Joe Ryan was spectacular this past season. Despite not earning any AL Cy Young Award votes, his 2025 campaign will go down as one of the best ones this century in Minnesota. He was a first-time All-Star, and hopefully, this is just the beginning of a long stretch of dominance from him (as long as he isn't traded).
Now, it's time to reflect on some of the greatest single-season pitching campaigns from a Twins starter this century. How does Joe Ryan stack up against these guys?
Note: This list is only for starting pitchers, and they can only be named once (or else Johan Santana would fill up most of the ranking).
Honorable mention: 2020 Kenta Maeda
bWAR: 1.6
ERA: 2.70
ERA+: 160
W-L: 6-1
IP: 66.2
Strikeouts: 80
Notes: 0.750 WHIP, 2nd in Cy Young
15. 2012 Scott Diamond
bWAR: 2.6
ERA: 3.54
ERA+: 116
W-L: 12-9
IP: 173
Strikeouts: 90
Notes: 1.6 BB/9, 16 quality starts
14. 2002 Rick Reed
bWAR: 2.8
ERA: 3.78
ERA+: 118
W-L: 15-7
IP: 188
Strikeouts: 121
Notes: 1.2 BB/9, 15 quality starts
13. 2005 Carlos Silva
bWAR: 3.5
ERA: 3.44
ERA+: 130
W-L: 9-8
IP: 188.1
Strikeouts: 71
Notes: 0.4 BB/9
12. 2019 Jose Berrios
bWAR: 3.6
ERA: 3.68
ERA+: 123
W-L: 14-8
IP: 200.1
Strikeouts: 195
Notes: 2nd straight All-Star appearance, 3 10-plus strikeout games
11. 2010 Carl Pavano
bWAR: 3.8
ERA: 3.75
ERA+: 109
W-L: 17-11
IP: 221
Strikeouts: 117
Notes: 7 complete games, 2 shutouts
10. 2019 Jake Odorizzi
bWAR: 3.8
ERA: 3.51
ERA+: 129
W-L: 15-7
IP: 159
Strikeouts:178
Notes: Only All-Star appearance, career-high 10.1 K/9
9. 2008 Scott Baker
bWAR: 4.4
ERA: 3.45
ERA+: 122
W-L: 11-4
IP: 172.1
Strikeouts: 141
Notes: 18 quality starts
8. 2014 Phil Hughes
bWAR: 4.6
ERA: 3.52
ERA+: 111
W-L: 16-10
IP: 209.2
Strikeouts: 186
Notes: 11.63 K/BB led the league, 7th in Cy Young
7. 2006 Francisco Liriano
bWAR: 4.5
ERA: 2.16
ERA+: 208
W-L: 12-3
IP: 121
Strikeouts: 144
Notes: 1.000 WHIP, only All-Star season, 6 scoreless starts
6. 2025 Joe Ryan
bWAR: 4.5
ERA: 3.42
ERA+: 125
W-L: 13-10
IP: 171
Strikeouts: 194
Notes: First All-Star season, 14 quality starts, 20 starts of 0 or 1 walk
5. 2004 Brad Radke
bWAR: 5.9
ERA: 3.48
ERA+: 136
W-L: 11-8
IP: 219.2
Strikeouts: 143
Notes: 24 quality starts
4. 2017 Ervin Santana
bWAR: 4.9
ERA: 3.28
ERA+: 135
W-L: 16-8
IP: 211.1
Strikeouts: 167
Notes: 2nd All-Star appearance, 5 complete games, 3 shutouts
3. 2023 Sonny Gray
bWAR: 5.6
ERA: 2.79
ERA+: 157
W-L: 8-8
IP: 184
Strikeouts: 183
Notes: Third All-Star appearance, 2nd in Cy Young, 2.83 FIP led AL
2. 2001 Joe Mays
bWAR: 6.6
ERA: 3.16
ERA+: 143
W-L: 17-13
IP: 233.2
Strikeouts: 123
Notes: Only All-Star season, 6 or more innings in 30 of 34 starts, 2 shutouts
1. 2004 Johan Santana
bWAR: 8.7
ERA: 2.61
ERA+: 182
W-L: 20-6
IP: 228
Strikeouts: 265
Notes: 0.921 WHIP, First of two Cy Young Award seasons, 25 quality starts, 12 games with 10-plus strikeouts