The Minnesota Twins didn't make the playoffs this year. Yet they had an offense worthy of being named a finalist for the Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award, according to FanSided. How is that so? Well, the answer is simple. The Twins' offense wasn't the biggest issue in 2026. It was a lack of consistent pitching.
Inconsistent pitching was Twins' biggest issue in 2026
Minnesota's bullpen was a complete disaster at the beginning of the season. After trading Jhoan Duran, Louis Varland and Griffin Jax at the 2025 trade deadline, the Twins failed to replenish the bullpen with top arms last offseason. Strong numbers from trade acquisitions Jeff Hoffman, A.J. Minter and Yoendrys Gomez put the bullpen in a much better spot near the end of the season. Still, it was a bad year for Minnesota's relievers, as they ranked 26th in ERA (4.74), 20th in FIP (4.25), 20th in strikeout rate (21.9%) and 29th in walk rate (11.2%).
On the bright side, the Twins' bullpen looked much better after the trade deadline, ranking ninth in FIP (3.75). With Hoffman and Gomez under team control next year, plus Andrew Morris having flashes of dominance, Minnesota's bullpen should be much better in 2027, especially since Tom Pohlad plans to increase payroll.
The Twins' starting rotation also struggled in 2026, ranking 22nd in ERA (4.43). Pablo López missing the entire season and Mick Abel missing most of it didn't help. Joe Ryan missed roughly a month late in the season as well. Connor Prielipp looked great in stretches but ultimately struggled with a 4.87 ERA. Zebby Matthews also had a rough year, recording a 4.90 ERA. Bailey Ober was okay but not great. Meanwhile, Taj Bradley had an excellent season, and Dean Kremer posted solid numbers after being acquired at the trade deadline.
If López, Abel and Ryan are healthy for most of the 2026 season, the rotation should be much better. But if injuries plague Minnesota's starting pitching again next year, it's hard to imagine the club will return to the postseason.
Meanwhile, the Twins' offense appears to be in a good spot. Minnesota likely won't win the team Silver Slugger Award, but the club still deserves credit for its strong offensive season. Among the American League teams this year, the Twins ranked second in runs (739), fourth in OPS (.720), fifth in hits (1,337) and sixth in home runs (187).
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