The Minnesota Twins are entering a new chapter in their front office, one that blends continuity with a fresh infusion of local investment and leadership reshuffling at the top.
After previously pausing plans to sell the franchise, the Pohlad family has now brought in three new minority stakeholders - a move that’s been formally approved by Major League Baseball. The new limited partners include Craig Leipold, who already owns the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, George G.
Hicks, the founder of Minneapolis-based investment firm Värde Partners, and Glick Family Investors. All three bring local ties and financial muscle to the table, and their addition signals a strategic shift in the Twins’ ownership structure without changing who holds the keys to the kingdom.
The Pohlad family remains in control of the franchise, but there’s a notable change in who’s steering the ship. Joe Pohlad, who took over as executive chair in November 2022, is stepping away from his day-to-day role. That responsibility now falls to his older brother, Tom Pohlad, who will oversee the organization’s operations and serve as the team’s official control person - the primary liaison between the Twins and the league, a role previously held by their uncle, Jim Pohlad.
Joe Pohlad’s run as executive chair was brief but meaningful. He called the role “one of the greatest responsibilities and privileges of my life,” a nod to both the weight of the position and the family legacy behind it. His departure from the daily grind doesn’t remove him from the picture entirely, but it does shift the leadership dynamic within the Twins’ front office.
While the team hasn’t disclosed the financial details of the minority stake sales, reporting indicates that the Pohlad family sold more than 20% of the franchise at a valuation of $1.75 billion. That’s a hefty price tag, and it reflects the growing value of MLB franchises - especially one with a strong regional identity like the Twins.
More importantly, the influx of capital appears to have addressed a significant financial hurdle. The team reportedly carried nearly $500 million in debt, and this new investment has helped clear much of that burden.
That financial flexibility could give the Twins more room to maneuver in the coming years, whether that means investing more aggressively in player development, stadium upgrades, or - potentially - revisiting the idea of a full sale down the line. For now, though, the Pohlad family remains in the driver’s seat, albeit with a new co-pilot.
The addition of Leipold, Hicks, and the Glick family isn’t just a financial play - it’s a signal that the Twins are looking to strengthen their local business ties and bring in partners who understand the Minnesota sports landscape. Leipold, in particular, knows what it takes to run a professional sports franchise in the Twin Cities. That kind of experience could prove valuable as the Twins navigate the evolving economics of Major League Baseball.
This isn’t a seismic shift in ownership, but it’s a meaningful one. The Twins are still a family-run franchise, but with a broader base of support and a new face at the helm. And as the league continues to evolve - with rising player salaries, expanding media deals, and shifting fan expectations - having a stable, well-capitalized ownership group could make all the difference.
For now, the Twins are keeping things in the family, while quietly setting the stage for whatever might come next.