Twins Fan Optimism Hits New Lows: Can the Club Prove the Doubters Wrong?

[Cody Christie]

A recent survey shows Twins fans' optimism might be at an all-time low. Why are they feeling so pessimistic, and what can the club do to win back their trust and enthusiasm?

Image courtesy of William Parmeter

It’s no secret that Minnesota sports fans have been conditioned for heartbreak. But heading into the 2025 season, pessimism surrounding the Twins might be reaching a fever pitch. According to The Athletic’s annual fan survey, just 52% of Twins fans reported feeling optimistic about the team’s chances this year. That number ranks 21st in Major League Baseball, sandwiched between the San Francisco Giants (20th) and the Oakland Athletics (23rd). It starkly contrasts the past two years, when Minnesota ranked in the top 10.

In 2024, 86.3% of fans expressed confidence in the team, placing them 10th in MLB. The previous year, the optimism was even higher, at 91.3%, again ranking 10th. Even in 2022, when there were still plenty of unanswered questions about the team’s long-term direction, the Twins ranked 17th with a 70.1% optimism rating. So what’s changed in just one year, to cause such a sharp decline?

Why Are Fans So Pessimistic?
There are several contributing factors at work. The most glaring issue is how the 2024 season ended. The Twins were in a prime position to claim a playoff spot, before an ugly late-season collapse left fans feeling burned. Adding another late-season meltdown to the record books was a gut punch for an organization that has historically struggled in October. It was clearly one of the most disappointing seasons in Twins history. 

Adding to the unease is uncertainty regarding new ownership. The Pohlad family is expected to sell the team in 2025, leaving many questions about the franchise’s future direction. Justin Ishbia dropped out of a bid to buy the franchise that had reached advanced stages, forcing the team to pivot to other options. Will new ownership invest more aggressively in free agency? Will there be major front-office shake-ups? Fans have taken stability for granted under the Pohlads, and the unknown brings an extra level of uneasiness. At the same time, satisfaction with (and confidence in) the Pohlads themselves is lower than it has been since the family flirted with contracting the team over two decades ago.

Meanwhile, the rest of the AL Central is trending upward. The Cleveland Guardians, Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers made significant strides last season, each winning at least as many postseason games (3) as the Twins have won in the last 20 years. Many projection systems have the Twins as one of the favorites in the division, but fans want the team to prove it after 2024’s collapse. Minnesota can no longer assume divisional dominance, and fans feel uneasy about the team’s standing in the AL Central.

A Reason for Hope?
While the pessimism is understandable, there are still plenty of reasons to believe in this Twins team. The core roster remains strong, featuring a mix of young talent and proven veterans. Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa provide veteran stability, while the pitching staff should be among the league’s best, with a top starting trio of Pablo López, Bailey Ober, and Joe Ryan. There is also a solid group of pitching prospects in the high minors, who can provide depth when injuries arise. 

Minnesota’s farm system is also in excellent shape, with several top prospects nearing their MLB debuts. Names like Luke Keaschall, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Walker Jenkins give the organization a bright future. All three players could make their debuts in 2025 after finishing last season at Double- or Triple-A. The ability to develop and integrate young talent has been a strength for the Twins in recent years, and that trend looks likely to continue.

Lastly, while the uncertainty around new ownership is a concern, a fresh perspective could bring new opportunities. A more aggressive front office willing to spend on top-tier free agents or extend core players could elevate the team to the next level. If the sale goes through in 2025 as expected, it could provide a much-needed spark to reinvigorate the fan base.

The numbers from The Athletic’s fan survey don’t lie, because Twins fans are more skeptical than they’ve been in years. However, optimism can return just as quickly as it disappeared. Winning cures all and a strong start to 2025 could help change the narrative around the team. It’s on the Twins to prove the doubters wrong.

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What makes you optimistic about the Twins this season? What are you pessimistic about? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

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[Karbo]

IMO, fans are still bummed out with the way they cut payroll last year. They may have added a bit to payroll this year, but I've talked to several friends that still are angry, In addition, look at the core players, while yo can, because yo can pretty much bank on them missing considerable time with injuries.

Bright spot is a team that looks to have real strong pitching, both starters and relievers. So as I see it the biggest problem looks to be the hitting/ scoring. With so many of the core guys missing time with injuries, who can step up when the game gets tough?

[The Great Hambino]

The tease of the possibility of new ownership only to have Lucy pull that football away right when most fans are starting to pay attention again may have hurt optimism more than if they had never been put on the market in the first place.  Plus, the biggest offseason addition the past two years has been, what, Carlos Santana? I know he worked out as well as anyone could've hoped, but at the time of his signing it didn't exactly fire up the fanbase, especially given the lack of any other meaningful investment in what seemed like the opening of a championship window.

On another note, I'm surprised the A's had any fans available to answer the survey

[Vanimal46]

Winning solves a lot of things. The Twins need to win early and often when the regular season begins. 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

I bet a Twins Daily survey would be more "optimistic", since TD is made up of mostly "cock-eyed optimists" (credit to Nellie Forbush in South Pacific).

[Doctor Gast]

I used to get all excited about the draft, the articles on our prospects, and subscribing to the athletic (which I dropped last year) but last couple of years or so I've come to the conclusion that this team won't reach it's full potential under this management. Yes, Falvey has finally got the pitching pipeline pumping (what he was hired to do) but most everything else he has come short. I don't care if we don't have money to spend on FAs that Falvey wants to sign, Our competitors spend less & are more optimistic than us. I don't want us to sign FAs, I want the Twins to develop our young players & have enough faith in their efforts to play them & if we don't have the young players to fill the areas of need go out there & trade for them. I have total faith in the core that broke that curse of record consecutive postseason losses. But not in this organization. Unless something significant changes soon, I'm fighting it but I might take a break from the Twins. If the Twins don't have faith in the work that they're doing with the young players, why should I have faith in the Twins?

[D.C Twins]

This team CAN be very good.... if.... 

Miranda, Lee, Julian, Larnach, Wallner produce while Buxton and Correa stay healthy. 

Oh and Zebby ;has a breakout year...

LOT-O-IFs....

[RpR]

Twins can be very good if all of them produce as they are paid to do.

[ashbury]

The Twins have a path to 100 wins. Or if things break badly they could lose 90+.

You can't say the first about a few of the bottom-dweller franchises, nor the second about the richest teams.  Probably a lot of the teams in the middle could be described like that.  This edition of the Twins seems a little more extreme than past years, though.

I have 'em pegged at just below .500.

[DJL44]

It feels like the Dodgers have this thing wrapped up in March.

[LewFordLives]

It wasn't just last year's meltdown on its own, but the manner in which they lost. When things are not going your way, the three outcomes approach to hitting is unwatchable. Enough with the double digits in strikeouts night after night. It is so frustrating.   This team is basically the same as last year, so do I want to put myself through this again?

 

As you say, winning cures all. Let's hope.

[bean5302]

The payroll cut and the subsequent September collapse, the lack of accountability for the manager and front office. Dave St. Peter wasn't held accountable so much as the Pohlads saw an opportunity to cut costs with the team up for sale, IMHO. The cheap and limited giveaways, the falling service levels, cable TV debacle, crappy new logo, and lousy season ticket holder experiences. I have no faith in the management from top to the bottom. When you feel the team is led by the utterly incompetent, you're not going to have a lot of optimism. If the Pohlad's backtrack and don't sell the team, they're going to have a very, very hard time winning fans back.

[Vanimal46]

6 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

It feels like the Dodgers have this thing wrapped up in March.

I really believe they’re going to break the Mariners’ modern day wins record of 116 wins.

[UpstateNewYorker]

9 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

I really believe they’re going to break the Mariners’ modern day wins record of 116 wins.

And it does seem like there are only a handful of teams that can even compete with the Dodgers (Phillies, Braves, and by default whoever make the World Series from the AL). 

[thelanges5]

1 hour ago, Vanimal46 said:

Winning solves a lot of things. The Twins need to win early and often when the regular season begins. 

💯this! Start the season with some dubs ⚾️

[Rod Carews Birthday]

1 hour ago, Vanimal46 said:

Winning solves a lot of things. The Twins need to win early and often when the regular season begins. 

Agreed.  I'm also not sure that the overall optimism is that much lower than it has been historically.  Sure, it was quite high after the playoff win a couple of years back, but there are lots of years in the past that looked much more bleak on the field than they do now.  What we're witnessing now is probably more about the fans' impatience because they perceive an opportunity to win that doesn't necessarily line up with ownership's position at the moment.  Hardcore (loud) Twins fans want more for their team and get frustrated when they think there is a missed opportunity.  That's not wrong, but I don't really think it's about optimism or the lack thereof.  I think it's more about people being passionate about their team winning it all.

[ziggy]

Owners are invested financially. Fans are invested emotionally.

Now the owners are rejecting our emotions by not improving the team and selling their part of the investment.

Why should we invest more than the owners?

[ryanking61]

I believe this team can win the division and make it to October with the roster and talent they have. But like I've been previewing during my shows, the Minnesota Twins season will come down to injuries and staying healthy so there isn't another complete MELTDOWN like last season. I also use the saying, the only thing that will beat this Minnesota Team like most if not ALL Minnesota Sports teams will be themselves. 

[Fire Dan Gladden]

What the heck does "optimistic" mean?  Better than last year? Division winner?  World Series?  A healthy team?

If we are talking about winning a WS, all optimism was washed away when the owners decided not invest in improving the on-field product and talked about reducing payroll.

[Parfigliano]

45 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

I really believe they’re going to break the Mariners’ modern day wins record of 116 wins.

I got up at 3:30 am and watched both Tokyo games.  LA was just a continual string of quality MLB ABs

[tony&rodney]

Personally, I had poor luck when I attended Twins games last season. It wasn't the wins and losses. It was the slow plodding on the bases mixed in with outfielders missing the cutoff man, throwing the ball to the wrong base, and heaving throws to the backstop when the opposing runner just cruised across home plate. The infielders were pretty good on balls hit directly at them but struggled going in directions.

When October arrived, I was aware that several Twins had seen their value drop due to less than stellar results, but it seemed like the front office would be proactive in the trade market. I was prepared for a roster budget of $100-120 million and believed anything higher than that would be bonus cash. The payroll limit was a total nonissue for me. Looking around the league it felt there were opportunities for some change, specifically to upgrade the defensive talent and roster players who could run a little bit.

Turns out that wasn't the plan. I was wrong - dead wrong. As a Twins fan this is a time to reset and recover. It is time to swallow whatever hopes loomed during the offseason and accept the present roster, to cough up some optimism for the campaign ahead. I'm hoping Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton have their best years yet and hoping that some other players emerge as complimentary pieces to support them. I'm hopeful the Twins pitchers stay healthy and productive and focus on what they can do and not to worry about those events out of their control, like the issues of other's gloves. I'm hopeful the Twins uncover playing time for a couple of young talented players and win the division. The Twins are going to win the World Series.

 

[Craig Arko]

Living in a time and place where the whole world appears to be descending into the crapper, it’s tough to work up a lot of optimism for anything.

[Major League Ready]

If we think in terms of the areas of the roster (SP, RP, IF & OF) there is room for optimism.  We have SP pitching depth and a good BP.  That's always a good place to start.  I also think too many people don't see beyond Buxton, Correa, and Lewis.  Wallner and Larnach established themselves last year.  Sure, they need to follow-up with another good season but we are looking good in the OF now and we have two darn good prospects not too far off.  The infield some question marks that need to get sorted out.  It would sure help if Lee steps up and we should all be pulling for Keaschall to crush it in the minors and get here ASAP.

[chpettit19]

51 minutes ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

What the heck does "optimistic" mean?  Better than last year? Division winner?  World Series?  A healthy team?

If we are talking about winning a WS, all optimism was washed away when the owners decided not invest in improving the on-field product and talked about reducing payroll.

That's the interesting thing about that survey, to me. I voted "optimistic" on it, but it was before the Ishbia news broke (if I remember correctly). I voted the way I did because I am (was) optimistic we'll get new ownership and that's just an exciting thing for me. The survey is really just a look at the overall "vibe" around an organization as the definition of "optimistic" is really up to each individual voter.

The real shocker of that survey is .3% of Dodger fans not being optimistic. How spoiled can you be?!

[Riverbrian]

No matter what I complain about. I always go into a season optimistic. Teams come out of nowhere and surprisingly fall from grace all the time. It's a long season with twists and turns to come. The Cubs can still finish 160-2. Gotta battle one game at a time. 

I'm optimistic as I fill out my NCAA Tourney Bracket. Less Optimistic now because picking St. Francis to win it all was a bad choice by me. 

If I lack optimism... it is in regards to lack of adjustment when things are not going as planned. Poor Play has been allowed to continue too long too often. Yes... Margot is one example of what I mean. 

[Muppet]

I'm excited. There are several young-ish players that are all coming out of their sophomore slump seasons. It could be a magical year if Miranda, Larnach, Julien, Wallner, and more have career years (which I don't think is impossible). If they don't then I'm not worried. No amount of adding the best players in the offseason would fix them. I'm ready to watch as many of the 162 as I can regardless of how many wins they get. I was a Tigers fan in 2002 and 2003. I can take anything. 

[bean5302]

1 hour ago, Vanimal46 said:

I really believe they’re going to break the Mariners’ modern day wins record of 116 wins.

It could be, but I don't think the Dodgers will win more than 105. The Padres and Diamondbacks should be strong in that division, and the Giants are a bit of a dark horse with Justin Verlander and Robbie Ray both looking like they're potential front end rotation arms again. The hapless and embarrassing Rockies are projected even worse than the White Sox, but other than Colorado padding the win column, the Dodgers have their work cut out for them.

[tony&rodney]

The entire line about a lack of financial commitment/ spending is confusing to me. A large number of comments have included versions of this in their thoughts. Who was going to be added the last two years? A large chorus of people called for the Twins to sign Jordan Montgomery and Rhys Hoskins for the 2024 team. What were the targets this past winter? From my couch it seems like the Twins front office put together exactly the roster they desired for this coming season. It may not have been what I desired but Falvey gets what Falvey wants. The Twins added Coulombe, Bader, France, and Gasper. They also decided to hold Paddack, Castro, Vazquez, and the rest. Next week we shall see how the team begins their campaign and how the Twins plan unfolds. That is about our only choice. Go Twins. 

[KirbyDome89]

This team has collapsed 2 of the last 3 seasons. They honestly weren't a very good club for most of 2023 either but that gets papered over. The broadcast situation last year was a disaster. They've done absolutely nothing at the trade deadline the last few seasons. "Right sizing," payroll became a running joke. Upper management is blaming fans for not turning out. Injuries have plagued their biggest FA signing, and most recently Royce Lewis didn't even make it to Opening Day before missing a significant amount of time. I mean....

The Pohlads should be thankful that a beautiful ballpark was greenlit, and that the Twins play in a location where cabin fever is very real. They would be drawing TB type attendance numbers if the Twin Cities had TB weather year round. 

[RpR]

I have often , expected the worse, which usually make what actually happen much, much better.

Sadly I have failed to do that with the Viqueens, often enough.