Most importantly, under Falvey’s leadership, the Twins finally won a playoff series for the first time in nearly two decades, ending a drought that had become part of the franchise’s identity.
Yet for all the progress on the pitching side, the offensive record under Falvey tells a much harsher story.
Burned By the Injury Bug?
Over nearly 10 years as the organization’s lead decision-maker, the Twins failed to develop a single homegrown impact bat — not one player who established himself as a clear above-average, middle-of-the-order regular.
The current lineup is largely composed of Falvey-era draft picks, including Royce Lewis, Brooks Lee, Trevor Larnach, Ryan Jeffers, and Matt Wallner. Despite pedigree and opportunity, none of them have emerged as an above-average everyday player.
In isolation, each case has an explanation. Injuries derailed timelines, development stalled, adjustments failed to stick. However, when taken together, the pattern becomes difficult to ignore.
The Twins repeatedly chased similar offensive profiles, often prioritizing power over hit tool, and frequently paired those bets with elevated medical risk. That tendency extended beyond the draft and into free agency.
Falvey signed the two largest contracts in franchise history, committing significant resources to Josh Donaldson and later to Carlos Correa. Both signings ended disastrously, culminating in Correa being salary-dumped.
While every front office misses evaluations, the nature of the misses mattered.