These Twins Are For the Sickos

After getting off his night shift, a local Minnesota Twins fan decided to join some friends for breakfast at Mickey’s Diner. Scrolling through his phone, he looked at the Twins' roster to assess the damage from the trade deadline.

Alan Roden? Brooks Kriske? He quipped before someone across the diner screamed something we can’t print. I’ve never heard of most of them! Erasmo Ramírez?

If you looked at the roster, you may think that Derek Falvey has been calling random hotels and

But while most fans may abandon the team due to frustration with the front office or ownership, the next six weeks aren’t for them.

Instead, this is a time for the sickos to figure out exactly what they have on the roster.

Minnesota entered a full rebuild two weeks ago, and many of the players aren’t recognizable to the typical fan. In some ways, it’s like the early 2000s Twins, where the ad campaign titled “Get to Know ‘Em” accompanied the rise of Torii Hunter, A.J. Pierzynski, and Corey Koskie. It’s going to be hard for a fan who loved Jhoan Duran’s entrance to get hyped up for the final two months, but it doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to monitor.

The Twins feel like they acquired some players who could help, and it’s already started to pay off. Minnesota has won two of its three series and five of its past seven games since the trade deadline, but this is more about how it will shape the 2026 roster and what exactly they have going forward.

The most obvious storyline is what will happen with the young players. Luke Keaschall has decided to impersonate 2023 Royce Lewis after his return from a broken forearm, including a walk-off home run in Sunday’s win over the Kansas City Royals. While everyone knows he won’t hit .415 forever, he can hit well enough to give the Twins a long-term answer at second base.

The same goes for two young players who suddenly became veterans at the trade deadline. Brooks Lee is a career .630 hitter. Still, the opportunity to play shortstop every day could be what unlocks his potential and turns him into the unexpected return of the Carlos Correa trade.

Lewis also has a chance to stand out. A dynamic talent and former No. 1 overall pick, Lewis has lost his aura after suffering a severe hamstring injury in spring training. Even Lewis admitted he doesn’t look like himself. Still, a hot final stretch could establish some momentum in what could be a make-or-break 2026 season.

Pablo López and Bailey Ober should also return from injury. Ryan can put the finishing touches on an All-Star season, and Zebby Matthews and David Festa will want to show they can stick at the big league level.

However, casual fans are familiar with those names. The sickos focus on the bullpen.

The bullpen became the Elephant Graveyard of the Twins roster after they traded five relievers at the deadline. The league agreed that Minnesota had one of the best bullpens in baseball, but now they must find productive pitchers whom other teams have overlooked.

Could Justin Topa or Michael Tonkin step up to take one of those roles? Could Cole Sands shake off a tough 2025 to establish momentum for next season? Could a pickup like Kriske, Ramírez, or Thomas Hatch turn out to be gold off the waiver wire? Or could someone in the minors make a late-season appearance and claim their spot?

The last scenario could be the most important. While new faces could find their way into the bullpen, there are many players not on the team who could audition for next season. Mick Abel and Taj Bradley are the headliners after coming over in the Durán and Griffin Jax trades. Kendry Rojas, Connor Prielipp, and Marco Raya are other players who could have a strong finish to the year.

All of those names could inspire hope for the future. However, the biggest are Kaelen Culpepper and Walker Jenkins. If Jenkins hadn’t suffered a severe ankle injury, this could have been a close race to determine the Twins’ Minor League Player of the Year. Instead, both players are obliterating Double-A pitching and could find their way to Triple-A St. Paul.

Having a pair of top prospects knocking on the door could only help a team that still has a sturdy foundation. Byron Buxton returned to All-Star form this year, and the Twins could generate some excitement for 2026 – especially if the Pohlad family finds a buyer to end the ownership drama.

It may not be as exciting as chasing down a playoff spot. Still, it carries a ton of intrigue as Minnesota looks to cash in on its rebuild and satisfy the sickos.