Joe Ryan’s impressive performance against the Kansas City Royals on Monday showcased his development as a front-end starting pitcher for the Minnesota Twins. The team had challenged Ryan to take a step forward this offseason, and he has responded positively. With a dominant fastball and three effective offspeed pitches, Ryan struck out nine batters in seven innings, allowing only one run and lowering his ERA to 2.96.
Ryan’s success can be attributed to his dedication and hard work during the offseason. He sought stability with his secondary pitches, including his split-fingered fastball, sweeper, and slider. To achieve this, Ryan returned to Driveline and focused on cleaning up his mechanics and increasing his velocity. The results were evident in Monday’s game, as he reached a career-high fastball speed of 96.6 mph and commanded all of his pitches.
Catcher Ryan Jeffers noted the impact of Ryan’s increased velocity, stating that it made him a “different animal” on the mound. With the added speed, Ryan has more options and can keep opposing hitters off balance. Despite relying heavily on his fastball, Ryan showed confidence in mixing in his other pitches, using his four-seamer only 52 percent of the time. This varied approach allowed him to strike out five batters in the first time through the lineup and retire 14 consecutive hitters.
While Ryan encountered some trouble in the sixth inning, surrendering three singles and an RBI base hit, he showcased his ability to make adjustments. He struck out Twins killer Salvador Perez to end the inning and finished strong with a 1-2-3 seventh inning. Overall, Ryan’s performance was met with praise from his manager, Rocco Baldelli, who commended his ability to locate his pitches effectively.
Through 11 starts this season, Ryan has demonstrated improved control, walking fewer batters than ever before (1.2 per nine innings). He has also maintained a high strikeout average (9.8 per nine innings) and carries a 2.75 FIP. In addition, Ryan has provided consistency for the Twins, as they have won seven of the 11 games he has started.
However, the challenge for Ryan lies in maintaining this level of performance throughout the season. In previous seasons, he has started strong but struggled to sustain his success due to inconsistency with his secondary pitches. The Twins hope that Ryan’s offseason work on his mechanics and command will help him overcome these hurdles and become a reliable ace-caliber pitcher.
Ryan’s development has been encouraging for the Twins, especially considering the setbacks he faced last season. After carrying a 2.98 ERA through 15 starts, he suffered an injury and struggled upon his return. This year, Ryan has shown resilience and improvement, earning the respect of his teammates and coaches.
As Joe Ryan continues to refine his skills and gain confidence in his secondary pitches, he has the potential to become a formidable force on the mound for the Minnesota Twins. His dedication and growth as a pitcher bode well for his future success in the major leagues.