FORT MYERS, Fla. — You’ve heard of athletes who “leave it all on the field,” but Twins left-hander Ryan O’Rourke tends to do that before he ever leaves the bullpen.

Through his first 54 big-league outings over the last past two years, O’Rourke estimates he emptied the contents of his stomach close to every time.

“I don’t do it in the public’s eye,” O’Rourke said Tuesday. “I go in the bathroom, or sometimes it’s just on the back of the mound. But, yeah, it happens.”

Spotting bullpen coach Eddie Guardado walking past, O’Rourke called out to him.

“Hey, Eddie, do I ever throw up before I pitch?” he said.

Guardado did a silent double-take and just kept walking.

NBA great Bill Russell famously found a bathroom stall for the same purpose before almost every big game in his hall of fame career with the Boston Celtics. O’Rourke, whose habit goes back to his days at Merrimack College outside Boston, grinned at the comparison.

“I’ve got a question for you: How many times did Bill Russell win a championship in his career?” O’Rourke said of the 11-time NBA champion. “He’s the greatest winning human being to walk this Earth. Good for Bill Russell. If I can follow in his footsteps … “ Related Articles Can a DH win the MVP Award? Nelson Cruz vying for consideration

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As a starter in the minors, O’Rourke said it became a running gag for the grounds crew to wait at the trash can with a new bag “right before I went out there.”

“It just happens,” O’Rourke said. “I’m pretty pumped up out there. I think everything is culminating as I’m getting ready for my big moment, whether it’s energy or what. I like the competitive aspect. I think this is just a way for me to release a little bit of my nerves.”

Among other things.

PITCHING PLANS

Right-hander Kyle Gibson will start Friday night at home in the spring opener against the Tampa Bay Rays, followed by fellow right-hander Phil Hughes on Saturday across town against the Boston Red Sox.

Also slated to pitch on Friday are closer Brandon Kintzler and relievers Taylor Rogers, Matt Belisle, Justin Haley, Buddy Boshers and Michael Tonkin. Swingman Nick Tepesch is also on the list.

On Saturday, the Twins plan to follow Hughes with starting candidates Tyler Duffey, Ryan Vogelsong and Adalberto Mejia. Relievers Ryan Pressly, Ryan O’Rourke, J.T. Chargois and Alex Wimmers are also on the list.

Starters Hector Santiago and Jose Berrios, both scheduled to depart March 6 to join Team Puerto Rico in Arizona, will get two outings apiece before leaving for the World Baseball Classic, manager Paul Molitor said. They will reach a pitch limit of 45 before leaving camp.

HALEY’S CROSSFIRE

As Rule 5 pick Justin Haley threw live batting practice Tuesday, Molitor stationed himself to the far left behind the cage to get a better look.

From the stretch, the right-handed Haley sets up with an exaggerated closed position, his feet separated by nearly the full width of the pitching rubber.

“There’s stuff and there’s funk,” Molitor said. “With the crossfire, it’s been a long time, but I remember the (discomfort), especially from the right-handed side. I recall how much I used to bail on those guys.”

Molitor also noted that the 6-foot-5 Haley’s unusual delivery “keeps those lefties from diving out there, too,” because of the sharp angle at which he can approach the plate.

Haley must be carried all season on the big-league roster or offered back to the Boston Red Sox for half the $100,000 draft price.

BRIEFLY

Twins closer Glen Perkins, coming off June shoulder surgery, is scheduled to throw his third bullpen of the spring on Wednesday. … Lefty reliever Mason Melotakis (strained right oblique) remains on no-throw status. … Max Kepler hit a long homer off Kintzler during live batting practice that landed on the boardwalk beyond the right-field seats.