JUPITER, Fla. -- Experiencing his first Spring Training since joining the Twins in 2022, Chris Paddack is looking forward to what he hopes will be a full, healthy season. After Tommy John surgery derailed his ‘22 campaign, and most of ‘23 was spent rehabbing, Paddack is a changed man -- one who is ready to fulfill his role in the rotation.

Tuesday marked the latest step in achieving that goal, as Paddack built up to 51 pitches (33 strikes) over 2 2/3 innings in the Twins’ 5-4 loss to the Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Of course, the box score won’t necessarily show the start as “progress,” but those aren’t the numbers that matter at this point in the spring.

More important than the three hits (one homer) and three runs that Paddack allowed was the increased speed on his slider and his ability to be present while on the mound -- especially in two-strike counts.

“Overall it felt great,” Paddack said. “Still not satisfied with some 0-2 counts, 1-2 counts. Putting away guys is simplified; getting guys with two strikes, I got to be better at it. I was aware of the count, so that’s a step forward for me -- not being a zombie out there and being so locked in that I forget what’s going on.

“So I was present, but just didn’t have that wipeout stuff today.”

There’s still work to be done, though, and improvement to be made in those two-strike situations. Being present is the first step. The next step is the in-game pitch execution.

“I think it was fine today,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “It can be better. When I was talking to him after his outing, he noted that two-strike execution, things like that. … I’m glad he was standing there backing up the base when he needed -- these are the things that we kind of have to relearn when we get back to Spring Training every year. So the little things -- he did actually pretty well today, which I’m pleased about.”

That execution will come, though. After all, it’s only Paddack’s second Grapefruit League start. Spring is the time to work on leveling up pitches (which Paddack is attempting to do with his slider) and mound presence. Next up on his agenda will be a midweek bullpen, in which he’ll work on trusting his slider to reach the desired velocity on its own, rather than trying to throw it as hard as possible.

“We’re trying to get [the velocity] to 87-88 [mph] -- it was 84-86 today,” Paddack said. “So it’s getting there. I got some swings and misses, got some strikes with it. I was trying to throw it hard instead of trusting that the grip is going to do the work. When I try and throw it hard, I tend to roll my wrist, and [it becomes] an 84 [mph] sweeper that we don’t want, that doesn’t fit my arsenal.

“I know it is my fourth pitch, but I do think that if I can get that pitch ready for the season, it’ll be a big weapon for me. … Even though it’s Spring Training, working on stuff, I’m still trying to go out there and compete and win.”

Other notes from the loss:

• Alex Kirilloff crushed his first homer of the spring -- a first-pitch dinger to left field.

“I said to our hitting guys before the first pitch of the game, ‘We’re going to have to hit some low line drives today because no one’s going deep,’” Baldelli said. “And in the first inning there were two homers. [Kirilloff’s] was a really good swing. He has, like, really good opposite-field power.”

• Willi Castro showed off his speed in the sixth inning, legging out a triple on a hit that went 358 feet. It’s a good reminder that Castro ranked in the 82nd percentile in sprint speed last season. “Willi only plays really in one fashion,” Baldelli said. “I’ve never seen him do anything but go all-out."

• Tuesday marked the first time since March 2020 that the Twins have faced the Cardinals in Grapefruit League action. That … doesn’t mean a whole lot in the grand scheme of things, but it is a cool little tidbit.

• MLB Pipeline released the revamped Twins Top 30 prospects list. There’s not a ton that has changed -- but enough that you should check it out.