Like most longtime Minnesota Twins fans, I went into this season with cautious optimism. The team fell off late last year, but their free agent pickups gave me a little reason to be somewhat optimistic. On June 24th, the team was 34-27. Unfortunately, this year's team only won 36 more games the rest of the year and were one of the worst teams in Major League Baseball after the trade deadline.
Many of us were surprised that 11 players from the 40 man roster were dealt by the deadline. Manager Rocco Baldelli did his best with what he had to work with, and although I thought he relied too much on analytics at times, I didn't feel that he deserved to be fired on Monday. Ownership put the team up for sale, but no one bit, probably because of the billions of dollars in debt that the team already has. The sell off resulted in the lowest Target Field attendance in history, and the Twins' lowest home attendance in 25 years. Not surprising that fans had better things to do after feeling like being slapped in the face after so many key players were sent to other teams.
With that in mind, I'll take a look at individual performance, starting with the Twins hitters in alphabetical order by last name:
OF Harrison Bader: .258, 12 HR, 38 RBI and 10 SB in 96 games. Bader is known for his defense, although I saw him make a careless error in a game against Milwaukee this season that lead to a few unearned runs. He has been thriving in Philadelphia since being traded. He bounces around a lot, but hopefully he'll stick somewhere eventually.
3B Jonah Bride: 208, 3 HR, 17 RBI in 33 games. Bride was a fill-in for Royce Lewis after being acquired from Miami. Once he was no longer needed, Bride was quickly waived and subsequently forgotten.
CF Byron Buxton: .264, 35 HR, 84 RBI and 24 SB in 126 games. Buxton had career highs in multiple offensive categories this season. He made the All-Star Game for the second time, became the second Twin to have a season with 30 or more home runs and 20 or more stolen bases, and was one of the few bright spots for this team all year. I was at the game where Buxton hit for the cycle on his bobblehead giveaway day, and his energy and enthusiasm was contagious. He said that he wants to be a Minnesota Twin for life, but he also doesn't want to rebuild, so we'll see whether or not he waives his no-trade clause. If he does depart, expect more loyal fans to leave along with him.
UTIL Willi Castro: .245, 10 HR, 27 RBI and 9 SB in 86 games. Castro was our super utilityman until he was traded to the Cubs. I don't think he's done much for his new team since, but it'll be interesting to see where he ends up in 2026.
IF-OF Kody Clemens: .216, 19 HR, 52 RBI, 5 SB in 112 games. The Twins acquired Clemens from the Phillies as insurance at second base after Luke Keaschall went on the IL with a broken bone in his arm. He proved to be a good option at second, first, and the corner outfield spots. He's probably a lock at first next year, but it would be nice to see him hit for a higher average.
SS Carlos Correa: .267, 7 HR, 31 RBI in 93 games. Correa was having a rather lackluster offensive season for us. I'm not surprised that he was traded back to Houston, or that the Astros missed the playoffs this year.
INF Ryan Fitzgerald: .196, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 1 SB in 24 games. Fitzgerald was another feel good story, and showed some decent pop at the plate and versatility in the infield. I imagine he'll be given a chance to fill the utility role next year.
1B Ty France: .251, 6 HR, 44 RBI, 1 SB in 106 games. France is known for his defensive skills. He doesn't produce much offensively, and was losing playing time to Kody Clemens, so I understand why he was traded to Toronto.
INF Mickey Gaspar: .158, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 2 SB in 45 games. Gaspar was on the Opening Day roster, but wasn't really used much until Jeffers and Vazquez went down with injuries. He can catch, play first and second, DH and pinch-hit. He may be in the catching mix again in 2026.
C Ryan Jeffers: .266, 9 HR, 47 RBI, 1 SB in 119 games. A concussion sidelined Jeffers for part of the latter half of the season, but he returned from the injured list playing and fielding well. He looks to be the starting catcher heading into next season.
INF Edouard Julien: .220, 3 HR, 12 RBI in 64 games. Julien is now in his third year in the big leagues. He spent a big chunk of this season playing for the AAA St. Paul Saints. He's proven that he can play first in addition to second, but I don't know if he's gotten past the overthinking that led to his sophomore slump.
2B Luke Keaschall: .302, 4 HR, 28 RBI and 14 SB in 49 games. Keaschall was a top of the lineup catalyst when he was healthy. He figures to be the starting second baseman heading into 2026.
OF DaShawn Keirsey Jr: .107, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 10 SB in 74 games. Keirsey Jr was primarily used as a late inning pinch runner/defensive replacement when he was in the majors. Baldelli didn't give him much of a chance to start or get regular at-bats with the Twins.
OF/DH Trevor Larnach:.250 batting average, 17 HR, 60 RBI and 4 SB in 142 games. Larnach has proven to be a serviceable corner outfielder and left-handed hitting DH with power. If he is traded in the off-season, it'll be unfortunate, but there are others waiting in the wings to take his roster spot.
INF Brooks Lee: .236, 16 HR, 64 RBI and 3 SB in 139 games. Previously a utility infielder, this second year player was handed the starting shortstop role after Carlos Correa was traded to Houston. He has good hands and good pop from both sides of the plate, but I'd like to see his batting average climb a bit.
3B Royce Lewis: .237, 13 HR, 52 RBI and 12 SB in 106 games. Last year, people were so worried that Lewis couldn't make the throws from third that he was moved to second base for a while. This year, he made some great throws from the hot corner. He got off to a slow start after being injured yet again, but his bat eventually came around. If he's still with the team and stays healthy for an entire season, he can be a cornerstone of this organization for many years to come. i
UTIL Austin Martin: .282, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 11 SB in 50 games. Martin was pretty much an everyday player after being recalled from St. Paul following the trade deadline exodus. He's a better outfielder than infielder, and has made some base running gaffes this season, but still looks to be a part of the big league squad again next year.
OF Carson McCusker: .172, 1 RBI in 16 games. McCusker was the Saints' best offensive player in 2025, and had very limited playing time for the big league club. Barring injuries, he looks to start 2026 in AAA.
3B Jose Miranda: .167, 1 HR, 6 RBI in 12 games. Miranda's stock really fell fast. He got off to a slow start with the Twins, and struggled through the rest of the season with the Saints. I don't know how much more patience the organization will have with him.
OF James Outman. .147, 4 HR, 7 RBI and 1 SB in 37 games. Outman struggled against big league pitching during his time with the Dodgers and Twins, which was rather surprising considering he was a Rookie of the Year candidate in 2023 when he hit 23 homers. He'll probably be in camp next February and we'll have to see if he progresses or regresses in 2026.
C Jhonny Pereda: .345, 1 RBI in 11 games. Pereda was activated from AAA when Jeffers and Vazquez were put on the IL. He hit well, but I don't know if he'll stick around next year.
OF Allan Roden: .158, 1 HR, 10 RBI, 1 SB in 11 games. Roden was acquired from the Blue Jays and was given plenty of chances to be an everyday player until going on the injured list. He may be in the corner outfield mix next year once more.
C Christian Vazquez: .189, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 1 SB in 65 games. Vazquez was sidelined by a viral infection for a while, but was still our second string catcher for most of the season. He's great defensively, but his offense continues to decline. I'd be surprised if the Twins re-sign him.
OF Matt Wallner: .202, 22 HR, 40 RBI, 4 SB in 104 games. The pride of Forest Lake, MN had a career year offensively. He's known for his defense, but he still strikes out too frequently for my taste.
Now, I'll examine the pitching staff in alphabetical order. I'm leaving out the pitching appearances that were made by position players.
SP Mick Abel: 1-2, 8.36 ERA in 4 games. Abel was one of the key players acquired from Philadelphia at the trade deadline. He needs a bit more work in the minors before becoming a big league rotation mainstay.
RP/SP Travis Adams: 1-4, 7.49 ERA in 18 starts. Travis was one of the Saints' best pitchers, but he had a rough welcome to the big leagues. He was hit hard in his first few appearances. He may need a bit more minor league seasoning.
RP Jorge Alcala: 0-2, 8.88 ERA in 22 games. Alcala battled injuries and shuttled between Triple A and the big leagues several times during his Twins career. He pitched better this year for Boston and the St. Louis Cardinals.
RP Scott Blewett: 0-0, 1.93 ERA in 2 games. Blewett has already moved on to the Baltimore Orioles organization. He's another player who rotates between Triple A and the majors regularly.
SP Taj Bradley: 0-2, 6.61 ERA in 6 starts. Bradley was acquired from Tampa Bay for Griffin Jax. He spent some time with the Saints before being called up. He probably has a few more things to work on before he can be a fixture in any starting rotation.
RP Genesis Cabrera: 0-1, 7.98 ERA, 1 save and 1 hold in 16 games. The first time I ever heard of Cabrera, I watched him give up one of Buxton's 5 hits in the game at Target Field where he hit for the cycle against Pittsburgh. The next thing I knew, he was part of the Twins' bullpen. He gets around the majors a bit, but I think he'll probably start next year in AAA.
RP Danny Coulombe: 1-0, 1.16 ERA in 40 games. This oft-injured reliever had an outstanding start to his season before the Twins traded him to Texas. We'll see where he lands in 2026.
RP Noah Davis: 1-0, 16.20 ERA in 4 games. Davis had some rough outings with the Twins, and needs more seasoning in the minors before he can stick in the major leagues.
RP Randy Dobnak: 0-0, 1.69 ERA in 1 game. Dobnak spent most of the season in St. Paul, and has been with the Tigers' AAA affiliate since being acquired along with Chris Paddack this season.
RP Jhoan Duran: 6-4, 2.01 ERA and 16 saves in 49 games. Even though Baldelli didn't really like to assign roles to his relief pitchers, his stuff made him a closer. I'm glad that he landed with the Phillies, a team who understands his pitches and immediately made him their closer.
SP David Festa: 3-4, 5.40 ERA in 11 games. Thoracic outlet syndrome ended this second year player's season in 2025. If he recovers and rehabs well at St. Paul, he might be a good #4 or 5 starter for the team in 2026.
RP Kody Funderberk: 4-1, 3.51 and 7 holds in 39 games. Funderberk was one of the Twins' few left-handed relievers in 2025, and was in St. Paul for part of the season. He might have a chance to be on the 2026 roster for the entire year.
RP Thomas Hatch: 2-1, 5.45 ERA in 11 games. Hatch was another new player who surfaced after the trade deadline. I'm not sure what his future is, based on his small sample size with the Twins.
RP Griffin Jax: 1-5, 4.50 ERA and 21 holds in 51 games. Jax was unhappy in MN and wanted to be traded. Maybe he'll get more opportunities to crack the rotation in Tampa Bay.
RP Brooks Kriskie: 0-1, 11.25 ERA in 12 games. Another late season addition that performed just as poorly as the rest of the team did down the stretch. He's already off the roster.
RP Cody Laweryson: 0-0, 1.17 ERA in 5 games. Another rookie who made the big leagues this season. He'll probably begin 2026 with the St. Paul Saints.
SP Pablo Lopez: 5-4, 2.74 ERA in 16 starts. Lopez's season was cut short by 2 stints on the IL. He has become a key part of the team's starting staff since his trade from Florida, and has been a great influence in the clubhouse.
SP Zebby Matthews: 5-6, 5.56 ERA in 16 starts. This second year player improved from his rookie season, but still has room for improvement. If he has a solid spring, he may compete for a spot in the back end of the Twins' starting rotation in 2026.
RP Darren McCaughan: 0-0, 1.69 ERA in 3 games. A rookie who had a cup of coffee in the majors for the Twins this year. I expect him to be with the Saints unless the injury bug hits the Twins again.
RP Anthony Misiewicz: 0-0, 9.64 ERA and 1 hold in 5 games. Another rookie who made his big league debut with the Twins in 2025. I predict he'll start 2026 with the Saints.
SP Bailey Ober: 6-9, 5.10 ERA in 21 starts. Ober seemed to have lost a bit of velocity this year. He would be great in some starts, and perform poorly in others. I expect him to still be a key part of the rotation next year.
SP/RP Pierson Ohl: 0-3, 5.10 ERA in 14 games. Ohl is another rookie who could be a starter or reliever. He can also be an opener or a bulk pitcher, so he provides his new manager with several options.
SP Chris Paddack: 3-9, 4.95 ERA in 21 starts. Paddack showed how hittable his pitches were as the season went on. He continued to regress after being traded to Detroit, and was eventually sent to their bullpen. He came back from surgery after the Twins acquired him from San Diego, but had a down year in 2025.
RP Erasmo Ramirez: 0-1, 2.45 ERA, and 1 save in 9 games. Another pitcher who was swiftly forgotten almost as quickly as he appeared. I don't think the Twins will take a chance on him again, unless he signs a minor league deal.
SP Joe Ryan; 13 wins, 10 losses, 3.42 ERA in 31 games. Joe was the most consistent starter in the Twins' rotation. He didn't get a lot of run support after the trade deadline, and was almost shipped off to Boston. If he's still with the team in 2026, we should expect another strong season from him.
RP Cole Sands: 4-6, 4.50 ERA in 69 games. Sands is a good middle reliever who has been used as an opener a few times. I'd like to see him develop into a seventh or eighth inning relief specialist if possible.
RP Brock Stewart: 2-1, 2.38 ERA and 14 holds in 39 games. The oft-injured Stewart did well for Minnesota, but unfortunately sits on the IL once more as his new team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, makes their playoff run.
RP Michael Tonkin: 2-1, 4.88 ERA in 21 games. Tonkin has had a few tours of duty with the Twins. He's been a dependable late inning reliever, and I could see him sticking around again in 2026.
RP Justin Topa: 1-5, 3.90 ERA in 54 games. Topa was finally healthy, although I felt he was a bit overused at times by Baldelli. He might be better as a mop-up pitcher or a mid-game pitcher (5th through 7th innings).
SP Jose Urena: 0-1, 4.58 ERA in 4 games. Urena had a brief opportunity after the trade deadline and was quickly released. I imagine he'll end up with a minor league contract somewhere in 2026.
RP Louie Varland: 3-3, 2.02 ERA in 51 games. This former starter excelled in his relief role. I was disappointed that this MN native was sent off to Toronto, but now he'll get his first chance at the playoffs.
RP Joey Wentz: 0-0, 15.75 ERA in 6 games. This well-traveled journeyman pitched so horrendously for the team in 2025 that he probably won't see the big leagues again any time soon.
SP Simeon Wood Richardson: 7-4, 404 ERA in 23 games. Simeon improved from last year. He had a few bouts of ineffectiveness and went on the IL with a stomach bug, but is still looked at as one of the anchors of the Twins' rotation.
I don't blame the players or coaching staff for this season's collapse. I blame ownership, who clearly gave up, after trading away 11 players from the team's 40 man roster. The Twins were put up for sale during the last offseason, but their more than $400 million in debt scared off some potential buyers. They announced a pair of limited partnerships, but it will take more than that to get diehard fans interested in going to Target Field again. I plan on going to a couple of games in 2026, but that's mainly because I want to see a few more National League opponents in person. If they trade key players like Lopez, Lewis, Ryan, or Buxton, I would not be surprised to see even more apathy and exodus from this fan base who hasn't seen their team go to the World Series since 1991.
Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll start off another comic review series with one of my favorite titles. Until then, have a great week and don't forget to be kind to one another.
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