Shelton acknowledges the fan base's frustration.
The Minnesota Twins are in the middle of a full-scale rebuild, and Derek Shelton is not running from that reality.
In a new piece from Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic, the Twins manager shared what he sees as the biggest reason for fans to feel good about where the franchise is headed.
"Number one, we realize, organizationally and from this chair, we have to win the fans back," Shelton said. "I understand that and appreciate that. Apathy is the worst thing for a fan. We do not have apathetic fans."
The Fire Sale That Changed Everything
Those words carry extra weight given what happened at the 2025 trade deadline, when Minnesota stripped its roster down to the studs in one of the most aggressive sell-offs in recent memory.
The Twins moved several key contributors in exchange for prospects and future assets, officially signaling that the front office was looking beyond the present and toward 2026 and beyond.
It was a tough pill to swallow for a fanbase that had watched Minnesota win the AL Central as recently as 2023, and the 70-92 finish in 2025 only added to the frustration.
That fourth-place showing in the AL Central was the lowest the club had sunk in years, so it makes sense that Shelton feels the need to rebuild trust along with the roster.
Why Optimism Is Growing in Camp
Even with all of that as the backdrop, there is a real sense of excitement around the Twins this spring, and that energy is coming from more than just the manager.
Players and coaches alike have talked openly about the young talent that came over in those deadline trades, and the early returns in spring training have given the organization reasons to believe the rebuild could move faster than expected.
Minnesota is currently working through its 2026 Spring Training schedule as of March 5, 2026, with the regular season on the horizon.
The influx of prospects gives the Twins a much deeper pipeline than they had even a year ago, and several of those young arms and bats are competing for roster spots right now.
Shelton Sets the Tone
What stands out most about Shelton's comments is his willingness to meet fans where they are, because he is not trying to sell a dream or sugarcoat the last couple of seasons.
He knows the Twins lost a lot of goodwill with the 2025 fire sale, and he knows the only way to earn it back is by putting a competitive product on the field.
The fact that he pointed to the passion of the fanbase rather than dismissing the frustration says a lot about how he plans to lead this next chapter.
Multiple coaches and players throughout camp have echoed that same energy, and it feels like the entire organization is aligned in wanting to prove that 2026 will be the year things start to turn around.
Whether Minnesota takes a real step forward this season remains to be seen, but it is hard to argue with the culture Shelton is trying to build from the ground up.
For a team coming off a 70-92 season, that kind of accountability from the top is exactly what the fans need to hear.