The promotion Garrett Olson was hoping for hasn’t come to fruition yet, but the position he’s been hoping for may have.

Olson, the former Oxford Hills star and Minnesota Twins fourth-round draft pick in 2006, is headed back to Beloit, Wis., where he played 123 games last season. He was hoping he wouldn’t have to pack his bags again and would remain with the Twins’ advanced Class A team located at their spring training home in Fort Myers, Fla.

But he struggled with a retooled swing for much of last season, and a .219 batting average (with six home runs and 50 RBIs in 123 games) delayed that promotion, according to Twins Director of Minor Leagues Jim Rantz.

“Obviously, he didn’t play his way out of that league yet, but I think he’s going to have to make those adjustments, which we feel he has,” said Rantz. “I think he’s going to have a good year this year.”

Olson will start the season as the Snappers’ everyday shortstop, Rantz said. Olson played the position at Oxford Hills and Franklin Pierce College and said he feels most comfortable there.

“I’d like to stay at shortstop for the whole year. That’s one of my main goals,” Olson said. “That’s where I wanted to be (when he was drafted) and hopefully that’s what they’re finally seeing me as.”

Olson played shortstop for Beloit during the Midwest League playoffs, but has played all over the infield and pulled some outfield duty in the Twins’ organization since being drafted. He spent the majority of last season at third base.

“We like the versatility,” Rantz said. “He might be playing some at first base, too. He can play around, but right now, our plan is for him to play more at short.”

Olson reported for his second spring training with the Minnesota Twins earlier this year – and wiser from his first year in Fort Myers.

Known for his competitiveness since his days at Oxford Hills, Olson said he went into this camp with a different frame of mind.

“I think I was a little more relaxed this year compared to last year,” Olson said. “Last year, I didn’t know what to expect, that being my first spring training. Having been through it one time, I knew that it was pretty laid back and it’s meant for us to get our work in and get prepared for the season and not to perform. You’re there to work on stuff and get ready.”

“For first-year guys, it’s a lot harder to understand that. They want to go out there and do everything right the first time,” he added.

Olson, who turned 23 on March 10, participated in the Twins’ Florida Winter Instructional League in Fort Myers for the second straight year. Rantz said the Twins are looking for the 6-foot-2, 200 pound right-handed hitter to rely more on his innate ability to find the gap (he hit 20 doubles last year), improve his plate discipline and take more walks.

“He’s a gamer. He comes to play,” Rantz said. “Skill-wise, I still think that there’s something there with the bat, and if he makes those adjustments, he’s going to have that good year. And he’s a good teammate. He’s got all of those credentials, he’s just got to hit more.”