After a delayed start to spring training due to back tightness, Minnesota Twins ace Joe Ryan finally made his way to the mound against the Tampa Bay Rays, the team that originally drafted him in 2018. Despite some initial rust, Ryan delivered three scoreless innings, showing off his full pitching arsenal and attacking hitters with confidence.
Ryan's outing was efficient, though not particularly flashy. Over three frames, he threw 48 pitches, allowing just two hits and two walks without recording a strikeout.
Impressively, 31 of those pitches were strikes. While he wasn't missing bats in this appearance, Ryan effectively challenged hitters.
Facing primarily left-handed batters, a group he struggled with last season, it was crucial for him to get these early reps.
Ryan set the tone early, needing just four pitches to record his first two outs. He then navigated a two-out double and a walk to finish the inning unscathed.
His second inning was a quick 10-pitch 1-2-3 frame, and he closed out the third by working around another two-out hit and a walk. While the surface stats might not pop, Ryan's ability to manage base runners and escape trouble underscores his pitching intelligence and his role as a cornerstone of Minnesota’s rotation.
His pitch mix was on full display, though he's not yet in midseason form. His four-seam fastball averaged 92 MPH, peaking at 93.5, just shy of his 2025 average of 93.7. It had solid movement, generating over 12 inches of run and 14 inches of rise, which kept hitters off balance and set up his secondary pitches.
By consistently locating his fastball up in the zone, Ryan manipulated the lower portion of the strike zone with his breaking and off-speed pitches. His splitter generated all three of the whiffs he recorded. Meanwhile, both his sweeper and curveball consistently landed near the bottom of the zone with sharp glove-side movement, keeping hitters guessing.
It's normal for pitchers to work below their in-season averages during early spring training games, but Ryan's velocity was notably down across his pitches. His splitter, slider, and sweeper were each missing about 2 MPH compared to last season. These numbers will be worth watching as spring progresses.
Looking ahead, the expectation is that Ryan’s velocity will return to normal as he ramps up. If that happens, his secondary pitches should generate more swings and misses, making him even tougher for opposing hitters. For the Twins, having their ace healthy and effectively executing his repertoire early in spring is crucial for maintaining a strong rotation in 2026.
All things considered, Joe Ryan’s first outing of 2026 spring training was a success. He demonstrated poise, command, and the ability to attack hitters, showcasing his full arsenal.
While there are areas to improve, this was just his first taste of competition. If his stuff improves as he settles into the Grapefruit League, he should continue to be the frontline starter he was throughout 2025.