Burning Questions for 2025 Twins Spring Training: Recovering From Collapse

[Cody Christie]

The scars of 2024’s collapse won’t disappear until the Twins start winning games. To begin that healing process, though, requires lots of work before those wins can accumulate.

Image courtesy of William Parmeter (Photo of Matt Borgschulte)

How will the Twins rebound from their 2024 collapse?

Last season, Minnesota looked destined for October baseball, before an unfathomable 12-27 finish left them watching the playoffs from home. The frustration lingers, but spring training is about new beginnings. Here are some ways the Twins are looking to avoid another collapse. 

Chip On Their Shoulder
Baseball is a game where players can ill afford to dwell on the past. One bad pitch or at-bat must quickly be put behind a player, so they can focus on the next critical moment. However, Minnesota’s collapse was one of the most disappointing seasons in team history. Those involved with the organization will continue to be asked about the end of last season.

Derek Falvey, the Twins' president of baseball operations, was recently asked if the collapse left a bitter taste in the team’s mouth.

"No question. I think it fueled us throughout the offseason," Falvey said. "It fueled the work that these players did. It fueled the work the coaches did behind the scenes as far as preparing for the season. It fueled us in the front office to think about what we can do to be better."

Losing can be great motivation during the offseason, but that can only carry a team so far. The Twins project to have one of baseball’s best bullpens, but even great relievers will burn out from overuse. To find more consistency, Minnesota will need to focus on other areas when the season begins. 

New Hitting Philosophy
The 2024 Twins showed the ability to hit for power, but ran into serious issues when making contact in key moments. That’s where Matt Borgschulte comes in. Returning to the organization as a hitting coach, he brings a fresh focus to Minnesota’s offensive approach.

Borgschulte visited key players this winter, including Byron Buxton, Royce Lewis, and Edouard Julien, to prepare them for the new season. While the Twins will always have power hitters, they may be moving away from an all-or-nothing approach. Instead of living and dying by the home run, there’s an emphasis on making more consistent contact, especially late in counts.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli did some offseason introspection, which led to a philosophy shift, prioritizing versatility and situational hitting.

"We did make some staff changes. We have a new hitting department that we're going to unleash with our players in spring training," Baldelli revealed. "The goals heading into spring training for our team are to talk about approach and to talk about how to win games when you don't hit two home runs."

Falvey reiterated that hitting philosophy.

"I will say, I think our guys have thought about how to start winning games that we lost last year," he said. "We were waiting for that one big three-run homer at different times, to the point that maybe guys put a little too much pressure on themselves.

“I think, this year, there has been a concerted effort among the hitting guys to just figure out a way to grind out different types of at-bats,” Falvey continued. “You don’t always have to wait for the three-run homer. Sometimes, you just have to find a way to move the line along. You get to hit, then you move on to the next guy. You take a walk, then you move on to the next guy. I think our guys are talking about that kind of offensive approach."

This shift could be crucial for a team that struggled with runners in scoring position and other missed opportunities in 2024. If the Twins can put the ball in play more often in high-leverage situations, they’ll have a much better shot at bouncing back in 2025. With a talented roster and a new mindset at the plate, the question has to be focused on how they will rebound when another offensive slump hits the team.

Staying Healthy for the Stretch Run
One of the biggest reasons for the Twins' 2024 collapse was the absence of key players in the second half. Injuries took a significant toll, with Joe Ryan, Byron Buxton, and Carlos Correa all missing significant time. All three players were playing at or near an All-Star level in the first half, and there weren’t suitable replacements on the roster. Their absences weakened both the lineup and the pitching staff, making it difficult for the team to sustain success down the stretch.

A healthy Ryan stabilizes the rotation, as he has shown ace-like potential when at full strength. Buxton, one of the most dynamic players in baseball, needs to stay on the field to provide elite defense and game-changing power. Correa is arguably the team’s best overall player and will be relied upon to anchor the infield and deliver in big moments.

For the Twins to truly put 2024 behind them, they must keep their stars on the field. Improved injury prevention strategies, smarter workload management, and a little luck could go a long way in ensuring that Minnesota has its best players available when it matters most. A healthy core gives the Twins their best shot at contending deep into the season and beyond.

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Are there other ways the Twins can avoid a collapse in 2025? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

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[Mark G]

"All three players were playing at or near an All-Star level in the first half, and there weren’t suitable replacements on the roster."

I say this somewhat tongue in cheek, but if there were suitable replacements, would we be paying 55 mil for 3 players?  I doubt there are too many teams that have suitable replacements for 3 players of that caliber.  It is the next tier of talent that needs to step up if and/or when they go down (or any other player we count on as much as we do those three),  and that is going to test our depth once again.  It is all going to come down to depth.  Will the next tier come through?  I, for one, am hopeful and skeptical at the same time; I hope they prove me right on the former and make me eat the latter. 😏 

[UpstateNewYorker]

I have to shake my head that situational hitting is only now a focus for the organization.  

[big dog]

1 hour ago, UpstateNewYorker said:

I have to shake my head that situational hitting is only now a focus for the organization.  

No kidding. About freaking time.

[NYCTK]

1 hour ago, UpstateNewYorker said:

I have to shake my head that situational hitting is only now a focus for the organization.  

You know who the "best" team was in situational hitting with the tying run on-base or at the plate with two strikes? 

The White Sox. 

Focusing on "situational hitting" doesn't really do anything. I expect zero actual changes in outcomes even if their "philosophy" has changed. 

[Mark G]

12 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

You know who the "best" team was in situational hitting with the tying run on-base or at the plate with two strikes? 

The White Sox. 

Focusing on "situational hitting" doesn't really do anything. I expect zero actual changes in outcomes even if their "philosophy" has changed. 

Oh oh oh yeah?  Well I say the changes are going to bring us to the next level.  That 82-80 team is going 83-79 this year, and we'll LIKE IT!  🤭

[sweetmusicviola16]

What I read from our leadership is that the blame has been laid at the feet of Popkins the former hitting coach. I'm not defending Popkins but he was merely following the philosophy that the organization has followed for years. Good and convenient way for Falvey and Balldelli to use Popkins as a scapegoat. The fact ignored is the team that Falvey and Baldelli have put together feasted upon bad teams. Then proceeded to tank against the better teams in Aug/Sept. Does the history of 2024 matter as far as 2025 success goes? Maybe not. But at least Derek and Rocco tell the full story of the past failure. You'd actually look better in moving forward if you did. Don't blame a now gone hitting coach for what you had long preached and drafted for the organization to do. 

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, Mark G said:

Oh oh oh yeah?  Well I say the changes are going to bring us to the next level.  That 82-80 team is going 83-79 this year, and we'll LIKE IT!  🤭

If Ty France doesn't come through like everyone here thinks he will, this team could easily sink to 81-81!   Book it.

[NYCTK]

21 minutes ago, ashbury said:

If Ty France doesn't come through like everyone here thinks he will, this team could easily sink to 81-81!   Book it.

Don't forget my boy Bader, gonna carry this team for stretches. 82-80 - Call your bookie. 

[Doctor Gast]

IMO the change of philosophy & game plan of hitting HRs & forget about SOs & fundamentals. is long overdue & is a big plus. Twins stunk in hitting to begin the season & dug a big hole & trailed CLE the whole season. The change of philosophy will help in a good start. Another reason for the collapse is lack of depth in the rotation. Another season under their belt will be tremendous, especially for the rookies. The lack of chemistry w/o Correa for a long period was disastrous. Player displacement is another. Health is a factor, hopefully, Correa, Buxton, Lewis, Jeffers & Vazquez stay healthy.

[RpR]

2 hours ago, NYCTK said:

You know who the "best" team was in situational hitting with the tying run on-base or at the plate with two strikes? 

The White Sox. 

Focusing on "situational hitting" doesn't really do anything. I expect zero actual changes in outcomes even if their "philosophy" has changed. 

You have to reach the situation first, although the Twins practiced their Sept. collapse most of the time when situational hitting may have saved the day.

[tony&rodney]

" .... It fueled us in the front office to think about what we can do to be better."

?

[Nashvilletwin]

43 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

Don't forget my boy Bader, gonna carry this team for stretches. 82-80 - Call your bookie. 

Yep, and I can’t wait to turn on the TV everyday to watch France and Bader.  I’m so invested in them as a fan. Just like I was with Gallo, Margot, et al.  So exciting. So much fun.

[NYCTK]

3 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Yep, and I can’t wait to turn on the TV everyday to watch France and Bader.  I’m so invested in them as a fan. Just like I was with Gallo, Margot, et al.  So exciting. So much fun.

Santana, Farmer, Solano, Taylor. 

Focus on the positives! 

 

[NYCTK]

25 minutes ago, RpR said:

You have to reach the situation first, although the Twins practiced their Sept. collapse most of the time when situational hitting may have saved the day.

I just don't buy into a focus on "situational" hitting at all. The 125 milliseconds these players have to react should be instinct from their 10-30 years of swinging the bat.

Plus, the Twins DID shorten their swing and focus more on contact in 2 strike situations, if this graph is to be believed. 

 

[Mark G]

😵

[Doctor Wu]

“You don’t always have to wait for the three-run homer. Sometimes, you just have to find a way to move the line along. You get to hit, then you move on to the next guy. You take a walk, then you move on to the next guy. I think our guys are talking about that kind of offensive approach."

In other words, the way that baseball has normally been played the past 100 years or so. 

[Fezig]

14 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

" .... It fueled us in the front office to think about what we can do to be better."

?

I found that curious as well. They spent so much time refueling at the gas pump they almost let all of the other cars drive by.