The Minnesota Twins face fresh concern after Joe Ryan exited Sunday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays with right elbow soreness. The club confirmed the update shortly after his early departure.
Ryan lasted just two batters in the outing. He struck out Yohendrick Pinango to open the game, then walked Kazuma Okamoto. He quickly signaled to catcher Victor Caratini and the dugout, prompting a visit from manager Derek Shelton and a trainer before leaving.
Twins writer Betsy Helfand reported the official diagnosis as elbow soreness. Ryan threw only nine pitches, with his final fastball at 90.9 mph, below his usual level. The sudden drop raised immediate concern within the team.
Rookie Andrew Morris replaced Ryan and took over in the first inning. The Twins now expect Ryan to undergo imaging tests to assess the injury and determine his availability.
Ryan has been central to Minnesota’s rotation, especially after Pablo López underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this year. The right-hander entered the game with a 3.76 ERA and strong durability over recent seasons.
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The timing adds pressure on a struggling Twins side. Minnesota entered the game sitting 14–20 and near the bottom of the American League Central. Inconsistent offense and rotation setbacks have limited momentum.
Their offense ranks mid-to-lower tier, with a .234 average and .380 slugging percentage limiting run production. Byron Buxton has been a bright spot with power, while Ryan Jeffers leads in RBIs.
Ryan’s status could shape the club’s short-term outlook. Losing their top starter, even briefly, would test an already thin pitching group.
