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.

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.

The 103 losses marked the worst record in Twins history, besting the 60-102 team of 1982.