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Joe Ryan is currently grappling with doubts about his physical ability to perform at an elite level. After Tuesday's 8-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals, The Athletic's Dan Hayes (subscription required) reported that Ryan was asked if he felt physically capable of executing his delivery. His response was blunt: "No, definitely not."
In that game, Ryan surrendered five runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. It marked his third consecutive loss, and over that span, he has given up 16 earned runs in 15.1 innings. His most difficult outing came on July 20 against the Cleveland Guardians, when he was rocked for eight runs on 10 hits, including six home runs, in just four innings.
Ryan's discomfort with his mechanics isn't new. After a spring training shortened by a back issue, he admitted in April that he hadn't felt like himself all season, even when results were strong. He described his body as being "out of sequence," referring to the timing of movements in his delivery. Catcher Ryan Jeffers called him "extremely body aware," a trait that can help a pitcher catch mechanical issues early. However, that same awareness might be making his current struggles more frustrating. Having repeated his delivery thousands of times, even a slight off feeling can become a major annoyance when it doesn't match his usual expectations.
This mind-body disconnect could also pose a mental challenge. A pitcher must commit to every pitch and trust that his body will repeat the same mechanics consistently. Misses can lead to over-adjusting, which often results in more mistakes and inconsistency.
Ryan's injury history adds another layer of caution. He left a May start with elbow soreness and had his turn in the rotation pushed back in July due to general arm fatigue. After that delay, his first start produced four earned runs over six innings before Tuesday's continued struggles. None of this proves Ryan is currently injured, and he previously stated there was no cause for concern after the fatigue subsided. His season numbers remain respectable, with a 3.65 ERA and 138 strikeouts over 125.2 innings, though that's a slight dip from last year's 3.42 ERA.
Key Analysis
Nevertheless, the Twins have reason to be worried. Ryan's game is built on pinpoint control, evidenced by his 5.2% walk rate, which ranks in the 94th percentile league-wide. Maintaining that consistency requires his body to be in top form. With a playoff berth within reach, Minnesota must prioritize the mental and physical well-being of its ace. That could mean giving Ryan extra rest between starts or having direct conversations about what he's feeling before the issue lingers into October.