If you’ve watched the Minnesota Twins the past couple of months, it feels like something is missing. While the common fan may believe it’s millions of dollars to the payroll or a free-spending owner, the games have felt like a lifeless experience as the Twins fall out of playoff contention in the American League.
The Twins latest September collapse could trigger the next step of a rebuild. But it also could be that fans no longer have a player they can get behind as the soul of this team. While there are several players who are popular on the roster, the Twins need someone who is not only worth the price of admission, but also convinces fans and players to rally around the team and it’s a glaring problem that has become bigger over the past few seasons.
The Twins need a player to grab fans' attention
This may seem preposterous to die-hard Twins fans. Go to a Twins game and you can see fans wearing the jerseys of Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan and Byron Buxton. You may even spot a Royce Lewis when you’re there. But there’s something special about a player that grabs the attention of an entire fan base.
The latest example came over 1,000 miles from Target Field when Pete Alonso hit his 300th career home run on Tuesday night. Playing as a member of the visiting Baltimore Orioles, Alonso blasted a no-doubt shot to left field, eliciting a loud response from New York Mets fans.
Alonso had spent eight years in a Mets uniform and is the team’s all-time leader with 264 home runs. While he left for the Orioles in free agency last season, his presence still looms large among Mets fans, who have been dragged through a brutal 69-82 campaign. Pitcher Sean Manaea expressed confusion over the fans’ cheers but as a former first-round pick, he’s a player that has been with the franchise through ups and downs and even expressed his gratitude to the fans for catching his milestone home run ball, signing jerseys, balls and bats and even offering them tickets to have them come watch him play with the Orioles.
This isn’t to say that Twins players don’t do things for their fans, but it’s been a long time since one of their own had that kind of gravity. Buxton may be the closest player on the roster but his constant injuries make it difficult for part of the fan base to get behind him. Ryan is a two-time All-Star, but he also could be on the way out if Minnesota makes big moves this offseason.
Lopez is a fan favorite, but could also be traded this offseason and while Lewis brings enthusiasm, there’s also a weird drop-off from when he looked like a future franchise cornerstone late in the 2023 season. Even when the Twins try to create a star, it often feels forced such as getting hit over the head with Trevor Plouffe’s “Bearded Nightmare” nickname for Bailey Ober when he pitches or calling Matt Wallner “The Moose” as he swings through a breaking ball.
If anything, fans are more excited to see former players come to Target Field as evidenced by a standing ovation for Jhoan Duran and a slew of Luis Arraez jerseys when the Philadelphia Phillies came to town. While ownership is part of the problem, the players aren’t grabbing the attention of the fans, which brings up the question of who will?
The Twins need someone to step up and become their franchise player
In the aftermath of last year’s fire sale at the deadline, there are few options. Taj Bradley has shown enough flashes to become that player and at 25 years old, he’s young enough to be with the Twins for a long time if he signs an extension. But the organization also shies away from handing out big contracts to pitchers, which could end his time in Minnesota by the time he reaches his 30s.
Other younger players such as Brooks Lee and Luke Keaschall could also become fan favorites over time. But neither player looks to be more than average, likely having their Twins legacy be defined by the Immaculate Grid.
In the end it may have to be a younger player like Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez or Kaelen Culpepper who takes the baton. But that has to be built over time in the same way that Joe Mauer, Torii Hunter or Kirby Puckett became that player.
If it feels like it’s a harsh evaluation, it should be as the Twins haven’t been to the playoffs since 2023 and have done everything to alienate their fans since. Fans may focus on ownership to solve the problem, but it’s on the players to step up and have the same connection to the fans that other teams in baseball have with their players.
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