Joe Ryan’s injury update has Twins fans breathing a sigh of relief

Twins Territory was in a panic yesterday when Minnesota scratched starting pitcher Joe Ryan from his scheduled spring training against the Boston Red Sox because of tightness in his right side. Of Pablo López will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery On Wednesday, losing Ryan to the IL would have left the Twins without a true ace in their starting rotation.

Fortunately, Twins fans no longer have to worry about Ryan’s injury status. Dan Hayes of The Athletic reported this on Sunday morning Ryan underwent an MRI, which showed only inflammation. Phew!

Joe Ryan avoided the worst-case scenario after being ruled out of the first spring training

As long as Ryan, who had a 3.42 ERA with 194 strikeouts and 39 walks in 171 innings last season, stays healthy, he will be the Twins’ No. 1 starter in 2026. Bailey Ober will be the No. 2, and Simeon Woods Richardson and Taj Bradley will likely be the No. 3 and No. 4. The No. 5 starting position has yet to be determined, with Zebby Matthews and Mick Abel likely battling for the role this spring. David Festa is also an option, but there’s a good chance the Twins plan to convert him into a reliever. Minnesota could also start the season with a six-man rotation.

Without Ryan, the rotation would have been a mess. Ober has had success in the past, but he struggled significantly last year with a 5.10 ERA. Ober could bounce back, but it would be hard to be confident in a rotation where he is the No. 1 pick.

Joe Ryan’s WBC status is still in jeopardy after MRI showed no serious injuries

Ryan will be part of Team USA’s starting rotation for the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC). When the Twins removed him from his scheduled start on Saturday, many immediately thought it meant the ace would no longer pitch in the highly anticipated tournament.

Even with Ryan’s MRI revealing no significant back injury, the ace’s WBC status remains in jeopardy. Team USA begins WBC play on Friday, March 6. The Twins may want to keep Ryan out of the tournament and gradually get him back into regular pitching due to his back inflammation. Ryan may also feel it is best to withdraw from the tournament. It is also possible that Ryan now no longer has insurance to participate in the tournament.

It would be disappointing if Ryan had to withdraw from the tournament, but he must prioritize his health. If Ryan can’t compete in the WBC, Twins fans rooting for Team USA will at least be able to watch star midfielder Byron Buxton represent his home country in the tournament.