Joe Ryan not expected to pitch in Classic for Team USA

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Joe Ryan is not expected to pitch in the World Baseball Classic after all, the Twins confirmed on Saturday.

The club learned Friday night that Ryan would not be added to Team USA as previously expected. Instead, Blue Jays reliever Jeff Hoffman was added. Ryan, who had planned to travel to Miami on Saturday or Sunday, will instead stay in Fort Myers and likely will start for the Twins against the Pirates on Monday.

Ryan threw a bullpen session on Saturday prior to the Twins’ 9-6 loss to the Rays, a plan that had been made with the hope that he could pitch for Team USA if it advances to the WBC final on Tuesday. However, it seems the only available role for him was relief, with Nolan McLean expected to start the final if the U.S. can get past the Dominican Republic squad in Sunday night's semifinal matchup (8 ET, FS1). As a result the U.S. team chose to go with Hoffman, who presumably could pitch in both the semifinal and final if needed.

Ryan has made only one game appearance this spring after missing 17 days due to lower back inflammation. The Twins have announced probable starters through Tuesday of next week, but manager Derek Shelton said that Ryan will slot into the rotation one of those days. Monday is by far the likeliest, since that would put him on turn to make another start on March 21, followed by Opening Day in Baltimore on March 26.

Ryan had planned all winter to pitch in the Classic, but he suffered back inflammation just minutes before his first scheduled Grapefruit League start on Feb. 21. That threw his schedule into question and led to the complications trying to get him onto the Team USA roster.

Ryan very much wanted to pitch for Team USA, and the Twins supported him in doing so; it was just a matter of making the timing work for pitcher, national team and club, and it seems that ultimately making all those pieces fit together was too much to ask.