Sunday, June 21

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Twins fans have seen Joe Ryan grow up on the baseball field, from prospect to promising young starter to staff ace and one of the best pitchers in the American League. Along the way, he’s honed his craft, showing himself to be someone who thinks extensively about pitching and has learned a great deal about how his body and delivery work. 

That’s not the only way Ryan has evolved, though. While “The Joe Ryan Experience” can still feature some entertaining expressions on the mound, there’s no doubt that the now 30-year-old right-hander has grown up quite a bit in recent years. That’s true on the mound, where he keeps his composure better than at times in the past, and it’s extremely true off the mound. 

Driving that home this past offseason was the arrival of baby Rowan, the first child of Ryan and his fiancée, Clare Stonich. As he comes to his first Father’s Day as a dad, Ryan acknowledges that even a few years ago he might not have been as ready for fatherhood as he is now.

“Understanding the game, understanding what it takes to do this on a larger scale and being able to find support in areas that we need it, on and off the field, the years, I think it would’ve been too much for me,” Ryan said. “I mean, you’re always going to make it work. But I think we’re in a good spot, and we’re enjoying the time and enjoying where we’re at. It’s been great.” 

Ryan isn’t especially focused on Father’s Day, specifically. For one thing, he didn’t wake up in his own bed. He’s in Phoenix with the Twins, while mom and baby are back home in the Twin Cities -- though of course the team is coming home on Sunday evening. But the occasion has afforded him some time for reflection. 

“Obviously, being the first one, it’s special,” he said. “I had my 30th birthday last week. I feel like since we found out we were having a baby and that I was going to be a dad, that’s obviously probably the biggest change in my life, ever. So, I think there’s a lot of thunder that brought in the best way. I think maybe a lot of those emotions have come and gone in a sense.” 

Becoming a parent brings perspective for just about anyone, as they realize that so many things that seem important are less so than maybe they first seemed. It’s brought something else for Ryan: appreciation. 

“I've embraced the new chapter and am loving it,” he said, “So I think it’s just a celebration of, kind of, what’s already happened in this last year. How fatherhood has gone and what a blessing it’s been. I guess I’m not, like, thinking about the significance of the day. It’s exciting to think about all the fathers on both sides of my family and what they’ve been able to do for me. I hope I can provide that sense of comfort, stability and support for my children.” 

It’s not clear how much longer rookie right-hander Mike Paredes will continue making starts. He got one more Sunday when Mick Abel was scratched with right elbow soreness, but the return of Kendry Rojas could soon bump Paredes, and the hope is that Bailey Ober isn’t too terribly far from a return. But Paredes will keep making starts for now, because he’s done everything that’s been asked of him. 

Paredes’ numbers may not jump off the page, but his steady calm and confidence earned him plaudits within the clubhouse. The right-hander was basically not on the radar at all when this season started -- he had two innings above Double-A entering 2026, is a 25-year-old former 18th-round Draft pick who’s listed at 5-foot-11 and has never been a ranked prospect. A list of possible starters for the 2026 Twins probably would have gone 15 names deep before getting to Paredes.

But here he is, making two starts and pitching as the bulk-innings guy behind an opener in another appearance, and the Twins went 2-1 in those games. Paredes doesn’t rattle, and if you can throw strikes and keep your composure, the combination can go a long way.

“I'd say it's just my journey I've had, building myself on the fact that I can't go out and lose composure,” he said. “Taking it pitch by pitch. Sometimes things aren't going to go your way. But it's all about how you respond. If you can't respond, then that's the more prevalent issue in that situation.” 

The Twins announced the Home-Field Advantage Program this week, a new way to reward MyTwins Season Ticket Members. For every 2026 game that members attend at Target Field, they will receive a credit in the amount of 15 percent of face value for each ticket scanned. That goes up to 20 percent for games the Twins win. The credit will be applied to 2027 MyTwins season ticket memberships. For more details, visit this link.

I hope you all have a good Father’s Day, whether you find the occasion joyful, exhausting, complicated or some combination thereof. Y’all be kind and look out for each other, OK?

Drive-By Truckers, “Outfit” 
U2, “Kite” 
John Lennon, “Watching the Wheels” 
Sturgill Simpson, “Welcome to Earth (Pollywog)” 
Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Simple Man”

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