Monday, October 12

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- So, after all that, Joe Ryan is not going to pitch in the World Baseball Classic.

Three weeks of uncertainty, of “Will he? Won’t he? What if he does?” came to an end on Saturday when Ryan and the Twins learned that the right-hander would not be added to Team USA’s roster, even if the team advances to the final of the WBC on Tuesday in Miami.

Instead, the Minnesota ace will make two more Grapefruit League starts, then most likely take the mound for the Twins on Opening Day in Baltimore on March 26. It was an oft-confusing series of events. It ends in disappointment for Ryan, who very much wanted to pitch in the Classic. Here’s a timeline of what happened, when, how and why.

Dec. 17, 2025

Team USA announces that Ryan will be on its roster. There was little doubt about Ryan’s desire to pitch in the Classic, and he had expressed his intent to participate even before the official announcement. He had pitched for the U.S. in the 2020 Olympics and was looking forward to another opportunity to wear “USA” on his chest.

Saturday, Feb. 21

Ryan is scratched from his scheduled Grapefruit League debut due to back discomfort. Coming just a day after the Twins learned that Pablo López would miss the season due to right elbow surgery, any injury to Ryan is a blow, but it actually turns out to be the least bad news. He has some back inflammation and is throwing again within days. Still, with the need to get ramped up for high-intensity games in mid-March, the injury puts Ryan’s availability for the Classic in doubt.

Sunday, March 1

As Ryan progresses toward returning to game action, it is confirmed that he will not pitch in pool play in the Classic. He throws a bullpen session in the morning and it goes well, but there’s simply no way to have him ready for a game during the preliminary rounds. Ryan is removed from consideration for the round-robin phase, with the hope that he could pitch during the knockout rounds, perhaps as early as March 15 or 16 in a semifinal. March 9 or 10 is set as a target for his Grapefruit League debut.

Tuesday, March 10

Seventeen days after he was initially scratched, Ryan makes his 2026 game debut against the Rays in Port Charlotte. He’s effective but far from dominant, with his velocity down and no strikeouts in three innings. Meanwhile, the bracket shakes out so that Team USA’s semifinal is March 15, not March 16 as seemed likely earlier in the month.

Thursday, March 12

Ryan tells reporters he will throw a bullpen session Saturday, with the plan to go over to Miami to join Team USA after the session, assuming the U.S. advances past the quarterfinal. It’s unclear how exactly Ryan would be used, since a Saturday bullpen session would rule him out for a Sunday semifinal appearance, but it’s quite clear that he intends and hopes to pitch in the Classic, presumably as a reliever in the final. One possible option is for Ryan to “piggyback” with starter Nolan McLean in the final, pitching multiple innings of relief.

Friday, March 13

Team USA defeats Canada to advance to the semis. After the game, the US team adds reliever Jeff Hoffman to its roster. It’s not clear at the time, but this is the roster spot Ryan would have taken if he’d been added. Paul Skenes will start the semifinal, with McLean expected to start in a potential final. Hoffman could conceivably pitch in both games.

Saturday, March 14

Ryan throws his bullpen, tells reporters he feels good and acknowledges that the bullpen means he would not be available to pitch before the final. Shortly after the throw, a Twins official tells reporters that Ryan will be staying in camp rather than going to Miami to join Team USA, with at least some of the reasoning being that the American team wants a true reliever since its pitching needs will be in relief. Minnesota manager Derek Shelton confirms that Ryan will start for the Twins early next week.

It’s still a little early to think too much about lineups, especially with Byron Buxton still at the WBC, but Shelton acknowledged Saturday that he’s at least starting to turn some possibilities over in his head. One thing he expects: Buxton will hit near the top of the lineup, though not necessarily in the leadoff spot.

“I mean, he’ll hit either one or two,” Shelton said. “I don’t think we’ve decided fully on that. I’ve talked to him a little bit about it, but we have not specifically finalized where it will be.”

He has a wide range of options, with few players obviously ticketed for particular parts of the order. Matt Wallner has led off some recently and could hit near the top or in the middle of the order. Royce Lewis could be a No. 2 or 3 hitter and has also led off, but he could easily also hit fourth or fifth.

I got out one of my all-time favorite albums while driving up the coast on a day off on Friday: Jimmy Buffett’s 'A1A.' So let’s just go with side 2 of that classic. Y’all be kind and look out for each other, OK?

“A Pirate Looks at Forty”

“Migration”

“Trying to Reason With Hurricane Season”

“Nautical Wheelers”

“Tin Cup Chalice”

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