Twins ace Joe Ryan was a late scratch from his planned start in today’s Grapefruit League game with the Red Sox. As per a pair of announcements from the Twins, Ryan is dealing with lower back tightness on his right side, and is undergoing an MRI to determine the extent of the injury.
More will be known once the tests are complete, and it is entirely possible this just a case of early-camp soreness as Ryan starts to ramp up his throwing progression. Still, Ryan’s back issue merits some obvious concern given that Pablo Lopez’s 2026 season is already a wash due to a Tommy John surgery. Losing Lopez was a huge blow to a Minnesota team that looked like a fringe contender at best, and if Ryan is now sidelined with any sort of notable injury, the Twins’ season might be ruined before it even gets underway.
Beyond the impact on the Twins, Ryan is slated to be part of the United States’ roster during the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Even if the back problem ends up being relatively minor, the Twins might well pull Ryan out of the WBC as a pure precaution, and if he needs to make up for any lost innings in Spring Training.
Ryan is coming off the first All-Star season of his career, as the right-hander posted a 3.42 ERA, 28.2% strikeout rate, and 5.7% walk rate across 171 innings. While Ryan has a penchant for allowing hard contact and is a little homer-prone, his numbers over the last four seasons (3.78 ERA, 5.7% walk rate, 27.5K% over 614 2/3 IP) have established him as a front-of-the-rotation arm. Ryan has been relatively durable over that four-year span with the Twins, apart from a teres major strain that ended his 2024 season in August.
There has been plenty of trade speculation surrounding Ryan over the last year, but the Twins held onto Ryan amidst their large-scale selloff at last summer’s trade deadline. Ryan isn’t eligible for free agency until after the 2027 season, so these two years of inexpensive arbitration control make him a particular bargain for the budget-conscious Twins. If Minnesota is out of contention again at this year’s deadline, expect the trade rumors to again swirl around Ryan, assuming he’s healthy and still in good form.
Oh. This isn’t good, but it doesn’t look as bad as Lopez. Hopefully it’s just a bit of a small ramping up issue and nothing more.
Yeah Lopez appears to be a bit worse
Starting pitching problems come in twos for the Twins.
But they’re not identical.
Doesn’t have to be no two elbows blow up the same way. Or do they
Fraternal injuries. Hear they’re crazy at parties.
Seems like it was a great idea to hold on to Ryan and Lopez. Really no rebuild quite like a half a____ one as the Chicago Bulls would say.
Shelton perfect manager to lead this team
Oh great, does this mean that the twins should expect another pitcher to need Tj surgery and another with back issues?
No one will be shocked when this minor back injury somehow ends up being Tommy John
Lmao
So is Giolito waiting by his phone, or does he even want to take that call? Catch-22…
I mean… do you really want to be the next Spinal Tap drummer?!?
A good gm would have unloaded both those pitchers even if he could not get an elite return for either due to the market having so many pitchers. But either last deadline or this offseason they both should have been dealt – no excuses
From my understanding the Twins’ last GM wanted to trade everybody and start a full blown rebuild but ownership said no.
Yep — sure, Lopez was hurt last year, but great contract, track record (he was still younger than 30), would have gotten him out of MIN with savings and possibly a few upside prospects to boot.
Yep, it was completely poor judgement. Both pitchers would have fetched a bunch, especially Ryan. Anyone could have seen they don’t have enough to compete. Really terrible management.
White Sox just might manage 4th place this season with Twins at risk of losing like White Sox did a few years ago.
Spaghetti, uh oh
The Twins making a huge run at the year from hell team already
The perfect beginning to the storybook Miracle Twins of ’26
If this team wins 60 games it will be an absolute miracle.
Should’ve dealt him earlier.
Twins tanking before the season even starts.
Twins locked in for 100+ losses now
Let the tanking begin!!