2025 MLB Season Recap: Minnesota Twins

The Pitching

The Good

In a season where the Twins lost 92 games — most in a single season since Minnesota’s 103-loss campaign in 2016 — there are obviously going to be a lot of negatives. That’ll be in the next section. However, the Twins did get a lot of production from the “big guns” this season.

Headlining that group was Byron Buxton, who had arguably his most complete season as a Major Leaguer in 2025. Buxton, who won his first AL Silver Slugger in 2025, hit a career-most 35 home runs, stole 24 bases, and, most importantly, was largely an everyday player for the Twins.

Buxton played 126 games, only the second time in his 11-year career that he eclipsed the 120-game marker. The 31-year-old’s career has been besieged by injuries. But when healthy, Buxton is one of baseball’s most dynamic players.

Minnesota’s offense was productive in chunks thanks to other besides Buxton. Harrison Bader, a great fastball hitter and plus defender, was a sparkplug for the four months he was in Minnesota. Bader hit 12 home runs and 25 extra-base hits over 96 games and helped out immensely in matchups against left-handed pitching.

The Twins hit a lot of home runs despite only winnning 70 games this season. Matt Wallner had 22, while Kody Clemens belted 19 in a utility role. Trevor Larnach, Brooks Lee, and Willi Castro were also in double-digits in home runs.

As for the pitching, there were very few pitchers in the game better this season than Joe Ryan. A 2025 All-Star, Ryan struck out 194 over 171 innings, limited walks, and was the de facto ace for the Twins thanks to Pablo Lopez‘s injury woes.

In what’s become a trend across MLB, Ryan added a two-seamer to work down and to the arm side, to complement his plus, sneaky fastball. While Ryan came just shy of the 25% marker in terms of chases off the four-seamer, that pitch — which averaged 93.6 MPH — plays up.

Ryan is a VAA darling, as he ranked in the top 20 of that category. And when he can pound up and elicit whiffs like he did in 2025, it just makes that fastball all the more dangerous up and out.

The Twins’ bullpen was also quite good, as Jhoan Duran, Danny Coulombe, and Louie Varland were among some of the best relievers in the first half. Coulombe and Duran were both top 20 in opponents’ wOBA in the first half among relievers (min. 15 IP). However, all three wouldn’t be with the team come August.

The Bad

Despite an 18-8 May, the Twins let games slip away in June. Minnesota went 9-18 in June to essentially reverse gains made in the second month. The Twins, though, were only four games out of a playoff spot heading into July. But by the 28th, the Twins stalled and were primed for a selloff.

And, it was a quite a selloff. Amidst a seller’s market for relievers, the Twins traded closer Jhoan Duran to the Phillies in exchange for Mick Abel and catching prospect Eduardo Tait. That was just the start, though, as the Twins moved off Harrison Bader (Phillies), Willi Castro (Cubs), and Danny Coulombe (Rangers) as rentals for their new teams.

But, it didn’t stop with the rentals. The Twins also moved off controllable players. Varland was packaged with Ty France in a trade with the Blue Jays. Carlos Correa was sent back to Houston in a salary dump move. And Griffin Jax, who requested a trade, was dealt to Tampa Bay for Taj Bradley.

Minnesota further slid down the standings, as the Twins went 19-35 from August 1 onward.

Aside from the blowup, there were other negatives.

Pablo Lopez had several stints on the IL, while Bailey Ober — a steady hand for the Twins over the past few years — couldn’t keep the ball in the yard. Ober surrendered 30 home runs this past season.

Royce Lewis, meanwhile, was snakebitten by stretches of bad luck. While his .237/.283/.388 slash line doesn’t show the complete picture, it is what Lewis ended 2025 with.

Early Projected Lineup for 2026

• C: Ryan Jeffers
• 1B: Kody Clemens
• 2B: Luke Keaschall
• 3B: Royce Lewis
• SS: Brooks Lee
• OF: Trevor Larnach (LF), Byron Buxton (CF), Matt Wallner (RF)
• DH: Emmanuel Rodriguez
• SP: Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, Simeon Woods Richardson, Bailey Ober, Taj Bradley
• RP: Justin Topa, Cole Sands, Travis Adams, Kody Funderburk, Zebby Matthews, Pierson Ohl, Marco Raya, [FA Addition(s)]

The Twins will have to add pitching to their 40-man roster at some point this offseason. Minnesota only has 14 pitchers on their 40-man, meaning bodies will have to be brought in to place the many traded away this past summer.

Pablo Lopez & Joe Ryan could be the focal point of the Twins’ offseason. Both have two seasons of team control, and the latter is arguably at his highest possible value. The question, though, is whether a MLB team can offer a deal that would entice the Twins.

There’s also a case to be made about trading Buxton. However, doing so would be largely complicated. Buxton has three years left on his deal, one that has performance/award bonuses. But more importantly, Buxton has a full no-trade clause through 2026. Provided Buxton is on a MLB roster for two weeks next season, he’ll earn 10-5 no-trade rights next season, as well.

As for the offense, it’s mostly set in stone. The Twins could easily lean in on starting Keaschall and Lee full-time starting in 2026, provided both are healthy. There’s also the question of Emmanuel Rodriguez and whether he can make a push in Spring Training. Minnesota burned two options on him already.