information as he goes about the system to the other managers.”

While he was unable to play in the Twins’ Spring Breakout Series game last month due to left quad soreness, just being able to be around top prospects in the organization and big leaguers was a valuable experience.

“Just seeing how they go about it,” Jenkins said. “What do they do when they strike out? What do they do when they have a great swing? See how they are in the dugout and how they treat each other.

“Developing that relationship with each other — hopefully we all go out and play on the same team one day. What people don’t see on the fields in the locker room and clubhouse is just as important, if not more important, than what goes on on the field.”

As for what it means to Jenkins to be the No. 1 prospect in the organization, it was a prideful, yet humble answer.

“It is an absolute honor,” Jenkins said. “To be honest with you, I came in and it’s like, ‘I haven’t played enough games to be the number one prospect.’ It’s awesome, (but) there are guys that have done a lot more than I have so far. So I truly think it’s an honor and a blessing. I’m going to continue working and do everything I can to be the best ballplayer I can.”

The Mussels’ top pitching prospect, Soto, is a hard-throwing 18-year-old that flirts with triple-digit speed on a regular basis. The Reborn Christian High School graduate out of Kissimmee did not partake in any pro games after being drafted last year, but did pitch in the Twins’ Spring Breakout game.

“The transition from high school ball to pro ball wasn’t easy by any means, but I feel like I truly belong here,” Soto said. “I put in the work, all the hours in the gym, and on the field. I feel like it’s going to be really exciting.”

With lots of family in the stands for his team debut last month, Soto is ready to take on the season — hopefully with continued family support when he takes the hill.

“I’m not too far from here, so hopefully I’ll have a couple family members here for each start,” Soto said.

While the fastball is impressive (he said he’s thrown hard from a young age), Soto is working to expand his repertoire, working on a sinker and sweeper to go along with a change-up.

“Those are two pitches that are going to help me in the long run,” Soto said. “I’ve been working with a couple guys (on the pitches). We’ve found two grips that work, and they’re just money.”

Soto said this year’s pitching staff, which features many guys drafted in the same class, is one to watch and are already tight-knit.

“We have guys like Jack Dougherty, Paulshawn (Pasqialotto) has a great breaking ball,” he said. “Jeremy Lee can spin two breaking balls at 3,000 RPM. We have a lot of guys that can go out there and just be dogs and help us win games.

“Tanner Hall and Ross Dunn both played on the USA college team — two guys that are going to go out there and dominate. Fans should expect a lot of wins this season.”

With a total attendance of 108,879 last season, the Mighty Mussels had the second-highest total attendance in the 10-member Florida State League.

“The Twins organization historically does a tremendous job drafting and developing young talent, and we’ve seen quite a few rising stars begin their professional careers right here in Fort Myers,” said Mighty Mussels President Chris Peters. “We’ve finished with a winning record in nine of our last 10 seasons and will start this season with some of the top prospects in Minor League Baseball on our roster.”

First pitch for Friday’s game is 7:05 p.m., followed by 6:05 on Saturday and 12:05 Sunday.

Mighty Mussels tickets start at $10 and are available at MightyMussels.com.

Hammond Stadium at Lee Health Sports Complex is at 14100 6 Mile Cypress Parkway in Fort Myers.