As August comes to an end, a new month in baseball begins. This period is quite entertaining when rosters come to expand. Major League Baseball requires 26 players to be carried on an active roster. A few years back, September 1st would’ve been the craziest day of the year, when rosters were originally set where teams can carry 40 players. With the rules changing, teams are allowed to carry a total of 28 players, including up to five on their taxi squad.
With September only being a day away, the Minnesota Twins announced that SP Joe Ryan will be recalled. Ryan will require a 40-man roster spot, so a corresponding move will be made for his MLB Debut. Ryan was acquired along with Drew Strotman in exchange for DH Nelson Cruz during the MLB Trade Deadline. The sixth-ranked prospect in Minnesota’s organization has proved that he is ready to throw at the MLB level.
Ryan broke out onto the scene during the 2019 Minor League Baseball season, where he pitched between three teams in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. Working his way to the AA level after beginning 2019 in low A ball, he proved himself to be a dominant force. In 2019, Ryan posted a 9-4 record, holding a 1.96 ERA, striking out 183 throughout 123.2 innings. The Rays were hoping for a normal 2020 season, to bring Joe Ryan into their mix.
Pitching for Durham Bulls in 2021, Ryan was off to a masterful start, throwing to a 4-3 record with a 3.63 ERA in 11 starts. He was then selected to partake in the 2021 Olympic Games for Team USA, with him being a part of the starting rotation. Making one start against Team Dominican Republic, Ryan threw 4.2 innings and struck out 10 in his only appearance. Team USA went onto win that game 8-6, but Ryan was held with the no-decision.
After the Olympics ended, Ryan found himself traded to the Minnesota Twins. The Twins have not had a great year, becoming the holders of 5th place in the A.L. Central division. Finding himself with a new organization, Ryan went right back to work posting two starts for AAA St. Paul, holding himself to allowing zero runs in 9 innings of work. He also worked to strike out 17 batters within two starts.
Minnesota could use another starter for their rotation, after trading away Jose Berrios and losing both Kenta Maeda and Michael Pineda to injury. Ryan joins a young rotation followed by Randy Dobnak, Griffin Jax, Bailey Ober, and veteran John Gant. Ryan could be a huge addition for the future of the Twins organization, but he could be followed by Simeon Woods-Richardson, who was acquired a part of the Jose Berrios trade. Currently, at 58-73, the Twins are ready to build their rotation for the 2022 season.
It will be clear the Twins will look to target veterans during the offseason, looking to bolster pieces among their rotation. As injuries are a devastating part of the game, the Twins will look to enter 2022 with a healthy team, with Joe Ryan as a viable piece towards their future. Can the Twins form a future dynamic rotation featuring Ryan, Woods-Richardson, and Maeda come next season? Could he become the next strikeout leader in Major League Baseball?
