Heading into the 2024 season, the Minnesota Twins appeared to be a team on the rise, having broken their long-standing playoff drought the previous year. However, a quarter of the way into the current campaign, the team finds itself in a dismal state, languishing in fourth place in the AL Central. The Twins’ offense has been particularly disappointing, ranking among the worst in Major League Baseball in runs scored. This has put immense pressure on the pitching staff, which was expected to be a strength of the team.
Making matters worse, the morale within the Twins clubhouse is reportedly at an all-time low. Longtime Twins writer Aaron Gleeman has described the atmosphere as one of the worst he has ever witnessed. The team’s struggles have led to widespread skepticism among fans about the ownership group’s commitment to fielding a competitive team.
While injuries have played a role in the Twins’ struggles, the team’s lack of depth and underperforming veteran players have also been major factors. The Twins have few options to improve their roster through free agency or trades, making it difficult to envision a quick turnaround.
The return of injured players such as Royce Lewis and Jhoan Duran could provide a boost, but there is no guarantee that the Twins will be able to climb out of the hole they have dug for themselves. The team’s struggles have raised serious questions about the direction of the franchise and whether they can regain the momentum they had built in recent years.
