FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Twins scratched ace Joe Ryan from his scheduled start against the Red Sox shortly before first pitch on Saturday due to what the club is calling “low back tightness in his right side.”
Ryan began his warmups prior to the game but was replaced as the starter by Eston Stull approximately 15 minutes before the 1:05 p.m. ET start of the club’s 7-2 loss in the Grapefruit League opener.
“It happened during his prep work,” manager Derek Shelton said after the game. “We sent him for imaging just to be sure. … We’ll have more information tomorrow on where it’s at.”
Ryan had already left to receive an MRI exam before the game was over, so he was not available for comment. He is the second Twins starter to experience a health issue this spring, though the hope is that this one is far less serious. Co-ace Pablo López will undergo Tommy John reconstructive surgery on Wednesday after he was removed from a live batting practice session with elbow soreness.
Coming off the best season of his career, Ryan is expected to play for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. It’s unclear how any missed time could affect those plans.