The Minnesota Twins are 13-16 through the first 29 games of the season. The first four weeks of the season have brought some highs and lows. But despite the volatility, there is a chance the Twins can still find a way to hang around in an always-open American League Central. Fans can easily find recent examples of what this team can be. The 2015 and 2017 Twins seasons offer interesting crossovers compared to the 2026 team.
The Twins got off to hot starts after leadership changes in all three seasons. Paul Molitor took over as manager for Ron Gardenhire after 13 years in 2015. Similarly, Derek Shelton replaced seven-year skipper Rocco Baldelli in the offseason. Jeremy Zoll is leading Minnesota’s front office for the first time entering 2026, not unlike Derek Falvey taking over baseball operations for the team in 2017.
This year’s Twins are probably more like the 2015 version
Stacking these seasons side by side, the 2015 Twins more closely resemble the 2026 team than the 2017 version.
The 2015 and 2026 Twins teams started their seasons unexpectedly well. Each team started 12-12, and in 2015, the Twins won 83 games to finish with a winning record. Even though the team was too flawed to secure a postseason spot, it was still a success compared to preseason expectations, pushing the franchise's momentum forward. Both factors are similar to the 2026 Twins.
In 2015, Minnesota won behind a good but not great offense. Their 696 runs scored that season were ranked 12th in baseball. Despite the high mark in runs scored, the 89 wRC+ and 12.1 fWAr that season both ranked 25th, indicating the team was playing above its projections.
The Twins had a 4.07 ERA in 2015, 19th in baseball. That included a 4.14 ERA from the starting rotation that ranked 16th in baseball and a 3.95 ERA from the relievers that was 21st in the league. Similar to the Twins team this season, which is relying more on its 11th-ranked 3.95 ERA starting rotation than the 4.85 ERA bullpen that’s 23rd.
However, the 2015 Twins closely correlate with the current roster in that this year’s team is playing, now slightly, above expectations. The biggest excitement for the fan base in 2015 wasn’t just the winning, but also the highly anticipated debuts of top prospects. Byron Buxton (Minnesota’s No. 1 prospect per MLB.com in 2015), Miguel Sanó (No. 2), and Eddie Rosario (No. 9) all made their MLB debuts and had wildly different careers. Ultimately, though, it gave the fanbase something to invest in for the future.
Twins fans already saw the debuts of a pair of top pitching prospects with Connor Prielipp (No. 5 per MLB.com) and Kendry Rojas (No. 10). Now the fans await the highly anticipated first MLB games for top prospect Walker Jenkins, along with Emmanuel Rodriguez (No. 4), and potentially Kaelen Culpepper (No. 2).
Even if the 2026 Twins fall in the standings, the hope of top prospects emerging can still keep fans' attention all season long. Not only that, but it also offers the team a new young core to watch develop for the future.
Still, Minnesota’s current team and its 2017 counterpart are also similar
Each team hired new heads of the front office in the offseason. In 2017, the Twins rode a surprising start into a 15-13 start with a 33-18 finish in their final 51 games to win 85 games and secure a playoff spot. Bullpens were also more similar to 2026 than to 2015. Both years, the team had a hodgepodge of bullpen options, ranging from older veterans on their last legs to unproven arms. The unit finished with a 20th-ranked 4.40 bullpen ERA in 2017.
Brandon Kintzler became the closer (someone had to be their All-Star), a rising Taylor Rogers, and Matt Belisle. They also had Glen Perkins, who missed time with injuries in what was his final season in baseball.
Similarly, Minnesota’s current bullpen features Rogers, who’s likely in the last season of his career, along with waiver claims and young arms pushed into roles they may not be equipped for. This year, the Twins' bullpen ranks 23rd in baseball with a 4.85 ERA.
The Twins had a better offense in 2017
What separated 2017 from the rest was that their offensive production held up throughout the season. Minnesota’s lineup was top-six offense with 817 runs, a 103 wRC+, and 28.3 fWAR. Their 95 stolen bases were also top 10, along with a .768 OPS that was ninth, and a 10th-ranked 87.6 MPH average exit velocity.
In 2017, the Twins had a lineup that featured established bats like Joe Mauer and Brian Dozier. The batting order showed the emergence of young hitting prospects in Buxton, Rosario, and Sanó. All three established that they were productive MLB players.
Minnesota’s 132 runs scored coming into this week were top-10 in baseball this year. However, their bats have been ice-cold since April 16. The team has produced just 29 runs; only the New York Mets have scored fewer over that same span. The Twins’ starting pitching is better now. Still, it will need a similar offensive push to stay a consistently competitive team over the season.
The Twins might resemble an even weirder team from their past
Both options would be considered positive outcomes for this year’s Twins, even if a postseason berth doesn’t follow. However, there is another version of a recent Twins team this year’s squad could be on a path to imitating.
The 2013 Minnesota Twins.
There are some roster similarities to the team. Including both squads boasting star power with hitters like Mauer and Justin Morneau, like the Twins have now in Buxton. But that’s about where the comparisons stop.
The 2013 Twins and this year’s team have different strengths. Starting pitchers for the Twins in 2013 owned a league-worst 5.26 ERA, while the bullpen was 15th with a 3.50 ERA.
Meanwhile, the 625 runs scored in 2013 were ranked 25th in baseball. It’s unlikely the current Twins mirror the team's strengths and weaknesses. However, what they could mimic is the early-season tease.
In 2013, the Twins started the season 18-17 on May 13 before finishing the first half 39-53. A 27-43 stretch the rest of the way led them to finish with 66-96 by the end of the campaign. Despite the good start through the first three weeks of this season, the 2026 Twins could fall into the 2013 team’s path as the season continues.
What will the future hold for this team?
When you follow the Twins closely over the years, it’s easy to see parallels to other squads with similar events and storylines along the way. The 2015 Twins have many of the same traits as the current team. They’ve occasionally played above their weight, but they were ultimately too flawed to stay in the mix.
Still, the season could become a success, as a new manager and the emergence of top prospects give fans hope for the future. Otherwise, they may end up like the 2013 Twins. A good opening month that became a 96-loss season.
For the former to manifest, they must have winning stretches and contributions from top prospects.
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