He's here.
He's the player whose fire could raise the intensity level for a team that has World Series aspirations.
He's the player many fans thought the Twins couldn't get, a highly sought free agent who had many bidders.
He's the player who ranks among baseball's top sluggers, a former MVP who adds more home run power to a record-setting lineup.
He's the player who used his own struggles to become a hitting mentor to younger players while honing his own feared swing.
He's Josh Donaldson, the player who navigated a rough early childhood, who relied on a mother who forged his course to success at the highest level.
And the Twins, historically bad in postseason play outside of two World Series titles primarily because of the poor play against their archnemesis Yankees, are delighted to have him.
"Donaldson was a big piece," Marwin Gonzalez said. "He's an MVP. Everybody knows what he is capable to do at home plate. Also he plays a good defense, too. We are all happy."
The Twins in January stepped up with a four-year, $92 million contract to bring in, by far, the most expensive free agent in club history, one who belted 37 home runs and had 94 RBI last season for Atlanta.
After striking out in their search for a top free-agent starting pitcher, they turned to the 34-year-old third baseman to help them improve on what they do best. "Bringer of Rain" joins a group that clubbed 307 home runs while winning 101 games.
The hope is Donaldson can help them push deeper into the postseason, and that hasn't abated as the season shrunk from 162 games to 60.
"When you look at it and you see 101 wins ... that's a high bar," Donaldson said. "Ultimately, that's the regular season. I think the bar is not just regular season with this team anymore. I think the bar is more set for the postseason, but in order to get to the postseason, you have to take care of business in the regular season."
Donaldson has been known to show some fire on the field. He was ready to go toe-to-toe with Twins reliever Glen Perkins in 2014 when the closer said something to Donaldson after striking him out. When the Rangers' Rougned Odor socked Jose Bautista, Donaldson's Toronto teammate, during a brawl in 2016, Donaldson tore after Odor.
If that ingredient enhances the overall product, the Twins will take it. Not the threat of pugilism, but the edge that can help a team be mentally tougher.
"I definitely believe there is a time and place for not giving a damn," Donaldson said. "I think on the field is one of them. Because you have lots of people who are trying to judge you and a lot of people who are trying to do certain things, and if you are concerned with all these things, then it takes away from your performance."
