Joe Ryan is back in Minnesota for a closer look, and the Twins are trying to get to the bottom of what’s been nagging him.
A day after another rough outing, Ryan went to Minnesota to be evaluated by Twins head team physician Dr. Christopher Camp. The team says the issue is not his arm, but “more back and glute issues,” according to manager Derek Shelton.
“It’s very obvious that Joe is frustrated with where he’s at, and I think we owe it to him and to us to kind of figure out, and give ourselves the best situation to figure out where he’s at physically,” Shelton said before Wednesday’s game against the Royals.
Ryan’s next turn in the rotation would come Sunday in Milwaukee, but Shelton said that start is “in question” for now. Ryan hasn’t been ruled out, though the Twins are not counting on him to take the ball.
The concern followed Tuesday night’s loss in Kansas City, when Ryan worked 5 1/3 innings and gave up five runs, four earned, on seven hits. He struck out three and walked two. His fastball averaged 92.2 miles per hour, which is more than a full tick below his season mark of 93.5.
After the game, Ryan didn’t hide how he felt.
“It's been frustrating for sure,” he said after the game. “I think trying to get everything right through the week and just not getting back to where I need to be.”
Ryan spoke in broad terms about struggling to find and repeat his delivery, and the Twins decided that with the slump stretching on and the frustration building, it was time to have him checked out.
The 30-year-old has been knocked around in three starts since the All-Star break, giving up 17 runs, 16 earned, over 15 1/3 innings. His season has already included a spring training absence because of lower back discomfort, a May outing cut short after 1/3 inning because of elbow pain, and then one of his better starts six days later.
His most recent start before Tuesday was also moved back three days because of what was described as arm fatigue. Asked after Tuesday’s game whether that issue was fully behind him, Ryan didn’t give a firm yes.
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