Ranking the Minnesota Twins’ Least Valuable Players in 2025

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of © Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

The 2025 Minnesota Twins’ 92-loss campaign was filled with disappointment. Still, for every standout like Byron Buxton and Joe Ryan, some players did the opposite, pushing the team further away from contention. Whether it was young hitters struggling to adjust to big-league pitching or relievers imploding in critical spots, the Twins’ roster was riddled with underperformance from top to bottom.

The offensive side saw a mix of rookies and young regulars fail to build on the optimism that surrounded the club last spring. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. (-1.2 rWAR) and Brooks Lee (-1.0 rWAR) both received extended playing time but often looked overmatched at the plate. Edouard Julien (-1.0 rWAR) fell out of the team’s long-term plans, and Jose Miranda (-0.3 rWAR) spent much of 2025 underperforming at Triple-A. 

On the pitching side, the bullpen was supposed to be the team’s strength, and it proved unreliable at times. Jorge Alcala (-0.8 rWAR) and Brooks Kriske (-0.8 rWAR) provided multiple blowups. Even depth arms like Travis Adams (-0.9 rWAR) and Joey Wentz (-0.4 rWAR) couldn’t provide stability when injuries struck.

So, with another losing season in the books, it’s time to look back at the players who hurt the team the most in 2025.

5. Travis Adams, RHP
2025 Stats: -0.9 rWAR, -11 RAA, -1.1 WAA
2026 Outlook: Adams entered the season as a late-blooming depth starter, and the Twins decided to go a different route with him and a group of pitchers in the minors. Instead of a traditional starter role, they kept Adams on a regular routine of pitching every four days. The results were mixed in the minors, and he struggled when called up to the Twins. His command issues and inability to finish off hitters kept him from seizing the opportunity. Entering 2026, Adams and the Twins may need to consider shifting him to a one-inning role to maximize his performance. 

4. Edouard Julien, IF
2025 Stats: -1.0 rWAR, -7 Rbat, -5 Rfield, -2 Rbaser, -1.5 WAA
2026 Outlook: The Twins hoped Julien would rebound after a sophomore season where he posted a 74 OPS+ in 94 big-league games. However, his bat never reignited the way it did in 2023. Pitchers adjusted, exploiting holes in his swing, while his glove and baserunning continued to cost the team runs. He saw a slight bump in his OPS (+17), but his 76 OPS+ was nearly identical to his 2025 performance. With other infield options, Julien’s role for 2026 looks murky. He’ll need a hot spring and a rediscovery of his plate discipline if he wants to remain in Minnesota’s plans.

3. Brooks Lee, SS/3B
2025 Stats: -1.0 rWAR, -14 Rbat, -17 Rfield, -2.7 WAA
2026 Outlook: It’s hard to gauge Lee's performance during his first 189 games at the big-league level. As a prospect, he was projected as the Twins’ cornerstone infielder of the future. Unfortunately, his bat hasn’t lived up to the numbers he produced in the minor leagues with a 75 OPS+ and an OBP below .280 for his career. The club still believes in his talent because Lee’s approach and contact skills were elite in the minors, but the pressure will be immense heading into 2026. On paper, he’s the team’s Opening Day starting shortstop, but the team will likely need a veteran backup to push him this spring.  

2. Jorge Alcala, RHP
2025 Stats: -0.8 rWAR, -12 RAA, -1.3 WAA
2026 Outlook: Alcala’s blowup last year in Texas sent the Twins into a tailspin from which they have yet to recover. After showing flashes of dominance early in his career, Alcala’s 2025 season may have been his breaking point. His velocity returned after shoulder issues, but his command didn’t. Walks and home runs piled up, turning late leads into losses far too often. In June, the Twins traded Alcala to the Red Sox for Andy Lugo. By August, he was selected off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals. There always seemed to be promise in his arm, but he never put it all together in a Twins uniform. 

1. DaShawn Keirsey Jr., OF
2025 Stats: -1.2 rWAR, -12 Rbat, -1.5 WAA
2026 Outlook: Few players had a tougher introduction to the majors than Keirsey Jr. After years of quietly producing in the minors, he earned his shot but couldn’t capitalize. The Twins also didn’t do him any favors as he failed to get regular playing time and struggled when given limited opportunities. His strikeout rate ballooned (37.5%), and his -13 OPS+ was one of MLB’s worst totals. The Twins value his speed and effort, but 2025 showed he might need to get more regular playing time to be successful. Minnesota added multiple outfielders at the trade deadline, like James Outman and Alan Roden, which likely pushes the 28-year-old Keirsey out of their plans. 

The Twins’ disappointing 2025 wasn’t about one player or one decision; it was a result of a thousand small failures. From top prospects struggling to develop to veterans failing to provide stability, Minnesota’s depth evaporated when it mattered most. As the front office reshapes the roster this winter, it’ll need to decide which of these players still fit into the organization’s future and which belong in the past.

Do you agree with the rankings above? Should other players be added to the list? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

 

View full article

[JBK]

LVP?  Derrick Falvey and everyone named Pohlad.

[Brett]

Of all those, I think Lee has a chance to at least be useful to the roster. If (when?) Culpepper supplants him at SS, he should be the primary utility infielder.

The rest of these guys prove that getting to the majors is tough. Staying there is reserved for pretty rare levels of talent and performance.

[Fatbat]

The sad thing is, there are plenty more guys that could be mixed into this list. 

[jmlease1]

I think there's a good argument for Carlos Correa to be on this list. Sure, he wasn't as straight-up bad as some other players, but he was the highest paid player at the start of the season and by bWAR barely managed to get himself above replacement level while starting 93 games. The difference between expectation and performance was really high.

Adams wasn't good, of course, but he only threw 33 innings and showed signs of life as a 1 inning reliever late in the year. I'd swap Adams for Correa. I mean, Brooks Kriske really stunk, but it was 12 innings after the season had reached "It doesn't matter anymore" stage. Outman was dreadful, but did it matter, other than making people angry that we brought him in at all?

Sucks seeing Brooks Lee on this list. I've been very high on him, and he hasn't shown out in MLB yet at all. I haven't given up on him yet, but next season is a big one for him.

[Doctor Gast]

Keirsey never got regular ABs, but still got some clutch hits when he had a semblance of regular ABs. He also contributed when pinch-ran & as a late-inning defensive sub. His lack of hitting is more from poor managing than a lack of ability. '25 was another wasted year in hitting development. Julien had a lot of opportunities, yet he wasn't an asset in any aspect & was more of a liability. But the greatest liability was Falvey. IMO, this type of article is counter-productive & senseless..

[mnfireman]

I will only use FanGraphs WPA to rate the players (take WPA for what it's worth)

Batters: Correa (-1.99), Vazquez (-1.25), Lewis (-1.04), Wallner (-0.87), Outman (-0.75)

Pitchers: Topa (-1.69), Adams (-1.52), Ober (-1.51), Cabrera (-0.91), Alcala (-0.87)

 

[tony&rodney]

A team that performed in the style of the 2025 Minnesota Twins was full of least valuable. If one MUST compile a group of least valuable start with those who underwhelmed and had something like the most plate appearances, innings pitched, or games played. From that list only a few escape mediocrity. It is kind of senseless to pile on lower level reserve players who were not counted on to win games.

[Parfigliano]

2 hours ago, JBK said:

LVP?  Derrick Falvey and everyone named Pohlad.

Least Valuable People (to the Twins)

[ToddlerHarmon]

1 hour ago, jmlease1 said:

I think there's a good argument for Carlos Correa to be on this list. Sure, he wasn't as straight-up bad as some other players, but he was the highest paid player at the start of the season and by bWAR barely managed to get himself above replacement level while starting 93 games. The difference between expectation and performance was really high.

This is the whole thing right here. The Twins started the season with above-average expectations and an almost-average payroll. The opportunity cost of playing and paying Correa instead of playing and paying others sunk the team's season, as it was too high a cost for this mid market team to bear. Is that "fair" to Correa? Maybe not, but that's the downside of getting paid $30M a year to play baseball.

[sweetmusicviola16]

3 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Keirsey never got regular ABs, but still got some clutch hits when he had a semblance of regular ABs. He also contributed when pinch-ran & as a late-inning defensive sub. His lack of hitting is more from poor managing than a lack of ability. '25 was another wasted year in hitting development. Julien had a lot of opportunities, yet he wasn't an asset in any aspect & was more of a liability. But the greatest liability was Falvey. IMO, this type of article is counter-productive & senseless..

I'm not going to attempt to defend Kiersey's play. But how can we call a guy that got a grand total of 88 PA's be the teams "least valuable player?" That makes zero sense. Even Gasper got 110 PA's. Kiersey was getting about 20 PA's a month. No player will excel with that. We still don't know what Kiersey can do because he didn't receive playing time. I'm not saying he would be better because I just don't know. No one else actually does either and if they say otherwise then they are just bashing a player.

[sweetmusicviola16]

Even Outman received 104 PA's. But he got regular playing time August and September. This article indeed is not productive or makes sense.

[old nurse]

Level of play versus expectation is the criteria I used with the damage done.

Correa. To those of high pay, high level of play is expected.  

Lewis. High draft pick, great initial level of play. Will it ever be seen again.

Lee. Some development

Alcala. Expected to be a prime set up guy

Larnach. Really hasn’t developed. Should be higher. If he was better they would have not taken either Outman or Roden. (Who proved Denny Green was right, they are who we thought they were)

Julian. Was depended on for 2b, necessitated an outside aqisition

Castrp. Played like he was in Detroit

Festa and Mathew’s. Did not develop after maiden voyages last year

Who shouldn’t be on the list?

Keirsey was a 5th outfielder 13th position player. He played at that level

The replacements after the trade deadline in the bullpen. There was a reason they were available and they showed it.

Adams. Given that he was playing only as emergency or they didn’t have a warm body after trades there shouldn’t have been any expectations other than that of replacement level play. 

[Permanent Twins Fan]

I think that Bailey Ober needs to be on this list. He was unpitchable in much of the season despite coming into the season with very high expectations. He was the pitcher that the Twins were going to hang their hat on, as someone they had developed into a number two starter, but a 5.10 ERA, and a 1.30 WHIP is not what was expected at the beginning of the year, or what you want from anything other than a number five starter. To be completely honest with you, I had forgotten that Miranda had even appeared on the Twins this season which shows how much he has fallen from relevance for the Twins.

[mikelink45]

8 hours ago, mnfireman said:

I will only use FanGraphs WPA to rate the players (take WPA for what it's worth)

Batters: Correa (-1.99), Vazquez (-1.25), Lewis (-1.04), Wallner (-0.87), Outman (-0.75)

Pitchers: Topa (-1.69), Adams (-1.52), Ober (-1.51), Cabrera (-0.91), Alcala (-0.87)

 

The sad thing is the fact that there are so many measurements that tell us how bad the team and individuals were. 

[weitz41]

T.C Bear. If you didn't notice it. He is to blame for this mess we're in. T.C. has negative WAR year after year but yet there he is EVERY year! He finally infected the whole team...That's right T.C. bear is the bad guy.

[mrtwinsfan]

4 hours ago, Permanent Twins Fan said:

I think that Bailey Ober needs to be on this list. He was unpitchable in much of the season despite coming into the season with very high expectations. He was the pitcher that the Twins were going to hang their hat on, as someone they had developed into a number two starter, but a 5.10 ERA, and a 1.30 WHIP is not what was expected at the beginning of the year, or what you want from anything other than a number five starter. To be completely honest with you, I had forgotten that Miranda had even appeared on the Twins this season which shows how much he has fallen from relevance for the Twins.

100 %    top 2-3 worst for sure

[theBOMisthebomb]

21 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Keirsey never got regular ABs, but still got some clutch hits when he had a semblance of regular ABs. He also contributed when pinch-ran & as a late-inning defensive sub. His lack of hitting is more from poor managing than a lack of ability. '25 was another wasted year in hitting development. Julien had a lot of opportunities, yet he wasn't an asset in any aspect & was more of a liability. But the greatest liability was Falvey. IMO, this type of article is counter-productive & senseless..

Right. He might be LVP here, however, I saw DaShawn Keirsey Jr. hit a walk-off RBI single on May 11, 2025, to give the Minnesota Twins a 7-6 victory over the San Francisco Giants. He hit the ball 'right at me' toward my seat at Target Field. I had my daughter and grandson with me, so it's just a great memory. 

Aren't at least a few of these guys the prospect types who were pumped as being the next valuable piece in the lineup? It's why I'm skeptical of the prospect talk hyping a guy who's done nothing in the MLB. 

[Whitey333]

I agree pretty much with your list.  Obviously more could have been added.  The comments on Kiersey Jr are spot on.  It is reflective of this organizations failure to develop players at the major league level.  How simply irresponsible it is to bring young players up only to not let them play regularly.  That's why I'm so sick and tired of all the hype regarding prospects.  The Twins are either drafting the wrong players, and/or they are poorly coached or both.  Getting excited about a future Culpepper and Jenkins is senseless.  Im more confident the Twins will screw that up too.

[Otaknam]

The failed 2025 season wasn’t about bench or marginal players like Kiersey, Julien, Alcala or Adams. The blame is clearly about the underperformance of Wallner, Larnach, Lewis and Correa and the lack of improvement by others. 

[DJL44]

On 10/11/2025 at 8:09 AM, Fatbat said:

The sad thing is, there are plenty more guys that could be mixed into this list. 

Dishonorable mentions to Bailey Ober, Christian Vazquez, Mickey Gasper, Willi Castro, James Outman, Jonah Bride, Genesis Cabrera, Noah Davis, Carlos Correa, Royce Lewis, Matt Wallner, Ty France, Trevor Larnach, Alan Roden and Carson McCusker

2 hours ago, Whitey333 said:

The comments on Kiersey Jr are spot on.  It is reflective of this organizations failure to develop players at the major league level.  How simply irresponsible it is to bring young players up only to not let them play regularly. 

Here's where I will give credit to Rocco for quickly determining that Keirsey was terrible and attempting to hide him as much as possible. Even with limiting his playing time to areas where he might succeed (pinch running and defense), Keirsey still managed to produce highly negative results. DaShawn Keirsey might be the worst position player to ever play for the Twins (minimum 100 PA). The last thing this team needed was more Keirsey.

[S Bart]

On 10/11/2025 at 7:19 AM, mnfireman said:

I will only use FanGraphs WPA to rate the players (take WPA for what it's worth)

Batters: Correa (-1.99), Vazquez (-1.25), Lewis (-1.04), Wallner (-0.87), Outman (-0.75)

Pitchers: Topa (-1.69), Adams (-1.52), Ober (-1.51), Cabrera (-0.91), Alcala (-0.87)

 

Interesting that Correa suddenly bumped up his BA a bit  after his departure. I  hate to compliment the FO, but it was a good salary dump. He is past his prime and not worth the money. 

[S Bart]

13 hours ago, weitz41 said:

T.C Bear. If you didn't notice it. He is to blame for this mess we're in. T.C. has negative WAR year after year but yet there he is EVERY year! He finally infected the whole team...That's right T.C. bear is the bad guy.

Maybe changing the mascot would help. I vote for the UC Santa Cruz mascot, the Banana Slug....or maybe use a sloth.

[AKTwinsFan]

Lee shouldn't be on the list. Yes he struggled at times but it was his first full season. If he makes some swing changes this off-season he can come back better. Same with Julien. Julien had been swinging a better bat when he was getting more consistent playing time.

[Doc Lenz]

Any list like this that doesn’t include the worst player on a major league roster in the last 40 years or longer isn’t worth the read.

Mickey Gasper

[bean5302]

59 minutes ago, AKTwinsFan said:

Lee shouldn't be on the list. Yes he struggled at times but it was his first full season. If he makes some swing changes this off-season he can come back better. Same with Julien. Julien had been swinging a better bat when he was getting more consistent playing time.

Lee was given regular playing time all year and he struggled all year, not just at times. He also struggled consistently in 2024 for what was a fairly signifcant portion of plate appearances. I'm not sure this article makes a lot of sense in general, but Lee was not a good player. While there is some hope, Lee's ceiling is pretty low. I think 2 WAR every day 2B is probably the absolute limit for Lee's potential.

Lee's at 712 PA at the MLB level now. It's not a small sample size.

[JD-TWINS]

23 hours ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

I'm not going to attempt to defend Kiersey's play. But how can we call a guy that got a grand total of 88 PA's be the teams "least valuable player?" That makes zero sense. Even Gasper got 110 PA's. Kiersey was getting about 20 PA's a month. No player will excel with that. We still don't know what Kiersey can do because he didn't receive playing time. I'm not saying he would be better because I just don't know. No one else actually does either and if they say otherwise then they are just bashing a player.

What I am absolutely sure of about DeShawn is that he can’t bunt………whether it’s bashing or being fair is in the eye of the beholder. To me, if a guy is clearly in the fringe of the roster he needs to be at a minimum, able to execute basics. 3 different times over a 3-4 week span he was called on to help the Team get a run or to advance a runner further into scoring position. Each time he failed - big time. He added very little value in the opportunities he did get which then reduces opportunities going forward.

[old nurse]

2 hours ago, S Bart said:

Interesting that Correa suddenly bumped up his BA a bit  after his departure. I  hate to compliment the FO, but it was a good salary dump. He is past his prime and not worth the money. 

Probably the only people who think it was a bad trade were those who make anything this FO does into a negative action. 

[gman]

Maybe the LVP award needs codifying. Something like a minimum of 3 or more major league seasons and over 300 plate appearances as a batter or 50 innings as a pitcher during the season. Got to at have played enough to have made a difference.

[Autist75]

     Maybe they could use a possum as the new mascot.  Would be only fitting...