MN Twins Starter Changes WBC Plan Again

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Joe Ryan, Minnesota Twins
Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

On Friday night, Team USA knocked off Canada in the World Baseball Classic, giving the Americans another win over their neighbors to the north in international competition over the past month. After besting the Canadians on the ice in Italy, the United States got it done on the diamond in Houston, too.

Byron Buxton wasn’t in the lineup for Mark DeRosa’s squad, but that wasn’t much of a surprise with how hot fellow center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has been at the dish. The Minnesota Twins outfielder did get in late to beef up the defense, though.

With the Dominican Republic now on deck, and eyes on a championship, Joe Ryan is no longer expected to join Team USA. He was previously reported as the likely addition after the quarterfinals, but those plans now appear to have changed.

Joe Ryan staying in Minnesota Twins camp

Earlier this spring, Joe Ryan was scratched from his Grapefruit League debut due to back inflammation. It wound up not being serious, but he has still thrown just once in game action. He was scheduled to join Team USA with eyes on the championship game, but that will no longer happen.

Joe Ryan threw a 23-pitch bullpen session March 14, which he said felt great, but he is no longer expected to pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Ryan was in the designated pitcher pool for Team USA, which made him an option to pitch in the March 17 championship game if USA advanced. But Team USA opted to add a one-inning reliever, Toronto’s Jeff Hoffman, to the roster for the final two games. 

Star Tribune

Bobby Nightengale (Star Tribune) dropped the report on Saturday afternoon. Ryan’s first and only Grapefruit League appearance came on March 10th. Had he pitched on the 17th for Team USA, it would have been on seven days of rest, throwing off his schedule as he ramps up for the season.

Notably, Ryan’s velocity was also down nearly 2 mph from where he traditionally sits. Ryan is not necessarily a velocity-driven pitcher, but he has found success despite throwing with lesser speed by attacking the top of the zone. If his stuff remains diminished to that point, the margin for error becomes significantly smaller.

Minnesota is already without Pablo Lopez for the year, and there are serious concerns about Bailey Ober’s body as well. It’s understandable that Ryan, who was pitching for Team USA in the Olympics when the Twins originally acquired him, would want to represent his country again. But this Minnesota Twins team is already in a tough spot for 2026, and not having their top remaining pitcher fully locked in only makes that worse.

I wasn’t a fan of the idea that the Twins were going to let Ryan pitch in the World Baseball Classic given their current predicament. Regardless of who made the decision, this is a better outcome for Minnesota.

Team USA left searching without MN Twins Ryan

Joe Ryan was expected to take the roster spot of Clayton Kershaw. Logan Webb started the quarterfinal game against Canada, and Paul Skenes will go against the Dominican Republic. Nightengale’s reporting suggests Team USA opted for Jeff Hoffman rather than Ryan. If that’s the case, it may reflect where Minnesota believes Ryan is at right now.

Nightengale Jr. said on BlueSky, “He’s healthy and had a 23-pitch bullpen session today, but Team USA appears to be prioritizing one-inning relievers.” That’s an interesting development considering the report from his father, Bob Nightengale, just two days ago.

As things stand, manager Mark DeRosa is short on options for a potential championship game. Likely to face either Japan or Puerto Rico, the Americans might have to turn back to 24-year-old Nolan McLean. He got hit around by Italy, and would seem to be in well over his head on such a grand stage.

It would be relatively shocking to see DeRosa opt for a bullpen game on that stage, too, so where he pivots could be quite interesting. Both Clay Holmes and Matthew Boyd have also returned to their expected camps. With Hoffman taking a roster spot, all of Team USA’s additions have been relievers.

Ryan is still a candidate to start on Opening Day for the Minnesota Twins in Baltimore. However, he would have made just three total Grapefruit League starts and not shown much in game action to inspire a lot of confidence.

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