Twins right-hander Joe Ryan has been dealt a back injury that could jeopardize his participation in this year’s World Baseball Classic.
The 29-year-old Ryan was ruled out of his scheduled start of spring training on Saturday due to lower back tightness and was scheduled to undergo an MRI examination to learn more about his condition.
“It happened during his prep work,” Twins manager Derek Shelton told reporters: according to The Athletic. “Just to be sure, we sent him for imaging. … Everyone has pain on a daily basis, but this is something that came up.”
The exact details of Ryan’s injury and a possible timeline for return still remain unclear.
Ryan’s apparent injury also raises concerns about whether he could pitch for Team USA in the WBC in March. He is expected to join the team in Houston at the end of this month.
Despite having to be ready to answer for the WBC earlier in the offseason, Ryan has previously said he hasn’t made many changes to his preparation.
“It didn’t feel like this crazy overhaul in any way,” Ryan told reporters earlier this month. “We just started a little earlier and let the program and the process take care of the rest.”
Ryan is coming off his best season in the MLB, pitching a 13-10 record with a 3.42 ERA and 194 strikeouts in 30 starts, earning him his first career All-Star appearance.
His injury also comes just a day after fellow Twins righty Pablo Lopez announced he will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery.
“I don’t think it’s happened to me yet,” López told reporters on Friday. “It’s definitely tough. … I think it’ll hit me harder next week if (surgery) happens and all that. We knew what we were looking at. I think I’m a pretty realistic person.”
“I know what is in front of me.”
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