The Twins had the second-best odds at the top selection but came away with the third pick in a deep draft class loaded with shortstop talent.
The Minnesota Twins entered the 2026 MLB Draft Lottery with real hope of landing the top overall selection after finishing with a 70-92 record and undergoing a fire sale at the trade deadline.
With the second-best odds at 22.18 percent, the Twins seemed well-positioned to add a franchise-altering talent, but the lottery balls didn't fall their way.
Minnesota will select third in the 2026 MLB Draft after the Chicago White Sox won the lottery on Tuesday evening at the Winter Meetings in Orlando, and the Tampa Bay Rays jumped from the seventh slot to grab the second pick.
While it wasn't the result Twins fans were hoping for, the third selection still puts them in an enviable position heading into what is shaping up to be an excellent draft class.
Looking Back at the 2025 Season
The Twins' 2025 campaign was one of contradictions and ultimately ended in disappointment. Minnesota started the season with playoff aspirations and even rattled off a 13-game winning streak from May 3 through May 18, the second-longest streak in franchise history since relocating to Minnesota in 1961.
However, things fell apart quickly when injuries struck the pitching staff.
The front office initiated a full-scale fire sale at the trade deadline, trading 11 players off the 40-man roster including key contributors from the 2023 playoff team.
Shortstop Carlos Correa was shipped back to the Houston Astros in a deal that included the Twins paying down $33 million of his remaining contract.
Closer Jhoan Duran went to the Phillies, while Griffin Jax, Louis Varland, and Willi Castro were also dealt away.
The moves were met with criticism from fans and media, including former Twins player and current announcer Trevor Plouffe, who called the deadline "a bloodbath."
One of the few bright spots during the difficult season was center fielder Byron Buxton, who hit .264 with 35 home runs and 83 RBI while stealing 24 bases.
He became the third player in franchise history since the team moved to Minnesota to record 100 career home runs and 100 career steals, joining Kirby Puckett and Torii Hunter.
Buxton also hit for the cycle on July 12, the first in Target Field history, and has made clear he intends to remain a Twin for life after refusing to waive his no-trade clause at the deadline.
What the Twins Need in the 2026 Draft
The deadline trades left massive holes across the roster, and the front office will need to address several key areas as they attempt to build back toward contention.
Shortstop is the most glaring need after the Correa trade. Brooks Lee, the team's 2022 first-round pick, took over as the everyday shortstop after the deadline but struggled to a .208/.274/.348 line in 197 plate appearances down the stretch.
He also posted -8 defensive runs saved at the position, raising questions about whether he can handle the role long-term.
The organization has shortstop prospects in Kaelen Culpepper and 2025 first-rounder Marek Houston, but adding another premier shortstop talent would give them multiple options.
Bullpen help is perhaps the most pressing need after the Twins finished with the fifth-worst bullpen ERA in baseball at 4.60.
Trading away their top relievers gutted the unit, leaving it filled with inexperienced arms.
Kody Funderburk emerged as a bright spot with a 1.93 ERA in the second half, but Minnesota needs to rebuild nearly the entire relief corps through free agency, trades, and internal development.
The starting rotation actually showed promise down the stretch, with the team boasting eight pitchers with major league starting experience.
Names like Pablo López, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Simeon Woods Richardson, and Taj Bradley give them depth, though there is speculation that López or Ryan could be traded this offseason to accelerate the rebuild and add more prospects.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The Twins find themselves in a transitional period, with the Pohlad family exploring new minority investors after initially considering a sale of the franchise.
The organization has payroll constraints that will limit their activity in free agency, making the draft an even more critical avenue for adding talent.
With the third overall pick, a sizable bonus pool, and a farm system that received a boost from the deadline trades, the Twins are positioned to add significant young talent in the 2026 draft.
While they didn't get the first pick, landing in the top three of a draft class this deep is still a major win for an organization looking to build toward sustained success.
The 2026 MLB Draft will take place July 11-12 in Philadelphia during All-Star Week, giving Twins fans plenty of time to familiarize themselves with the top prospects who could soon be wearing Minnesota colors.