Joe Ryan quickly became a fan favorite when he arrived in Minnesota.
Twins fans were sad to see slugger Nelson Cruz go, but to get a potential starting pitcher for a couple of months of Cruz was well worth it. Many trade deadlines have left fans of the Twins wondering "What if...?" or just "Why?" but this one turned out to be a clear win.
Ryan is no flamethrower but with a quirky personality and a uniqueness fans haven't seen in some time, it's nearly impossible not to root for the guy. That's only part of what made his shoulder injury in August so devastating.
Joe Ryan's 2024 Season
Ryan and the Twins were well on their way to a playoff berth, with a division title in their sights. But in August, Ryan went down with a Grade 2 teres major (shoulder) strain, ending his season. Ryan's season ended and the Twins spiraled out of a playoff berth and limped to a fourth-place finish.
Ryan finished the 2024 season with a record of 7-7 and an ERA of 3.60, which are numbers that don't pop off the page by any means. That said, though, Ryan finished the year with a higher WAR than 2023 and his lowest WHIP (0.99) since his rookie season when he only started five games.
Joe Ryan's 2025 Season
Ryan and the Twins have higher hopes for 2025.
There is even talk of Joe being a dark horse for Cy Young. This may seem like a long shot, but after a deeper dive into his numbers and what we saw last year, it might not be that crazy.
The reports this offseason have all been positive for Ryan. During an interview at Twinsfest, he shared that his offseason has been pretty normal and he's feeling good. He acknowledged the Cy Young conversation and shared that it's "definitely a good goal." Ryan wanted to also point out that the main goal is to finish the season.
Along with everything that Ryan has shared this offseason, it's clear that the vibes are good. Ryan seems to be working on his spiral along with his five-pitch arsenal.
Let's keep these good vibes goin' pic.twitter.com/T1KLtbGuf7
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) February 13, 2025
Joe Ryan in 2025: Better or Worse?
With all of the positives from previous seasons, especially last year, it looks like Ryan could be well on his way to be even better in 2025.
If Ryan can stay healthy and maintain his momentum from last year, there is no reason to believe that some Cy Young votes could be in his future.