Joe Ryan Threw 9 Pitches and the Twins' Rotation Just Got a Lot More Fragile

The Minnesota Twins' starter Joe Ryan made it through exactly two batters before everything fell apart. He threw nine pitches Sunday against the Blue Jays, then signaled for a trainer and walked off the mound. Right elbow soreness ended his day before it really started, and now the Twins have a real problem on their hands.

A Nightmare Start to the Game

This wasn't a gradual decline or a rough inning. Ryan got two outs, felt something wrong in his elbow, and the game was over for him. Nine pitches. That's it. For a team counting on consistent rotation depth, losing your starter this early is not what you want to see, especially when you're still figuring out who you can trust on the mound night after night.

What This Means Going Forward

Elbow soreness in May is never a good sign. The Twins are going to have to dig into their bullpen or make adjustments to the rotation faster than they planned. This is the kind of early-season injury that can cascade into bigger problems if it's not handled carefully. You can't afford to lose innings like this when you're trying to establish rotation reliability early in the season.

The next few days will tell us whether this is precautionary or something more serious. Either way, the Twins just got a reality check about how quickly things can unravel.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.