Minnesota Twins Finish Last in Athletic’s ‘Hope-O-Meter’ to Start 2026 MLB Season
The Twins must build enthusiasm among the fanbase.
Minnesota Twins fans don't have much to be excited about, as the team hasn't made the playoffs since 2023 and is in a gray area between competing and rebuilding. That reality is reflected in The Athletic's fifth annual "Hope-O-Meter," a survey that ranks optimism among MLB fanbases. The Twins finished last with just 4.
3% of fans expressing optimism. For context, the San Francisco Giants were in the middle of the pack at 72. 8%.
Minnesota doesn't have the worst roster in baseball, but the team doesn't have a clear direction. It still has All-Stars Joe Ryan (starting pitcher) and Byron Buxton (center fielder), but it traded three-time All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa last season and doesn't have any other above-average players. Starting pitcher Pablo Lopez, who had a 2.
74 ERA over 14 starts last season, is out for the year with a torn UCL. More than 11,000 fans participated in our fifth annual MLB Hope-O-Meter. Overall, 72 percent reported they are optimistic about their favorite team this season, compared to 66 percent in 2025.