2016 Minnesota Twins season

The 2016 Minnesota Twins season was the 56th season for the franchise in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, their seventh season at Target Field and the 116th overall in the American League. The 2016 season marked the 25th anniversary of the 1991 Twins World Series victory, and the 2016 team wore commemorative patches. The team finished in fifth place in the American League Central and lost 103 games, the worst record in the majors and the most losses since the franchise relocated to Minnesota in 1961.

Summary The Twins signed Korean baseball star Byung-ho Park in the offseason, in addition to acquiring John Ryan Murphy, a catcher, in a trade with the Yankees. The team's encouraging 83–79 finish the previous season behind good rookie seasons from Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario, Tyler Duffey, and Byron Buxton, along with the anticipated arrival of Minor Leaguers José Berríos and Max Kepler, gave Twins' fans high hopes for the 2016 season. However, the season became a complete disaster, starting with the Twins losing their first nine games of the season and never getting out of last place in the AL Central. They finished with a record of 59–103, the worst in the league. The 103 losses marked the worst record in Twins history, besting the 60–102 team of 1982.

Season standings

American League Central

American League Wild Card

Record against opponents

Game log

|- style="background:#fbb;" | 1 || April 4 || @ Orioles || 2–3 || Britton (1–0) || Jepsen (0–1) || — || 45,785 || 0–1||L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 2 || April 6 || @ Orioles || 2–4 || Gallardo (1–0) || Gibson (0–1) || Britton (1) || 12,622 || 0–2||L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 3 || April 7 || @ Orioles || 2–4 || Jiménez (1–0) || Hughes (0–1) || O'Day (1) || 11,142 || 0–3||L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 4 || April 8 || @ Royals || 3–4 || Soria (1–0) || Jepsen (0–2) || Davis (2) || 27,166 || 0–4||L4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 5 || April 9 || @ Royals || 0–7 || Kennedy (1–0) || Milone (0–1) || — || 31,001 || 0–5||L5 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 6 || April 10 || @ Royals || 3–4 (10) || Davis (1–0) || May (0–1) || — || 35,317 || 0–6||L6 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 7 || April 11 || White Sox || 1–4 || Quintana (1–0) || Gibson (0–2) || Robertson (3) || 40,638 || 0–7||L7 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 8 || April 13 || White Sox || 0–3 || Rodon (1–1) || Hughes (0–2) || Robertson (4) || 21,008 || 0–8||L8 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 9 || April 14 || White Sox || 1–3 || Latos (2–0) || Santana (0–1) || Robertson (5) || 19,736 || 0–9||L9 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 10 || April 15 || Angels || 5–4 || Fien (1–0) || Salas (0–1) || Jepsen (1) || 22,461 || 1–9||W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 11 || April 16 || Angels || 6–4 || Pressly (1–0) || Smith (0–1) || Jepsen (2) || 27,464 || 2–9||W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 12 || April 17 || Angels || 3–2 (12) || Tonkin (1–0) || Rasmus (0–1) || — || 25,932 || 3–9||W3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 13 || April 18 || Brewers || 7–4 (6) || Hughes (1–2) || Anderson (1–1) || — || 21,078 || 4–9||W4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 14 || April 19 || Brewers || 5–6 || Thornburg (2–0) || Jepsen (0–3) || Jeffress (5) || 17,597 || 4–10||L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 15 || April 20 || @ Brewers || 5–10 || Nelson (3–1) || Pressly (1–1) || — || 21,087 || 4–11||L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 16 || April 21 || @ Brewers || 8–1 || Nolasco (1–0) || Jungmann (0–3) || — || 30,107 || 5–11||W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 17 || April 22 || @ Nationals || 4–8 || González (1–0) || Gibson (0–3) || — || 27,684 || 5–12||L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 18 || April 23 || @ Nationals || 0–2 || Roark (2–2) || Hughes (1–3) || Papelbon (7) || 35,974 || 5–13 ||L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 19 || April 24 || @ Nationals || 5–6 (16) || Pérez (1–0) || Tonkin (1–1) || — || 35,397 || 5–14||L3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 20 || April 25 || Indians || 4–3 || Jepsen (1–3) || McAllister (1–1) || — || 17,503 || 6–14||W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 21 || April 26 || Indians || 6–5 || Jepsen (2–3) || Allen (0–2) || — || 17,493 || 7–14||W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 22 || April 27 || Indians || 5–6 || Tomlin (3–0) || Berríos (0–1) || Allen (7) || 17,746 || 7–15||L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 23 || April 29 || Tigers || 2–9 || Fulmer (1–0) || Hughes (1–4) || — || 23,049 || 7–16||L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 24 || April 30 || Tigers || 1–4 || Zimmermann (5–0) || Duffey (0–1) || Rodríguez (6) || 31,109 || 7–17||L3

|- style="background:#fbb;" | 25 || May 1 || Tigers || 5–6 || Lowe (1–0) || Pressly (1–2) || Rodríguez (7) || 24,749 || 7–18||L4 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 26 || May 2 || @ Astros || 6–2 || Berríos (1–1) || Keuchel (2–4) || — || 18,243 || 8–18||W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 27 || May 3 || @ Astros || 4–6 || McHugh (3–3) || Meyer (0–1) || Gregerson (6) || 21,153 || 8–19||L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 28 || May 4 || @ Astros || 4–16 || Feldman (1–2) || Hughes (1–5) || — || 20,847 || 8–20||L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 29 || May 6 || @ White Sox || 4–10 || Latos (5–0) || Nolasco (1–1) || — || 23,054 || 8–21||L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 30 || May 7 || @ White Sox || 2–7 || Sale (7–0) || Santana (0–2) || — || 28,049 || 8–22||L4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 31 || May 8 || @ White Sox || 1–3 || Quintana (5–1) || Duffey (0–2) || Robertson (10) || 23,801 || 8–23||L5 |- style="background:#bbb;" | — || May 9 || Orioles || colspan="7" | Postponed (rain). Make-up date July 28. |- style="background:#fbb;" | 32 || May 10 || Orioles || 3–5 || O'Day (2–0) || Jepsen (2–4) || Britton (8) || 21,586 || 8–24||L6 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 33 || May 11 || Orioles || 2–9 || Wilson (2–1) || Hughes (1–6) || — || 25,094 || 8–25||L7 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 34 || May 13 || @ Indians || 6–7 || McAllister (2–1) || May (0–2) || Allen (9) || 17,803 || 8–26||L8 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 35 || May 14 || @ Indians || 6–3 || Santana (1–2) || Kluber (2–5) || — || 15,428 || 9–26||W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 36 || May 15 || @ Indians || 5–1 || Duffey (1–2) || Bauer (3–1) || — || 13,236 || 10–26||W2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 37 || May 16 || @ Tigers || 8–10 || Zimmermann (6–2) || Dean (0–1) || Rodríguez (10) || 25,925 || 10–27||L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 38 || May 17 || @ Tigers || 2–7 || Ryan (1–2) || Tonkin (1–2) || — || 27,652 || 10–28||L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 39 || May 18 || @ Tigers || 3–6 || Verlander (3–4) || Nolasco (1–2) || Rodríguez (11) || 29,035 || 10–29||L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 40 || May 19 || Blue Jays || 2–3 (11) || Osuna (2–0) || Pressly (1–3) || Biagini (1) || 25,435 || 10–30||L4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 41 || May 20 || Blue Jays || 3–9 || Sanchez (4–1) || Duffey (1–3) || — || 29,396 || 10–31||L5 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 42 || May 21 || Blue Jays || 5–3 || Abad (1–0) || Happ (5–2) || Jepsen (3) || 30,460 || 11–31||W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 43 || May 22 || Blue Jays || 1–3 || Stroman (5–1) || Hughes (1–7) || Osuna (9) || 33,421 || 11–32||L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 44 || May 23 || Royals || 4–10 || Moylan (1–0) || Nolasco (1–3) || — || 17,886 || 11–33||L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 45 || May 24 || Royals || 4–7 || Volquez (5–4) || Santana || Davis (12) || 23,541 || 11–34 || L3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 46 || May 25 || Royals || 7–5 || Duffey (2–3) || Gee (1–2) || Jepson (4) || 27,233 || 12–34 || W1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 47 || May 27 || @ Mariners || 7–2 || Dean (1-1) || Hernandez (4-4) || — || 40,921 || 13–34 || W2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 48 || May 28 || @ Mariners || 6–5 || Pressly (2–3) || Vincent (2-2) || Jepsen (5) || 28,309 || 14–34 || W3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 49 || May 29 || @ Mariners || 5–4 || Nolasco (2–3) || Walker (2–5) || Jepsen (6) || 33,748 || 15–34 || W4 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 50 || May 30 || @ Athletics || 2–3 || Graveman (2–6) || Santana (1–4) || Madson (12) || 17,248 || 15–35 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 51 || May 31 || @ Athletics || 4–7 || Dull (1–0) || Duffey (2–0) || Axford (1) || 12,767 || 15–36 || L2

|-style="background:#fbb;" | 52 || June 1 || @ Athletics || 1–5 || Manaea (2–3) || Dean (1–2) || — || 11,343 || 15–37 || L3 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 53 || June 2 || Rays || 6–4 || Rogers (1–0) || Ramírez (6–4) || Jepsen (7) || 20,193 || 16–37 || W1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 54 || June 3 || Rays || 2–4 || Ramírez (7–4) || Nolasco (2–4) || Colomé (13) || 21,134 || 16–38 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 55 || June 4 || Rays || 4–7 || Andriese (4–0) || Santana (1–5) || Colomé (14) || 26,613 || 16–39 || L2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 56 || June 5 || Rays || 5–7 || Cedeño (3–1) || Jepsen (2–5) || Colomé (15) || 25,510 || 16–40 || L3 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 57 || June 7 || Marlins || 6–4 (11) || Boshers (1–0) || McGowan (0–2) || — || 19,020 || 17–40 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 58 || June 8 || Marlins || 7–5 || Rogers (2–0) || Wittgren (1–1) || Kintzler (1) || 21,527 || 18–40 || W2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 59 || June 9 || Marlins || 3–10 || Koehler (4–6) || Santana (1–6) || — || 18,792 || 18–41 || L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 60 || June 10 || Red Sox || 1–8 || Wright (7–4) || Duffey (2–5) || — || 22,786 || 18–42 || L2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 61 || June 11 || Red Sox || 4–15 || Hembree (3–0) || Gibson (0–4) || — || 28,633 || 18–43 || L3 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 62 || June 12 || Red Sox || 7–4 (10)|| Tonkin (2–2) || Barnes (2–3) || — || 26,087 || 19–43 || W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 63 || June 13 || @ Angels || 9–4 || Nolasco (3–4)|| Weaver (5–6)|| — || 36,424 || 20–43||W2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 64 || June 14 || @ Angels || 4–5 || Chacín (3–4) || Santana (1–7) || Street (7) || 36,272 || 20–44 ||L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 65 || June 15 || @ Angels || 2–10 || Santiago (4–4) || Duffey (2–6) || — || 36,717 || 20–45 ||L2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 66 || June 16 || Yankees || 1–4 || Sabathia (5–4) || Gibson (0–5) || Chapman (12) || 23,751 || 20–46 ||L3 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 67 || June 17 || Yankees || 2–8 || Tanaka (3–2) || Dean (1–3) || – || 23,888 || 20–47 ||L4 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 68 || June 18 || Yankees || 6–7 || Miller (4–0) || Abad (1–1) || Chapman (13) || 34,368 || 20–48 ||L5 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 69 || June 19 || Yankees || 7–4 || Santana (2–7) || Eovaldi (6–4) || Kintzler (2) || 29,553 || 21–48 ||W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 70 || June 21 || Phillies || 14–10 || Boshers (2–0) || Nola (5–7) || Kintzler (3) || 25,714 || 22–48 ||W2 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 71 || June 22 || Phillies || 5–6 || Rogers (3–0) || Hernandez (1–2) || Abad (1) || 25,032 || 23–48 ||W3 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 72 || June 23 || Phillies || 3–7 || Eickhoff (5–9) || Nolasco (3–5) || — || 30,012 || 23–49 ||L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 73 || June 24 || @ Yankees || 3–5 || Tanaka (5–2) || Milone (0–2) || Chapman (14) || 36,090 || 23–50 ||L2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 74 || June 25 || @ Yankees || 1–2 || Miller (5–0) || Pressly (2–4) || Chapman (15) || 40,075 || 23–51 ||L3 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 75 || June 26 || @ Yankees || 1–7 || Duffey (3–6) || Eovaldi (6–4) || — || 38,673 || 24–51 ||W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 76 || June 28 || @ White Sox || 4–0 || Gibson (1–5) || Quintana (5–8) || — || 22,072 || 25–51||W2 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 77 || June 29 || @ White Sox || 6–9 || Shields (3–9) || Nolasco (3–6) || Jones (2) || 18,571 || 25–52||L1 |-style="background:#fbb;" | 78 || June 30 || @ White Sox || 5–6 || Jones (4–2) || Abad (1–2) || Robertson (21) || 26,158 || 25–53||L2

|-style="background:#fbb;" | 79 || July 1 || Rangers || 2–3 (10) || Bush (3–1) || Abad (1–3) || Dyson (17) || 25,530 || 25–54 ||L3 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 80 || July 2 || Rangers || 17–5 ||Duffey (4–6)||Gonzalez (0–1) || — ||21,466|| 26–54||W1 |-style="background:#bfb;" | 81 || July 3 || Rangers || 5–4 || Gibson (2–5) || Hamels (9–2) || Kintzler (4) ||26,942|| 27–54||W2 |-style="background:#fbb;"