Joe Ryan will suit up for Team USA for the remainder of the World Baseball Classic.
The Minnesota Twins will soon see their ace temporarily leave camp as right‑hander Joe Ryan prepares to join Team USA in the later stages of the World Baseball Classic.
Ryan was not part of the active roster during the tournament’s opening round of pool play. Earlier in spring training, the Twins starter dealt with a back injury that delayed his preparation for the season and prevented him from immediately joining the team. Fortunately for both Ryan and Minnesota, the injury did not develop into anything serious.
The 29-year-old starter has since returned to throwing in spring training games and appears to be progressing through his normal ramp‑up schedule.
Because Ryan was originally included in Team USA’s designated player pool, he remained eligible to rejoin the roster later in the tournament if needed.
“Minnesota Twins starter Joe Ryan will also join the team, replacing Clayton Kershaw after quarterfinals,” reported Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
If Team USA advances beyond the quarterfinals, Ryan could provide a significant boost to the pitching staff as the competition intensifies. The Americans are aiming to capture the gold medal after falling short in the previous edition of the tournament.
For Ryan, the opportunity comes at a perfect time within his spring training schedule. With his workload gradually increasing after the earlier back issue, joining Team USA in the later rounds allows him to compete while still preparing for the MLB season.
Once his time with the national team concludes, Ryan is expected to return to Twins camp to finalize preparations for Opening Day.
Minnesota will be counting heavily on him this year, particularly after fellow starter Pablo Lopez underwent season‑ending Tommy John surgery. That injury leaves Ryan as the clear ace of the Twins rotation heading into the 2026 campaign.
Ryan’s rising reputation across baseball largely stems from his outstanding 2025 season. He earned his first career All‑Star selection while establishing himself as one of the American League’s most reliable starters.
He finished the year with a 13‑10 record, a 3.42 ERA and 194 strikeouts across 171 innings while posting a 1.035 WHIP.
Despite that success, Ryan’s name surfaced in trade rumors both at last year’s deadline and again during the offseason. Ultimately, Minnesota chose to keep him as a centerpiece of the rotation.
Still, if the Twins struggle during the upcoming season, contenders could once again inquire about Ryan’s availability.
For now, however, the focus shifts to international competition as the Twins ace prepares to potentially represent his country on baseball’s global stage.