Joseph Philip Ryan...Instagram: @thejoeryanexperience...Born and raised in Marin County, Calif., where his family has lived for five generations...Became engaged to fiancée, Clare, in Feb. 2025...The couple welcomed their first child, a son, in Nov. 2025...Father, Kurtis, is an extreme athlete and used to take him on week-long camping trips and hiking after school...Growing up, his primary sport was water polo, which he played year-round, even during baseball season...Went to water polo camp in fourth grade and was hooked on the sport...Went 8-1 with a 1.65 ERA (98.1 IP, 18 ER) in 14 starts as a senior and led all divisions of collegiate baseball with 127 strikeouts...Earned three selections to All-American teams, including First Team All-America honors by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association...Pitched three seasons at California State University Northridge before transferring to Stanislaus...Was inducted into the Cal State Stanislaus Warrior Athletics Hall of Fame in Jan. 2026; other members include former Twin Rusty Kuntz...Earned a silver medal with Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, going 1-0 with a 1.74 ERA (10.1 IP, two ER), one walk and eight strikeouts in two starts; became the first Twins farmhand to record an Olympic victory since Brian Duensing earned the win for Team USA over Team Canada on Aug. 16, 2008 at the Beijing Olympics...Also pitched for Team USA in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Baseball Americas Qualifier in early June 2021; started once for Team USA against the Dominican Republic June 1, taking a no-decision after allowing three runs on four hits, with one walk and 10 strikeouts...Two of those 10 Ks were against former Toronto Blue Jays slugger José Bautista, who was punched out twice by Ryan; Team USA won that game, 8-6, and went on to win the qualifier and clinch an Olympic berth...Was roommates with Twins pitcher and fellow 2021 trade acquisition Simeon Woods Richardson during the tournament...Spent first Major League season wearing uniform number 74, changing to 41 prior to 2022 season...Has a passion for martial arts and boxing, mostly for the mental side...Worked with Jason Park, a Muay Thai Coach and a UFC coach; also used the pandemic pause in 2020 to take Muay Thai training lessons via Zoom...Enjoys the workout and says it's similar to pitching...Participated in 2023, '24 and '25 TwinsFests at Target Field...His mound warm-up song in 2023 was "Fire on the Mountain" by the Grateful Dead; in 2024 it was "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin; in 2025 it was "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll" by the Rolling Stones...Featured in a Minnesota Wild "Not Weird. Wild." commercial for the 2024-25 NHL season...In the commercial, then-Wild goaltender and future NHL Hall of Famer Marc-André Fleury (and noted prankster) unstitches and removes part of Ryan's glove...Ryan examines his glove, looks away irritated and says, "Flower!" – which was Fleury's nickname...Golden Gopher head football coach P.J. Fleck also featured in part of the ad...Will pitch for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, his first time playing in the tournament.
2025
Was Twins' number two starter to open the season, making first start on March 29 at St. Louis, allowing one run on five hits in 5.0 innings pitched, with no walks and five strikeouts...Did not factor into decision in Twins' 5-1 defeat...Struck out season-high 11 batters on April 27 vs. Los Angeles-AL (7.0 shutout innings), marking 10th time in career with double-digit strikeout totals...Induced career-high 26 whiffs during start, tied for seventh-most in baseball in 2025 for single start...Made first career relief appearance on May 19 vs. Cleveland...Began a rain-suspended 3.0-inning game from the previous day that was started by Bailey Ober...Ryan allowed three runs on three hits in five innings pitched as the Twins won, 6-5, in walk-off fashion...Tied career high by winning sixth straight decision, a streak that went from April 27-June 8...Recorded 600th career strikeout on June 2 at the Athletics, fanning Denzel Clarke...Made 100th career major league appearance in a start on June 25 vs. Seattle, pitching six shutout innings and earning the win...Made 100th career Major League start in next appearance on July 1 at Miami, allowing one run on five hits in 7.0 innings pitched, but was dealt the loss in a Twins 2-0 defeat...Named American League All-Star, the first of career, replacing Houston's Hunter Brown...At the break, was 9-4, 2.72 ERA (109.1 IP, 33 ER) with 23 walks, 121 strikeouts and a .196 opponents' batting average in 18 starts...Ranked fifth in the AL in opponents' average, sixth in strikeouts, tied for sixth in wins and eighth in ERA...Tied season-high with 11 strikeouts on July 20 at Colorado (7.0 IP), marking 11th time in career with double-digit strikeout totals...Posted a nine-start stretch from June 25-Aug. 19 in which he allowed two runs or fewer eight times (2.18 ERA in that span)...Recorded 700th career strikeout on Sept. 6 at Kansas City, fanning Adam Frazier...In his 112th career game, marked the fastest to 700 in club history...Led Twins pitching staff in innings pitched (171.0), starts (30) and strikeouts (194)...Finished with 10.21 strikeouts-per-9.0 innings pitched ratio, fourth-highest in Twins history, trailing Pablo López (10.86 - 2023), Kenta Maeda (10.80 - 2020) and Johan Santana (10.46 - 2004)...Set career highs in games (31), starts (30), innings pitched (171.0) and strikeouts (194)...Ranked fourth in the AL in strikeout percentage (28.2%), fifth in walk percentage (5.7%), sixth in strikeouts (194) and WHIP (1.04), tied for sixth in wins (13), ninth in opponents' batting average (.218), 10th in ERA (3.42), 11th in fWAR (3.1) and fielding independent pitching (3.74)...Ranked in MLB's 93rd percentile in fastball run value (15)...Held opponents to a .204 (69-for-338) batting average on his four-seam fastball, including 109 strikeouts; 12th-best opponent batting average in baseball off four-seam fastball; eighth-highest whiff rate (26.9%)...Also posted a .205 (14-for-73) opponents' batting average on his sweeper and .138 (4-for-29) off his curveball...Nominated for a starting pitcher spot on Major League Baseball's All-MLB Team...Named winner of Joseph W. Haynes Award as Twins Pitcher of the Year, an award voted on by the Twin Cities Chapter of the BBWAA.
2024
Was on Twins' Opening Day roster for third time in career and was club's number two starter, making first start on March 30 at Kansas City, allowing one run on three hits in 5.1 innings pitched, with one walk and five strikeouts in a Twins 5-1 victory...Set career high with 12 strikeouts in third start of season on April 13 at Detroit, allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits in 6.0 innings pitched as the Twins won 11-5...Went 3-2 with a 2.51 ERA (32.1 IP, nine ER), four walks and 32 strikeouts in five May starts...Posted a .193 opponents' batting average for the month, ninth-lowest in the AL...Threw two fastest pitches of career on June 13 vs. Oakland, throwing 96.6-mph fastballs to Miguel Andujar (walk) and Abraham Toro (strikeout)...Recorded double-digit strikeouts for second time on season and ninth time in career on June 30 at Seattle (10 K, 5.2 IP)...Struck out 500th career batter on July 12 at San Francisco, fanning Jorge Soler in the second inning...Placed on 15-day Injured List on Aug. 9 with a right shoulder strain after exiting his start on Aug. 7 at Chicago-NL...Pitched two innings then felt discomfort in his arm during an at-bat and waved for trainers...Transferred to 60-day IL on Aug. 27 and did not return...Prior to the 2.0-inning outing on Aug. 7 at Chicago-NL, he pitched 5.0-plus innings in 25 straight starts (dating back to September 2023), tied for 16th-longest streak in club history and longest since Ervin Santana's 33-start streak from May 2016-May 2017...Pitched 5.0-plus innings in 22 of 23 starts, 6.0-plus in 15 starts and 7.0 five times...Struck out five-plus batters in 20 of 23 starts, six-plus batters in 14 starts and seven-plus batters in 10 starts...Went 2-4 with a 3.29 ERA (68.1 IP, 25 ER) in 12 road starts and 5-3 with a 3.92 ERA (66.2 IP, 29 ER) in 11 home starts...Held left-handed hitters to a .203 average with a .617 OPS, compared to .229 with a .693 OPS vs. right-handed batters...Finished season with 13 quality starts, one short of single-season career high of 14, done in 2023.
2023
Made Twins Opening Day roster for second time in career (second time consecutively) and was club's No. 3 starter...Made his season debut on April 2 at Kansas City, allowing one run on three hits in 6.0 innings pitched and earning the win in a Twins 7-4 victory...Struck out 10 batters in second start of season on April 8 vs. Houston (6.0 IP)...Matched that five more times on season: April 13 at New York-AL (7.0 IP), May 13 vs. Chicago-NL (6.0 IP), July 9 vs. Baltimore (4.1 IP), July 21 vs. Chicago-AL (6.0 IP) and Sept. 24 vs. Los Angeles-AL (6.0 IP)...Began season 5-0, 2.37 ERA (38.0 IP, 10 ER) with six walks and 43 strikeouts in first six starts from April 2-May 2...This included 36 strikeouts and a 2.81 ERA in five April starts; tied for sixth-most strikeouts in the AL and 12th-best ERA...Became seventh pitcher in Twins/Senators franchise history to win each of his first five starts, joining Walter Johnson (seven-straight in 1913), Joe Boehling (seven-straight in 1913), Sad Sam Jones (six-straight in 1930), Jerry Koosman (five-straight in 1979), Connie Marrero (five-straight in 1951) and Milo Candini (five-stright in 1943)...Won eighth-straight decision on April 25 vs. New York-AL, a streak that spanned back to Sept. 13, 2022 (nine starts)...Marked longest winning streak by Twins starter since Michael Pineda went 8-0 in 16 starts from July 21, 2019-April 15, 2021...Went 2-2, 2.73 ERA (33.0 IP, 10 ER) with nine walks and 40 strikeouts in six May starts...Tied for fourth in the AL in strikeouts...Pitched first career complete-game shutout on June 22 vs. Boston, allowing three hits, with no walks and nine strikeouts in a Twins 6-0 victory...Threw 112 pitches, setting a new single-game career-high and surpassing his prior high of 110...Marked the first complete-game shutout by a Twin since José Berríos on June 7, 2018 vs. Chicago-AL, a span of 724 games between complete games...Allowed five home runs on June 27 at Atlanta in 3.0 innings pitched...Tied club record for homers allowed in a game, matching his own start from July 29, 2022 at San Diego; Bert Blyleven on Sept. 13, 1986 vs. Texas; and Carlos Silva on Aug. 22, 2006 at Baltimore...Went 8-6, 3.70 ERA (107.0 IP, 44 ER) with 18 walks and 124 strikeouts in 18 starts pre-All-Star break...Ranked fifth in the AL in strikeouts and 14th in innings pitched...Allowed just eight home runs in first 15 starts (93.2 innings pitched) from April 2-June 22 but allowed 17 in a seven-start stretch (32.1 innings pitched) from June 27-Aug. 2...Placed on 15-day injured list on Aug. 3 with a left groin strain...Made one start on rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul and was reinstated on Aug. 26...Struck out Michael Stefanic on Sept. 24 vs. Los Angeles-AL, the 1,462nd strikeout for Twins pitchers on season, setting a Twins/ Senators franchise record...Went 7-4, 3.83 ERA (82.1 IP, 35 ER) in 14 home starts, compared to 4-6, 5.22 ERA (79.1 IP, 46 ER) in 15 road starts...Held left-handed hitters to a .222 average with a .640 OPS, compared to .269 with an .829 OPS vs. right-handers...Set career-highs in starts (29), innings pitched (161.2) and strikeouts (197)...Posted a 1.78 home runs-per-9.0 innings pitched ratio, the fourth highest in baseball...Was supported with 97 runs of offense for a run support average of 5.40, 11th highest in the AL...Ranked second on Twins staff in strikeouts (147) and second in innings pitched (161.2) and starts (29)...Ranked third in the AL and fourth in baseball in strikeouts-per-walk ratio at 5.79 (minimum of 150.0 innings pitched)...Ranked eighth in the American League in strikeouts (197)...Ranked second in the AL in strikeouts-per-9.0 innings pitched at 10.97, among pitchers with a minimum of 150.0 innings pitched...Ranked in the 92nd percentile in baseball in fastball run value (13)...Ranked in the 88th percentile in strikeout percentage (29.3%) and in chase percentage (32.9%)...Posted an expected batting average of .208 on his four-seam fastball, fourth best in the AL and sixth best in baseball...Started the decisive Game 4 of ALDS on Oct. 11 vs. Houston, allowing one run on two hits in 2.0 innings pitched, with no walks and one strikeout, allowing a solo home run to Michael Brantley...Five relievers followed and the Twins were defeated by a score of 3-2 and eliminated.
2022
Made Twins Opening Day roster, the first of career...spent nearly all season with Minnesota...Was club's Opening Day starter April 8 vs. Seattle, allowing two runs on two hits in 4.0 innings pitched with four walks and four strikeouts and was dealt the loss in a Twins 2-1 defeat...became second rookie in franchise history (since 1901) to start on Opening Day, joining Tom Hall on April 8, 1969...became third player in MLB's Expansion Era (since 1961 – the Twins' first season in Minnesota) to make an Opening Day start within the first six games of his career, joining Steve Busby for the Kansas City Royals in 1973 and José Guzman for the Texas Rangers in 1986...at age 25 years, 307 days old, Ryan was the eighth Twins Opening Day starting pitcher under age 26 in the last 30 years, joining: José Berríos in 2019 (age 24.305), Vance Worley in 2013 (age 25.188), Francisco Liriano in 2009 (age 25.162), Brad Radke in 1997 (age 24.156), Radke in 1996 (age 23.157) and Scott Erickson in 1992 (age 24.064)...Posted 20.0-scoreless inning streak from April 15-May 3, longest for a Twins pitcher on season...Struck out nine batters in fourth start April 27 vs. Detroit, allowing one run in 7.0 innings pitched...matched season-high with nine two more times during season: Aug. 3 vs. Detroit (5.0 IP) and Sept. 13 vs. Kansas City (7.0 IP)…Went 3-1, 1.17 ERA (23.0 IP, 3 ER) with six walks and 25 strikeouts in four April starts...his ERA ranked second in the AL and tied for fourth in baseball for the month (minimum 20.0 innings pitched), the lowest ERA for a rookie in March/April (min. 20 IP) in Twins/Senators history (since 1901) and fifth-lowest in any single month, trailing Jim Hughes (0.87 in May 1975), Milo Candini (0.88 in June 1943), Jim Shaw (0.91 in September 1914) and Francisco Liriano (1.13 in May 2006)…Placed on COVID Injured List on May 25...made one rehab start with Triple-A St. Paul on June 9 and reinstated June 14...Allowed five home runs July 29 at San Diego (also career-high 10 runs), matching a Twins/ Senators franchise record, done three times previously (first since Carlos Silva in 2006)…first pitcher with 10-plus runs allowed since Rick Reed in 2003...prior to that start, had gone 7-3, 2.89 ERA (81.0 IP, 26 ER) in 15 starts...Threw 100-plus pitches in seven of 27 starts, including a season-high of 110 Aug. 9 at Los Angeles-AL...also most for Twins starter in 2022...Struck out 41 batters in 32.2 innings pitched (6 starts) in Aug...tied for fifth-most strikeouts in the AL and tied for ninth in baseball for that month...41 strikeouts were most by Twins rookie in one month since Francisco Liriano struck out 55 in July 2006 (41.2 IP)…Pitched 7.0 no-hit innings Sept. 13 vs. Kansas City, with two walks and nine strikeouts in a Twins 6-3 victory, throwing 106 pitches... relieved by Jovani Moran, who carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning, only to be broken-up by a Bobby Witt Jr. double...became first rookie in Twins/Senators history (1901-present) with an outing of at least 7.0 no-hit innings...the win over the Royals made him 4-0 against them on the season, becoming the first Twins rookie to earn four-plus wins against one team in a season (Elias)…Struck out his 145th batter of season Sept. 30 at Detroit (Spencer Torkelson in the second inning), passing Francisco Liriano (144 - 2006) and setting a Twins rookie record for strikeouts...Went 3-0, 1.09 ERA (24.2 IP, 3 ER) with eight walks and 27 strikeouts in final four starts from Sept. 13-20...Struck out at least five batters in 18 of 27 starts, six-plus in 14 starts, seven-plus in 11 starts and eight-plus in six starts...finished with a 9.2 strikeouts-per-9.0 innings pitched ratio...Went 7-4, 3.04 ERA (83.0 IP, 28 ER) in 15 home starts, compared to 6-4, 4.22 ERA (64.0 IP, 30 ER) in 12 road starts...Went 6-3, 2.58 ERA (59.1 IP, 17 ER) in 11 day starts, compared to 7-5, 4.21 ERA (87.2 IP, 41 ER) in 16 night starts...Held left-handed hitters to a .202 batting average, compared to .219 vs. right-handers...Led Twins staff in wins (13), innings pitched (147.0) and strikeouts (151), and ranked second in starts (27)…Finished first in club history in single-season rookie strikeouts (151), third in wins (13) and 17th in innings pitched (147.0)…Held opponents to a .174 (54-for-310) batting average with 96 strikeouts vs. his four-seam fastball...threw his fastball 1,436 times, which equaled 60.1% of his pitches...ranked eighth in baseball in amount of four-seam fastballs thrown...also, 60.1% was the third-highest percentage in baseball (minimum 1,000 pitches thrown), trailing only Michael Kopech (61.8%) and Carlos Rodón (61.2%)…Finished with a .211 opponent batting average, the best in club history among rookies with a minimum of 125.0 innings pitched...his 3.55 ERA was seventh-best under same criteria...Led all rookies in baseball in wins (13) and innings pitched (147.0), and was tied for first in starts (27); also ranked second in opponent batting average (.211 - min. 125.0 IP), and third in ERA (3.55 - min. 125.0 IP) and strikeouts (151)…Named to MLB.com/MLB Pipeline's 2022 All-Rookie First Team.
2021
Was a non-roster invitee to Tampa Bay Rays spring training and made three appearances (1 start)...worked 3.0 scoreless innings (0 H, 0 BB, 4 K)...faced the Twins once, tossing a scoreless fourth inning on March 10 at Charlotte Sports Park...Optioned from major-league camp on March 16 and began the season at the Rays alternate training site, before being assigned to Triple-A Durham...made his season and Triple-A debut on May 5 at Memphis, earning the win after striking out nine batters and walking none over 5.0 shutout innings (2 hits)...Named the Triple-A East Pitcher of the Week for July 5-11; allowed one hit and one walk, with a season-high-tying nine strikeouts, over a career-high-tying 7.0 shutout innings on July 11 at Norfolk...Acquired by the Twins on July 22, alongside minor league right-handed pitcher Drew Strotman, in exchange for designated hitter Nelson Cruz and minor league right-handed pitcher Calvin Faucher... traded while with Team USA in Tokyo, Japan, participating in the Olympics...Pitched for Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, going 1-0, 1.74 ERA (10.1 IP, 2 ER), one walk and eight strikeouts in two starts...became the first Twins farmhand to record an Olympic victory since Brian Duensing earned the win for Team USA over Team Canada on August 16, 2008 at the Beijing Olympics...Made his Twins organization debut for Triple-A St. Paul on August 20 vs. Iowa, upon his return to the U.S....allowed just one hit – a fourth-inning solo homer – and walked one batter while striking out nine (including the first six batters he faced) in a 4.0-inning no-decision...his performance earned him the Twins minor league Pitcher of the Week award for that time frame...made two starts for the Saints, posting a 2.00 ERA (9.0 IP, 2 ER), two walks and 17 strikeouts in those outings...Had his contract selected by the Twins on September 1 and made his major league debut that night vs. Chicago-NL...took the loss after allowing three runs on three hits, with one walk and five strikeouts in 5.0 innings...all four base runners occurred in the third inning, and all three runs allowed came on a Frank Schwindel two-out, three-run homer...Earned his first career win on September 8 at Cleveland (7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K)...retired the first 19 batters he faced in the start, becoming the first Twins pitcher to do so since Francisco Liriano retired the first 19 Rangers on June 12, 2011 vs. Texas (Elias Sports Bureau)...also became the first pitcher in American League history to toss seven-or-more shutout innings and allow one-or-fewer base runners within his first two career starts (Stats Perform)...yielded just five total base runners combined in his first two career starts...Took a no-decision in his third career start in the first game of a doubleheader on September 14 vs. Cleveland (5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R/ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 5 K); the Twins lost, 3-1...allowed just four base runners (3 H, 1 BB) in the start, becoming the first pitcher in AL/NL history to work at least 5.0 innings and allow four-or-fewer base runners in each of his first three career games...Made his fourth career start on September 22 at Chicago-NL (W, 5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R/ER, 1 BB, 11 K)...earned his second career win and fanned a career-high 11 batters, including the final seven batters he faced and six looking strikeouts...his seven-consecutive strikeouts set a Twins rookie record...also became the first pitcher in Twins history (1961-present) with 11 strikeouts in a complete outing of 5.0 innings-or-less...per ESPN Stats & Info, Ryan became the fourth starter in the Expansion Era (1961-present) to strike out the final seven batters he faced in an outing, joining New York-NL's Tom Seaver (1970), Washington's Stephen Strasburg (2010) and New York-NL's Jacob deGrom (2021)...Worked at least 5.0 innings and allowed four-or-fewer base runners through his first four career starts, the only pitcher in AL/NL history (1901-present) to do so...became one of two pitchers in AL/NL history to toss at least 5.0 innings and allow three-or-fewer hits in each of his first four career games, alongside San Francisco's Matt Cain in 2005...made his final start of the season on September 30 vs. Detroit...took a no-decision after allowing a career-high six runs on six hits (2 HR), with two walks and five strikeouts in 4.2 innings...Held opposing hitters to a .168 (16-for-95) batting average (LHB - .149, RHB - .188), fourth among major league rookies (min. 90 opp. AB) and the second-lowest single-season mark by a Twins rookie pitcher (same parameters, 1961-present), behind only Caleb Thielbar in 2013 (.154)...His 30 career strikeouts marked the most in Twins/Senators history through a pitcher's first five games...his 6.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio (30 K, 5 BB) is second in Twins/Senators history (min. 20.0 IP) through a pitcher's first five career games, behind Connie Marrero (6.50 in 1950)…Ended the season ranked as the sixth-best prospect in the Twins organization, per MLB.com...enters 2022 ranked fourth...Ranked 97th-best prospect in baseball by MLB.com, entering 2022.
2020
Was part of the Rays 60-man player pool and spent the summer at the alternate training site in Port Charlotte…ranked by Baseball America as the No. 12 prospect in the Rays system following the season.
2019
Named Minor League Pitcher of the Year by the Rays Baseball Operations department… advanced to Double-A Montgomery in his first full professional season…began the season with Class-A Bowling Green, promoted to Class-A Charlotte on May 13 and to Montgomery on Aug 12…went 9-4 with a 1.96 ERA (123.2-IP, 27-ER) and 183 SO in 24 apps (22 starts) between the three levels…his 183 SO ranked 2nd in the minors and ranked 3rd all-time for a Rays minor leaguer behind Matt Moore in 2011 (210) and 2010 (208)… ranked 5th among Rays minor leaguers in ERA (min. 50 IP)…despite only 82.2 IP with the Stone Crabs, his 112 SO tied for 6th in the Florida State League…named FSL Pitcher of the Week for June 17-23 and Aug 5-11…named the organization’s Pitcher of the Month for both July and August, going 2-0 with a 1.49 ERA (48.1-IP, 8-ER) and 75 SO in 9 starts over that stretch…yielded 3 runs or fewer in all but one of his 24 apps, 2 runs or fewer 19 times and 1 run or fewer 14 times…named to the Rays Organizational All-Star Team by MLB.com… ranked by Baseball America as the No. 98 overall prospect in the minors following the season…was the No. 10 prospect in the Rays system and No. 10 prospect in the FSL.
2018
Began his professional career with Short-A Hudson Valley…combined for 23 SO in 13 IP over his final 3 starts of the season, Aug 16-28.
