Quick Read
- Joe Ryan exited his start after nine pitches due to right elbow soreness.
- The Twins are already missing key rotation members Pablo López and Mick Abel due to elbow-related injuries.
- Ryan’s velocity had been trending downward, raising concerns about potential structural damage.
MINNEAPOLIS (Azat TV) – Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan was forced to exit his start against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday after facing only two batters, citing right elbow soreness. The sudden departure, which occurred after just nine pitches, marks a precarious development for a Minnesota pitching staff already reeling from a string of long-term injuries.
Rotation Stability Under Fire
Ryan, who had been serving as the team’s unquestioned ace following the loss of Pablo López to season-ending Tommy John surgery in February, signaled to the dugout immediately after walking Kazuma Okamoto on a full count. Twins manager Derek Shelton confirmed in an in-game interview that Ryan explicitly reported feeling discomfort in his elbow. According to The Athletic, Ryan’s velocity on his final pitch reached only 90.9 mph, continuing a trend of diminished speed that saw his season average drop by over 1 mph compared to 2025.
Stakes for the Minnesota Twins
The loss of Ryan for any significant duration would present a catastrophic scenario for the Twins. The team’s rotation is currently navigating the absences of both López and Mick Abel, who is dealing with his own elbow inflammation. Depth options such as Connor Prielipp and Kendry Rojas have already been tapped to fill gaps, and a potential stint on the injured list for Ryan would likely force the organization to accelerate the development of other prospects like Zebby Matthews. ESPN reports that Ryan has been historically durable, making at least 23 starts in each of the previous three seasons, which makes this latest scare particularly alarming for front-office leadership.
Contextualizing the Injury Risk
Ryan’s injury history includes missing the final 49 games of the 2024 season due to a Grade 2 teres major strain in his throwing shoulder. While the team chose not to trade their top arms during the previous offseason in hopes of remaining competitive in the American League Central, the fragility of their current roster has reignited questions regarding their long-term strategy. With Ryan under team control through the 2027 season, his health remains the single most important variable in the franchise’s ability to remain relevant in the playoff picture this summer.
While the severity of Ryan’s injury has yet to be formally diagnosed, the combination of diminished velocity and the current league-wide trend of ulnar collateral ligament issues suggests that the Twins may be facing a prolonged period of instability that could fundamentally alter their approach to the 2026 trade deadline.