Twins Pitcher Joe Ryan Throws First Bullpen Since Injury

Minnesota Twins All-Star pitcher Joe Ryan threw his first bullpen session on Tuesday, marking a notable step forward in his recovery from a mild left glute strain. He is currently on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to August 6. During the 25-pitch session, Ryan focused on fastballs and sinkers, with his performance described as "very encouraging" and "free and easy" by manager Derek Shelton. This development is critical for the Twins, whose starting rotation has struggled considerably since the All-Star break, posting a 5.81 ERA. Ryan himself had performance issues after the All-Star Game, yielding seven home runs and 16 earned runs in 15 1/3 innings before his injury. Pitching coach Pete Maki noted that Ryan had been limited in his front leg posting, a fix that was addressed during flat-ground sessions. While Ryan expressed cautious optimism, focusing on how his body responds, his return is eagerly anticipated to bolster the team's efforts in the competitive American League wild-card race.