Ryan relays positive message in talk with Gardy

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Twins manager Ron Gardenhire spoke Wednesday night to general manager Terry Ryan for the first time since Ryan underwent surgery to remove a cancerous lump from his neck on Feb. 11.

Gardenhire said that Ryan told him that he's doing well and is still recovering from the surgery at his home. Ryan, 60, was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma earlier this month after a lump was found in a lymph node in his neck. He underwent surgery at the Mayo Clinic and was released from the hospital three days later.

"He's feeling really good," Gardenhire said. "He just doesn't want to get too goosey about it. He's going to do what the doctors say and all those things, but he is doing really good."

Gardenhire added that Ryan has not begun radiation treatment, as they need his neck to heal from the surgery. He also said it's tough for Ryan not to be down in Fort Myers with the rest of his staff for Spring Training.

"It's driving him crazy, but he's staying in touch with people," Gardenhire said. "That's the first time I've talked to him. I told him, 'I'm not going to mess with you and I'll leave you alone.' I fired him a text, and then he called me back last night about 10 o'clock. He sounded good, doing well, feeling good. Just waiting for them to tell him what the next step is and go from there."

Gardenhire added he's still not sure if Ryan will make it down to camp this spring, as it's too early to tell.

"Who knows," Gardenhire said. "But like I told him last night, and he knows it, it's about getting well. You get well and go from there. Don't try to rush anything. You don't need to do anything silly. Just get well."