Twins ace Joe Ryan joins Byron Buxton on the 2025 American League All-Star Game roster
Ryan, who is arguably having the best season of his career, has replaced Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown on the 2025 All-Star Game roster. Brown will likely start on Sunday, and the All-Star Game will occur on Tuesday at Truist Park in Atlanta, which is most likely the reason for Ryan taking his spot on the American League’s roster.
Ryan is the second Twin to be named to the American League’s roster for the summer classic after Buxton, who will also partake in the Home Run Derby on Monday, was announced as a reserve last Sunday.
Joe Ryan is now an American League All-Star!
— MLB (@MLB) July 10, 2025
He is a replacement for Hunter Brown on the AL’s active roster. pic.twitter.com/icUzU5foTn
When Ryan, 29, was not named an All-Star last Sunday, it was widely viewed as a major snub. In 104 ⅓ innings this season, the Twins ace has a 2.76 ERA with a 0.89 WHIP, 116 strikeouts and 21 walks. He currently ranks 5th among MLB pitchers in bWAR with 3.9, trailing Zach Wheeler (4.8), Paul Skenes (4.8), Tarik Skubal (4.5) and Cristopher Sánchez (4.2).
Could the Twins trade Joe Ryan?
It may seem ridiculous for a team to trade an All-Star pitcher who is under team control through the 2027 season, but it may make sense for the Minnesota Twins.
Although they are coming off back-to-back wins against the Chicago Cubs and a series victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, the Twins will likely sell before the July 31 Trade Deadline. Minnesota currently sits two games under .500 with a 45-47 record, trailing the Seattle Mariners by three games for the third American League Wild Card spot. The Twins still have the chance to continue their hot streak to save their season and prevent trading away some key players for prospects, but they most likely won’t reclaim a playoff position soon.
Players on expiring contracts like Harrison Bader, Danny Coulombe and Willi Castro are the most likely Twins to be moved before the Trade Deadline, but those players probably would not get Minnesota any top prospects. If the Twins traded Ryan, they could receive some highly-touted prospects and/or young major leaguers in exchange. But since Ryan still has multiple years of control, the Twins would likely demand a significant amount of highly-regarded young players if they were to move him. The Twins should probably hold onto Ryan, but it’s certainly worth listening to offers.