Twins fans are least optimistic in MLB according to The Athletic's survey results

The Minnesota Twins have been in a turbulent state for the last few seasons. After the highs of the early 2020's, specifically in 2022 and 2023, there was seemingly plenty of optimism among Twins fans.

However, the 2024 struggles in going 82-80 led to some subdued expectations for the 2025 season. And yet, things got worse. So much worse. 2025 was a disaster for Twins fans and a year that will be hard to forget for all of the wrong reasons.

So, it comes as no surprise that, according to Stephen J. Nesbitt of The Athletic's fan survey, the Twins fanbase is the least optimistic in all of MLB.

Twins fans least optimistic in MLB for good reason

The Twins are ranked 30th in MLB in this survey from The Athletic, with just 4.3 percent of fans having optimism for their team entering the 2026 season.

Compared to 70.1% entering 2022, 91.3% in 2023, 86.3% entering 2024, and 52% last year, this year's mark is pitifully low.

But, it's for good reason. The fire sale at the trade deadline and the ownership frustrations from the fan base have boiled over into what's looking like a brutal 2026 season on the horizon.

Nesbitt shared one fan reaction from "Pessimist Matt" that summarizes things well:

"The Pohlads dismantled the only team that won a playoff series in I don't know how long. They dangled a sale in front of us, but it turned out that they saddled the team with too much of their own debt to make it attractive to potential buyers. Then we traded beloved players for middling prospects. And now Pablo Lopez is hurt."

Things are not going well for Twins fans lately, and this fan survey highlights just how little optimism there is among fans of this AL Central team for the 2026 season and beyond.

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Jhaon Duran, Harrison Bader, Chris Paddack, Danny Coulombe, Louis Varland, Ty France, Brock Stewart, Willi Castro, Griffin Jax, and Carlos Correa were all traded at the 2025 trade deadline in late July of 2025.

After all of those moves and the lack of a major rebuild this offseason, it's no wonder that Twins fans have so little hope for the team.

Between the bleak MLB roster, the lackluster prospect returns they received from their major fire sale, the mediocre at-best farm system, and the ownership gripes, Twins fans have very little reason to be optimistic about their team in 2026 and beyond.

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