FORT MYERS, Fla. -- He probably won’t remember it, but Joe Ryan’s infant son saw his dad pitch in person for the first time on Wednesday.
Ryan threw a live batting practice session, most likely the last hurdle he’ll have to clear before appearing in his first game of the spring, prior to the Twins’ game against the Puerto Rico World Baseball Classic team. And young Rowan was there with mom Clare as dad got his work in on the back fields at Lee Health Sports Complex.
So while it was good for Ryan to feel good and to pitch well -- and he did pitch well -- it was even better with his growing family there. The original plan was that they’d come to see him from California when Ryan left camp to pitch for Team USA in the WBC. But when some back inflammation put the Classic on hold for Ryan, they came to Florida to be with him.
“It’s definitely a good feeling,” Ryan said. “When we got the MRI, [head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta] was the first one to say, make sure you get Clare on a flight out. Get her out here. That was super important for me to have him say that. And obviously you miss them. …
“Having them come out now, it’s a good time. It has made things a lot sweeter this week. Probably helped me on the mound a little bit. Relax a little bit, enjoy the time with family, get my work in here. It was fun having them.”
As for the work, it did go well. Ryan faced 11 batters and allowed only one “hit,” and only two balls were hit to the outfield. For the most part it was a string of weak ground balls from a group of hitters consisting of Luke Keaschall, Brooks Lee, James Outman, Matt Wallner and Eric Wagaman.
Ryan will likely throw a bullpen in two days and then appear in a game on Tuesday, after which he could yet be added back to pitch for Team USA in the semifinals of the Classic.
Hendriks aiming for Opening Day
Veteran reliever Liam Hendriks was encouraged after his first game action of the spring on Tuesday, a scoreless inning against the Rays with one hit, no walks and one strikeout. He averaged 93 miles per hour and hit 95, with his velocity going up over the course of the inning.
“You just never know,” said Hendriks, vying for a spot in the Twins’ bullpen. “Especially after my last three years, you just never know. So yeah, I was encouraged today. I was telling [bullpen coach LaTroy Hawkins] that I need the repercussions. I need umpires. I need guys in different uniforms. I need, if a guy hits a homer, then he has to run the bases and I have to watch him run the bases.”
Though Hendriks began camp playing some catch-up relative to other relievers, he said he’s fully expecting to be ready Opening Day. Games have been underway since Feb. 20.
“Initially, I was targeting the World Baseball Classic,” he said. “So Opening Day has never been in question. It’s always been a matter of -- I know that I can get people out. It’s just a matter of proving health.”
First full round of cuts
The Twins announced their first full round of cuts on Wednesday, re-assigning six players to Minor League camp. Top prospect Walker Jenkins, currently sidelined with a strained left hamstring, was the biggest name. The group also included catchers Andrew Cossetti and Ricardo Olivar, righties Andrew Bash and Raul Brito and lefty Christian MacLeod.