The Minnesota Twins' pitching depth is about to face its biggest challenge of the season—and the pressure is on for the club's hurlers to prove their mettle.
Ace Joe Ryan left Sunday's 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning with elbow soreness, sending a ripple of concern through the organization. The immediate fear is a UCL injury, which would typically require Tommy John surgery—a season-ending procedure for any pitcher. While manager Derek Shelton confirmed Ryan was being evaluated, the team is holding its breath for better news.
If the 2025 All-Star misses time, the Twins will need their other arms to step up in a big way. The bullpen answered the call on Sunday, with right-hander Andrew Morris tossing 3.2 scoreless innings after Ryan's exit to earn his first win of the season. The staff held the Blue Jays to just one run before the ninth, when right-hander Justin Topa allowed two runs in his second save of the year.
But the starting rotation must follow suit. With right-hander Mick Abel (elbow) already on the 15-day injured list, the Twins could temporarily be down two starters. That puts the spotlight on the remaining rotation members to carry the load.
Right-handers Bailey Ober (3-1, 3.55 ERA) and Taj Bradley (3-1, 2.85 ERA) are already pulling their weight, delivering solid outings. But fellow right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson (0-5, 6.49 ERA) has struggled through seven starts, looking nothing like the pitcher who went 5-5 with a 4.17 ERA as a rookie in 2023 and 7-4 with a 4.04 ERA last season. At 25 years old, Woods Richardson has a chance to establish himself as a long-term piece—but he's been outshined by his teammates so far.
The Twins acquired Woods Richardson and outfielder Austin Martin from the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2021 José Berríos trade. Martin has yet to play a full season, but he's shown promise with a .275/.366/.369 career slash line over 172 games and is slashing an impressive .333/.484/.431 across 31 contests this year.
If Woods Richardson can rediscover his form, the organization can breathe easier. For now, the Twins' postseason hopes may hinge on how well their depth steps up in Ryan's absence.