Twins' Joe Ryan Nears Return from Injury for Stretch Run
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The Minnesota Twins are running out of time, but a familiar face might soon be back on the mound. As the calendar flips toward September's final weeks, the team's playoff aspirations hang by a thread. The potential return of All-Star right-hander Joe Ryan could be the spark that reignites their push.
Ryan, who has been on the injured list since August 7 with a muscle strain in his glute, made his first start in nearly a month on Tuesday night. He toed the rubber for the Triple-A St. Paul Saints in Omaha, facing the Storm Chasers at Werner Park. The outing was a measured step forward: three innings, one earned run — a solo home run surrendered to Royals outfield prospect Carson Roccaforte in the second — and a fastball that peaked at 92.6 mph. More importantly, Ryan struck out the last four hitters he faced, demonstrating sharp command. He threw 42 pitches in the game and then simulated a fourth inning in the bullpen to build up his workload.
“The third inning actually felt the best, and then I went for a fourth inning, which felt good,” Ryan said before the Twins’ evening game against the Tigers on Wednesday at Target Field. “So, it’s good to see a progression there. … I was taking that as a big positive.”
Manager Derek Shelton outlined the next steps for Ryan. The righty will throw a bullpen session on Saturday, which will take place at Rate Field in Chicago during the Twins’ three-game series against the American League Central-leading White Sox. “He’ll probably go with us,” Shelton said. “I would rather (pitching coach) Pete (Maki) and our pitching group sees it. He’ll just go with us and throw it.”
When asked about the possibility of Ryan’s next start coming in the majors, Shelton left the door open. “It’s on the table. I wouldn’t say 50-50, one way or another, but I don’t think it’s completely off the table.”
Ryan’s last major-league start was on August 4, when he allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits and two walks over 5⅓ innings in an 8-2 loss at Kansas City. Before that, his season had been stellar. Entering the All-Star Game in Philadelphia, where he pitched a scoreless inning, Ryan owned a 6-5 record with a 2.85 ERA across 20 starts, striking out 128 batters in 110⅓ innings. The second half was a different story. In three starts after the break, he lost all three and saw his ERA balloon to 9.39 before landing on the disabled list.
Ryan has been encouraged by the progress he has made since the injury. On a hot Omaha evening, he felt his mechanics were “good, better.” He retired the last batter in the second inning before striking out the side in the third. “I think the pitch shapes kind of tell you where the mechanics are a lot of the time,” Ryan explained. “Some of the pitches I made were really good. … It was like a really good stepping stone to feel locked in in that sense.”
His return would be a significant boost for a Twins rotation currently featuring Taj Bradley, Bailey Ober, Zebby Matthews, and trade-deadline acquisition Dean Kremer. Entering Wednesday’s action, the Twins were 3.5 games behind the third American League wild-card spot, with four other teams — Cleveland, Texas, Baltimore, and Toronto — standing between them and a playoff berth.
Ryan flew back to Minneapolis after Tuesday’s game. “I was able to sit down and talk to him (Wednesday). We wanted to get him back here,” Shelton said. “He’ll throw his bullpen this weekend. Once his bullpen goes this weekend, we’ll have clarity on what the next step is. The most encouraging sign is he walked in today and was in good spirits.”
The Twins have a day off Thursday before a three-game series in Chicago against the White Sox, followed by a three-game set in Detroit. If all goes according to plan, Ryan could make a start against Cleveland at Target Field next weekend. “We’ll see where his bullpen is at, have a conversation and go from there,” Shelton said.
For a team clinging to fading hopes, the return of an All-Star arm could be the difference between an early October tee time and a shot at October baseball.
Article commentary
Joe Ryan’s impending return from a glute strain offers the Minnesota Twins a glimmer of hope in a season that has been defined by inconsistency and a late-summer fade. The Twins entered Wednesday 3.5 games out of the final wild-card spot, trailing a quartet of teams — Cleveland, Texas, Baltimore, and Toronto — in a crowded race. With less than a month remaining, every game carries weight, and the rotation has been a source of both strength and concern. Before the All-Star break, Ryan was the team’s most reliable starter. His 2.85 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 110⅓ innings placed him among the American League’s elite. He earned an All-Star nod and appeared to be a cornerstone for the stretch run. But the second half has been a different story. In three starts after the break, Ryan posted a 9.39 ERA, losing all three outings before the glute issue forced him to the injured list. The question now is whether the time off has allowed him to reset both physically and mechanically. His rehab start on Tuesday was encouraging. The fastball sat at 92.6 mph, slightly below his season average but understandable given the layoff. More telling was his command: he struck out the final four batters, a sign that his secondary pitches, particularly his splitter and sweeper, are working in tandem. The simulated fourth inning suggests he is building arm strength, and the bullpen session on Saturday will be a critical test. Manager Derek Shelton’s cautious approach is understandable. The Twins cannot afford to rush Ryan back only to see him re-injured or ineffective. But the clock is ticking. The team’s schedule down the stretch includes series against the White Sox, Tigers, and Guardians — all winnable matchups if the rotation holds. Ryan’s presence would give the Twins a legitimate No. 1 starter in a group that has leaned heavily on Bailey Ober and the emerging Zebby Matthews. From a broader perspective, Ryan’s return is a microcosm of the Twins’ season: tantalizing potential tempered by nagging setbacks. The front office’s decision to acquire Dean Kremer at the deadline was a clear signal of intent, but the rotation has struggled to find consistency. If Ryan can regain his pre-break form, the Twins could make a late push. If not, the team may face an offseason of tough questions about their pitching depth and developmental pipeline. Shelton’s optimism is measured, but his comment about Ryan being in “good spirits” suggests the pitcher is confident. The next few days will determine whether that confidence translates into results. For a team that has battled injuries and inconsistency, Ryan’s return could be the defining narrative of September — or just another chapter in a frustrating season.