Efficient in final spring outing, Joe Ryan is ready to 'get rolling'

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As he made his final tuneup in what has been a decidedly strange spring, the Minnesota Twins All-Star Joe Ryan was so efficient Saturday afternoon he needed to head to the bullpen for additional work. Ryan liked his pitch shapes and isn't concerned with his velocity, which is down from his regular-season numbers but also on par with where he was last spring. Ryan finished with a 1.50 ERA and eight strikeouts over 12 innings this spring and is preparing for the team's season opener Thursday at Baltimore.

Why it matters

Ryan's comfort is worth monitoring as lower back stiffness delayed the start of his exhibition season and cost him a chance to pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. However, Ryan has been adamant he's healthy and got back on track almost immediately after experiencing the tightness before his scheduled first start of the spring.

The details

Ryan allowed a run and three hits in five innings against the Tampa Bay Rays, striking out two and walking one. He threw strikes on 41 of 59 pitches, finishing with six swings and misses. Twins manager Derek Shelton said, "It's hard to say anything critical, as efficient as he was." Ryan felt good enough to ask if he should pitch one more inning, at which point the decision was made to send him to the bullpen where he threw 10 to 15 more pitches.

• On Saturday afternoon, Ryan made his final tuneup before the season opener.
• Ryan will pitch the Twins' season opener on Thursday at Baltimore.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Ryan is preparing for the team's season opener Thursday at Baltimore. It's the second time Ryan will pitch the Twins' season opener after he received the honor for the 2022 season.