Oscar nominee to throw out Twins 1st pitch

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The Minnesota Twins will have an Oscar-nominated actor toss out at the ceremonial first pitch at their 2014 home opener.

Barkhad Abdi (BAHRK’-hahd AHB’-dee) will throw out the first pitch at the April 7 game against Oakland at Target Field.

After the first pitch, Abdi will meet fans in the new Twins Digital Clubhouse in the U.S. Bank Homerun Porch.

Abdi was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Captain Phillips” as the leader of a band of Somali pirates who hijacked an American cargo ship off the Horn of Africa in 2009.

The Twins’ home opener is scheduled for 3:10 p.m. Gates open at 1 p.m. Home Free, a Twin Cities a cappella group that won season four of NBC’s “The Sing-Off,” will perform around 2:30 p.m.