MN Twins Replace Key Ownership Figure

The Minnesota Twins have been exploring a sale of the team for more than a year. Ultimately, they were unable to find a buyer due to the organization’s significant debt. Instead, the Twins have brought on a new trio of minority investors.

That group was announced on Wednesday and includes Glick Family Investments, George C. Hicks, and Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold. While changes were expected, the most notable development is that Joe Pohlad is no longer leading the organization.

Named executive chair of the Minnesota Twins in 2022, Pohlad’s tenure as the front man of the franchise has come to an end.

Tom Pohlad Replaces Joe Pohlad

Joe Pohlad took over for his uncle Jim, who moved into a Control Person role with the league. During his time in charge, Pohlad’s messaging often fell flat with fans and lacked self-awareness. With a frustrated fanbase desperate for renewed direction, ownership’s response has been to elevate yet another family member.

“It has been one of the greatest responsibilities and privileges of my life to work alongside the people in this organization and to serve our fans. As we begin this next chapter in our ownership of the Twins, I will be stepping away from my day-to-day role. I will continue to champion our employees and Twins Territory as our organization moves forward.”

Joe Pohlad

Joe Pohlad’s time as executive chair became synonymous with a roster teardown that followed the franchise’s best postseason run in decades, along with the now-infamous “right-sizing” comments. Under his leadership, the Twins also failed to adapt to a rapidly changing television landscape and were ultimately unable to complete a sale of the franchise.

His legacy is largely unremarkable and represents another stumble for an ownership group that has been rightfully criticized over the years.

“It is a profound honor to have the opportunity to continue a legacy that has been part of my family — and this community — for the past forty years. My uncle and my brother have led this organization with integrity, dedication, and a genuine love for the game. As I assume my new role, I do so with great respect for our history and a clear focus on the future — one defined by accountability and stewardship in our relentless pursuit of a championship.”

Tom Pohlad

Tom Pohlad is unlikely to represent a significant philosophical shift, given the team’s continued control by the Pohlad family. The oldest grandson of Carl Pohlad, Tom has been heavily involved in growing PaR Systems and now steps into a more prominent role with the Twins.

Ownership Changes Bring Hope for the Future

The changes to the Twins’ ownership structure do little to alter the present outlook. With substantial debt still on the books, the minority investors made a logical decision to buy in and allow their investments to appreciate over time. This move does not signal an immediate cash infusion into the on-field product.

However, with financial pressure potentially easing, there is hope that president of baseball operations Derek Falvey could be given a path back toward a league-average payroll. The signing of Josh Bell suggests the club has little intention of exceeding its projected $100 million payroll in 2026, a figure that already represents another step down from 2025.

With debt addressed, it remains possible the Pohlads will once again put the franchise on the market. While labor uncertainty looms over Major League Baseball in 2027, a sale in 2028 could become realistic. Whether through new ownership or a meaningful shift in direction, either outcome would likely be welcomed by a fanbase starved for progress.