Twins' Joe Ryan Avoids Serious Injury After MRI

All-Star pitcher expected to miss only a few days with lower back inflammation

Feb. 22, 2026 at 4:25pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Minnesota Twins received good news on Sunday morning after an MRI revealed that star pitcher Joe Ryan is only dealing with inflammation in his lower back and is expected to miss just a few days of action. This comes as a relief for the Twins, who recently lost another pitcher, Pablo López, to a season-ending Tommy John surgery.

Why it matters

Ryan's health is crucial for the Twins as they prepare for the upcoming season and the World Baseball Classic. The team was understandably concerned after Ryan was scratched from a start on Saturday, just days after López's injury. This positive MRI result means the Twins can breathe easier and focus on getting Ryan back on the mound without any long-term issues.

The details

Ryan, an All-Star in 2023, was scratched from his scheduled start against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday after noticing his back tightening during pregame warmups. The 29-year-old decided to sit out the outing as a precaution. The MRI results showed only inflammation, and Twins manager Jeremy Zoll said Ryan will be "down for a few days here just to let things calm down" before progressing back to baseball activities.

  • Ryan was scratched from his start on Saturday, February 22, 2026.
  • The MRI results were received on Sunday, February 23, 2026.

The players

Joe Ryan

A 29-year-old All-Star pitcher for the Minnesota Twins who is dealing with lower back inflammation.

Jeremy Zoll

The manager of the Minnesota Twins.

Pablo López

A Twins pitcher who recently underwent Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for the season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“He'll be down for a few days here just to let things calm down. We'll progress him as tolerated and don't envision this impacting his readiness for Opening Day.”

— Jeremy Zoll, Twins Manager

“I could feel myself starting to compensate a little and I didn't want to go down that path, especially this early and with how good I've been feeling. It was smarter to not throw. I'm happy I didn't.”

— Joe Ryan

What’s next

The Twins will monitor Ryan's progress over the next few days and determine if he will be ready to participate in the World Baseball Classic in March.

The takeaway

This injury scare for the Twins highlights the importance of caution and proactive care for pitchers, especially after a teammate's recent season-ending surgery. The team can now focus on getting Ryan healthy and ready for the start of the regular season without any long-term concerns.