Twins All-Star Joe Ryan being evaluated for back, glute injuries amid skid after loss to Royals
Minnesota pitcher Joe Ryan is headed back to Minneapolis while dealing with a back and glute issue.
The Twins All-Star left the team after starting in their 8-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals in Missouri on Tuesday. He'll be evaluated by a team doctor, though specifics of his injury are not yet known. His next start is now very much in doubt.
"That's what we're trying to figure out," manager Derek Shelton said on Wednesday, via The Athletic. "He's frustrated and not able to replicate his delivery. … The ability to repeat his delivery, I'm not going to say it's not physical. But we owe it to him and to us to find out what he's feeling and how he's going about it."
Ryan gave up four runs and seven hits in Minnesota’s six-run loss at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday. It marked his latest rough outing. The All-Star holds a 9.39 ERA and has given up 25 hits over his last three starts, all losses. He gave up a major league record six home runs in a start against the Cleveland Guardians last month.
It didn't appear that anything happened specifically during his start Tuesday. Shelton said the Twins didn't believe his injury was arm-related, but instead limited to his lower body. Ryan didn't have much of an update after the game, either, but said he "definitely" didn't feel capable in his delivery on the mound.
It's unclear how long Ryan will be sidelined. He's scheduled to start next on Sunday afternoon against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Regardless, Ryan's injury status is a significant blow for a Twins team that just bought at the trade deadline. They acquired four pitchers ahead of Monday's deadline, including starter Dean Kremer from the Baltimore Orioles.
The Twins entered Wednesday's contest with a 56-58 record and have lost three of their last five games. They're third in the AL Central and are just a game back from the second place Cleveland Guardians and four games out of first in the division behind the Chicago White Sox.
The AL Central title, something the Twins haven't won since 2023, is very much within reach. But pulling that off without Ryan available down the stretch will be significantly harder for Minnesota.
