Joe Ryan let out a huge sigh of relief this week—and so did the entire Minnesota Twins fanbase. The team's ace gave everyone a scare on Sunday, May 3, when he exited his start against the Toronto Blue Jays after just two batters and nine pitches. The culprit? Elbow soreness, a diagnosis that immediately sent alarm bells ringing across the organization.

Ryan left Target Field for an MRI amid an already tense season. The Twins were still reeling from ace Pablo López undergoing Tommy John surgery just two months earlier in spring training. With the rotation already thin, the thought of losing another frontline starter was almost too much to bear.

But here's the good news: the MRI came back clean. On Tuesday, Ryan played catch without any issues, and he's scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday. If everything goes according to plan, he'll make his next scheduled start Saturday against the Cleveland Guardians.

For a pitcher who just weeks ago was motioning for manager Derek Shelton and walking off the mound under a cloud of uncertainty, this is nothing short of a best-case scenario. Ryan himself admitted he feels like he "dodged a bullet."

In a season where every pitch counts and every arm is precious, the Twins have caught a break. Now, with their ace back on track, they can refocus on the long grind ahead—and maybe even make a run in the AL Central.