Joe Ryan’s second-half slump now has a possible explanation.
The Minnesota Twins right-hander has been hammered over his last three starts, giving up 17 runs, 16 earned, on 25 hits, including seven home runs, with two walks in 15 1/3 innings. After looking sharp before the All-Star break, Ryan has not looked like the same pitcher since, and an injury evaluation could be the reason why.
According to The Athletic’s Dan Hayes, Ryan is heading back to Minneapolis to be checked for glute and back issues. Hayes reported that manager Derek Shelton said Ryan has already left the club and will be examined by team physician Christopher Camp in Minnesota.
The pitcher had already hinted that something was off before that news surfaced.
Reporter: Is this a mechanical issue w/ your delivery?
Joe Ryan: That's probably part of it. I don't know what's necessarily causing that side of it.
Reporter: Do you feel like you're physically capable of executing your delivery?
Ryan: No, definitely not. #MNTwins https://t.co/iVY0wY9Zvg
- DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) August 5, 2026
That admission fits with what happened in his first outing after the break, which was the roughest start of his season. Ryan allowed six home runs in that game, the most ever surrendered by a Twins pitcher in a single outing, and became the 12th starting pitcher to give up six homers in one game since 1900.
Joe Ryan just became the 12th pitcher in MLB history to allow 6 home runs in a game. pic.twitter.com/Iv9rSkmU66
- Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) July 21, 2026
His last two starts also ended in losses to former Twins right-hander Randy Dobnak, who is now with the Kansas City Royals. On July 29, Ryan gave up four earned runs on eight hits over six innings at Target Field. Then on Tuesday, he allowed five runs, four earned, on seven hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings at Kauffman Stadium.
The bigger question now is whether the Twins should have dealt him before the trade deadline. Given what Minnesota chose to do, the answer was no.
Owner Tom Pohlad gave general manager Jeremy Zoll the green light to buy, and the Twins added Jeff Hoffman from the Toronto Blue Jays, A.J. Minter from the New York Mets and Dean Kremer from the Baltimore Orioles.
Ryan had been Minnesota’s best starter for much of the season, and if the club wanted to keep pushing for a playoff spot, he had to stay.
Of course, if Ryan ends up on the injured list, the second-guessing will be impossible to avoid. He is under team control through next season, and it will be hard for fans not to wonder whether moving him would have been the safer play.
But injuries can’t be predicted, and his first two starts after the break came before the deadline anyway. There’s also the uncomfortable reality that Ryan’s career second-half ERA is just under 5.00.
For now, the Twins can only hope the issue is short-term and that Ryan gets back quickly enough to help them chase a postseason berth. If that happens, the decision to keep him will look a lot better.
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