Ryan struck out Yohendrick Piñango and walked Kazuma Okamoto, then called catcher Victor Caratini to the mound. Manager Derek Shelton and athletic trainer Masa Abe soon followed, and Ryan was removed from the game. Shelton said after the game that Ryan felt discomfort on his last two pitches, a sweeper and a fastball.
Postgame details were scarce, though Shelton said Ryan had already gone for an MRI on the elbow. No move was made immediately postgame. The Twins have Monday off before beginning a road trip in Washington on Tuesday.
“Well, we got imaging,” Shelton said. “We’ll kind of evaluate from there. I think, as you guys were told, it was something in the elbow. We’ll evaluate. We have the off day tomorrow, and then we’ll go off that.”
Ryan has dealt with some health issues in his career, but for the most part has avoided arm troubles. He missed time in Spring Training this year due to back discomfort and missed the final two months of the 2024 season with a muscle strain in the back of his shoulder.
To do without Ryan for any length of time would be a major blow for the Twins, who already lost co-ace Pablo López to season-ending elbow surgery in the spring. Righty Mick Abel, who appeared to be breaking out, is also sidelined with elbow inflammation, though he’s making good progress in his recovery.
If Ryan goes on the injured list, the Twins' most likely first move would be to call up a reliever, since Minnesota would not need a starter in Ryan’s place until Saturday at Cleveland. Twins No. 10 prospect Kendry Rojas or Travis Adams could be a candidate for a recall from Triple-A St. Paul for that stretch.
Andrew Morris entered the game in relief and could be another candidate to take Ryan’s rotation spot if a replacement is needed. Morris tossed 3 2/3 excellent innings for his first Major League win on Sunday.
The Twins could also choose to keep Morris in relief, where he has shown some impressive flashes, and recall right-hander Zebby Matthews from Triple-A. Matthews pitched in the Twins' rotation in 2024 and ‘25, and he has turned in three consecutive good starts after a rough beginning to the season.
Either way, it will be difficult to replace Ryan, who made his first All-Star team in 2025 and started Opening Day for Minnesota this year. He’s 2-3 with a 3.72 ERA in seven starts in 2026.