The Minnesota Twins received a much‑needed piece of positive news during spring training on Sunday as the team navigates an already challenging start to the 2026 season. With the pitching staff dealing with significant setbacks, any encouraging development has taken on added importance for a club still hoping to contend.
Minnesota’s rotation has already been hit hard, most notably with the loss of Pablo Lopez to season‑ending Tommy John surgery. That injury left a major void at the top of the staff and immediately put more pressure on the remaining starters to step up.
As a result, attention quickly turned to Joe Ryan and his health status after recent concerns surfaced when he missed his scheduled spring training start.
Fortunately for the Twins, early indications suggest the situation is not as serious as initially feared. “Good news for #MNTwins: Joe Ryan’s MRI showed only inflammation. Best case scenario,” reported Dan Hayes of The Athletic.
Good news for #MNTwins: Joe Ryan’s MRI showed only inflammation. Best case scenario.
— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) February 22, 2026
That update carries significant weight for Minnesota. Ryan is expected to play a leading role in the rotation, especially now that Lopez is unavailable. Avoiding a major injury means the Twins can still rely on one of their most consistent arms as they try to stabilize the pitching staff early in the year.
Ryan has quietly developed into one of the more dependable starters in the American League. In 2025, he made 30 starts and posted a strong season that included a 3.42 ERA and 194 strikeouts across 171 innings. His ability to limit walks and generate swings and misses has made him a valuable piece of Minnesota’s pitching plans.
Beyond the numbers, Ryan’s presence provides stability. He has shown durability throughout his career and has often taken the ball in key moments. That reliability becomes even more important for a team now dealing with limited depth and increased uncertainty.
The Twins will likely lean on Ryan as a potential Opening Day starter, especially given the current state of the rotation. Behind him, pitchers like Bailey Ober and Simeon Woods Richardson are expected to take on larger roles, while younger arms could be forced into action sooner than anticipated.
From a broader perspective, this update helps preserve Minnesota’s competitive outlook. Losing both Lopez and Ryan for extended time would have been a devastating blow to a team already trying to prove it can stay in the postseason conversation.
Instead, the Twins can move forward with some optimism. While challenges remain, having Ryan healthy gives them a legitimate anchor in the rotation and a chance to weather the early storm of injuries. As spring training continues, Minnesota will monitor him closely, but for now, this qualifies as the best possible outcome in an otherwise difficult stretch.