FORT MYERS, Fla. - Right field at the Metrodome is about as tough as it gets in this game, with the wicked hops on the carpet, a big blue baggie cascading behind the player's back, the baseball-colored ceiling and bright lights shining in the guy's eyes.

Funny how that's the job just about everyone on the Minnesota Twins is fighting for.

"We've got more guys competing this year. It'll be a tough spring training," said Bobby Kielty, one of the six being looked at in camp.

Only three - Dustan Mohr, Kielty and Michael Cuddyer - have a realistic shot of starting in right on opening day March 31 in Detroit, but this overabundance of outfield talent at the organization's upper levels makes for an intriguing competition.

"It's a situation I'm sure the Twins are happy to be in," said Michael Restovich, the Rochester, Minn., native who's a bit behind Cuddyer, Kielty and Mohr and a step ahead of fellow rookies Mike Ryan and Lew Ford.

A year ago, most thought right field was the weakest position in the lineup when Brian Buchanan edged out Mohr, Kielty and Cuddyer. Buchanan hurt his back, found himself buried on the bench and was traded to San Diego in July when Mohr and Kielty showed they were plenty capable of playing in the majors.

Sharing the job for most of the season, they combined to hit .278 with 24 homers and 91 RBIs. Cuddyer was called up in the second half and wound up the starter for the playoffs.

So here they are 12 months later in just about the same spot.

"Whatever I said last year, find the tape and just use that," Kielty joked.

The Twins' first-round draft pick (ninth overall) in 1997, Cuddyer probably has the most potential of anyone and should get the longest look. He's also a natural third baseman who can give Corey Koskie a break there once in a while.

"I'm going to go out there and hope I can win the job," Cuddyer said. "I can't play any other way. I'm sure that's the same feeling Bobby's going to have and the same feeling Mohr's going to have. You've got to go out there like it's your job and play like that."

Mohr, whose 434 major league at-bats are the most among the group, emerged from nowhere last year to make the team when it broke camp. He's added about eight pounds to his frame this season, hoping to sustain his energy level longer but also with an eye on hitting a few more homers.

He's got a good glove and capably backed up Jacque Jones in left field last year.

"We're all a little different as far as different parts of our game," Mohr said. "It makes for a lot of flexibility. We all know we're capable of playing every day. It's a weird situation to have this many guys who are ready to play at same time. It just kind of worked out that way."

Kielty's a switch hitter who can easily play all three outfield positions and his patience (52 walks) makes him a valuable pinch hitter, qualities that make him more valuable for manager Ron Gardenhire off the bench.

"Obviously everybody wants to start," Kielty said. "He made me feel confident by putting me in tight spots. I felt like I was needed. If he did it for other reasons, I would've felt kind of bitter. But not here."

No hard feelings here. Mohr and Cuddyer, in fact, were in Restovich's wedding this winter.

"I'm not here to compete against my teammates," Mohr said. "I'm here to get better to play against the people we're going to play against during the season."

Said Cuddyer: "We're probably the best group of friends on the team."

Gardenhire's got a tough decision to make, but it's a good problem to have.

"If you don't have the one guy who just completely takes off and dominates," he said, "it's nice to be in a position to move guys around and get 'em at-bats. I'm not worried about right field. We've got enough people around where whoever is going to play out there is going to be pretty good."