Twins ace Joe Ryan pitching for Team USA was too much of a puzzle to make work

The dream was too good to be true. Minnesota Twins fans were salivating at the thought of two of their best players winning the World Baseball Classic with Team USA this year, but they will have to settle for just one representing the organization.

Twins ace Joe Ryan was very much looking forward to joining Byron Buxton and donning the nation's colors at this year's WBC. But, it is not going to happen. The right-hander was expected to pitch in a potential championship game for Team USA, but rather, he will not join the team at all.

Ryan had been dealing with lower back inflammation at spring training, which delayed his arrival to the World Baseball Classic. That injury will now keep him away from Team USA, but not because he isn't healty. There is just no room for Ryan on the staff now. This is a gut punch for Twins fans, knowing how excited Ryan was to participate in the WBC.

Twins' Joe Ryan will remain at spring training instead of pitching in World Baseball Classic

New York Mets youngster Nolan McLean is expected to start for Team USA if the team reaches the championship game. Paul Skenes is set to pitch in the semifinals against the Dominican Republic. So, with two games being the limit for Team USA, there is sadly no need for Ryan to suit up. Team USA elected to add reliever Jeff Hoffman in Ryan's place.

It also could have been risky for Ryan to compete in a meaningful game so early on in the calendar year, too. He's thrown live bullpen sessions, but has only pitched in one spring training game. That is probably not enough work to consider Ryan ready to throw in a championship game. We want Ryan healthy, and pitching in a game of that magnitude could add a lot of stress to his body. At least the risk will not be run, but it will be done at the expense of Ryan missing out on something he wanted to be part of.