Joe Ryan, a young and talented player, made his MLB debut in 2021. He pitched a remarkable game and impressed both his coach and his fans. With such a great beginning, it’s natural to wonder whether Joe Ryan is starting pitcher material.
Let’s explore this question in more detail.
Ryan’s Pitching Style
Ryan is a young and talented MLB pitcher who made his debut in 2021 and is set to start the opening day in 2022. In this article, we will discuss Ryan’s pitching style, including his pitch repertoire, strengths and weaknesses, and comparison to other MLB pitchers.
Ryan’s Pitch Repertoire
Ryan’s pitch repertoire includes a four-seam fastball, a slider, a changeup, and a curveball. His four-seam fastball is his primary pitch, which he throws at an average speed of 96 miles per hour.
His slider is his second-best pitch, which he throws at an average speed of 87 miles per hour. He also has a changeup, which he throws at an average speed of 88 miles per hour, and a curveball, which he throws at an average speed of 79 miles per hour.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Ryan’s primary strength as a pitcher is his fastball, which he can throw with great accuracy and generate a high velocity. His slider is also a strong pitch that can fool hitters with its late movement. His changeup and curveball are less developed but can be effective when mixed with his primary pitches.
One of Ryan’s weaknesses is his lack of command, which can lead to walks and hit by pitches. He also tends to give up a lot of home runs, which can be a result of his lack of variety in pitches and predictability in his pitch selection.
Comparison to Other MLB Pitchers
Ryan’s pitching style is comparable to other MLB pitchers, such as Trevor Bauer and Gerrit Cole. Like Bauer, Ryan has a four-seam fastball as his primary pitch and embraces data and analytics to improve his performance.
Like Cole, Ryan has a dominant fastball but needs to work on his off-speed pitches to become a more well-rounded pitcher.
Ryan is an up-and-coming MLB pitcher with a strong pitch repertoire, including a dominant fastball and a developing slider, changeup, and curveball.
However, he still needs to work on his command and variety in pitches to become a more effective pitcher. With his youth and talent, Ryan has the potential to become one of the top pitchers in the league.
Ryan’s Minor League Career
Before making his MLB debut, Ryan spent about two years in the minor leagues. He was first drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the fourth round of the 2018 MLB draft.
He started his professional career with the Gulf Coast League Twins in Rookie ball in 2018. Since then, he has played for the Cedar Rapids Kernels, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, and Wichita Wind Surge.
Statistics and achievements
During his minor league career, Ryan has shown remarkable potential with his pitching skills. He has recorded a career 3.20 ERA in the minor leagues, with a total of 203 strikeouts in 167 innings pitched. In 2019, he won the Twins’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year award after posting a 2.42 ERA in 96 innings.
Changes and improvements
Ryan’s minor league career has also seen some changes and improvements, especially in his pitching style and mechanics. He has worked on refining his fastball, curveball, and slider to enhance his pitch control and velocity.
Moreover, he has developed a more consistent and repeatable delivery, which has helped him generate more strikeouts.
Overall, Ryan’s minor league career has been impressive, with excellent statistics and achievements. His time in the minors has allowed him to refine his talents and develop a more refined pitching style, allowing him to excel at the major league level.
His continued growth and improvement will contribute to his success, and fans can expect more impressive performances from the young pitcher.
Ryan’s MLB Stats
2021 season performance
Ryan’s MLB debut on September 1, 2021, was a decent one, although he could not register a win for his team.
In his five innings on the mound, he gave up three runs and struck out five batters, indicating his potential to be an effective pitcher for the Minnesota Twins. Despite the loss, his debut was a good indication of his skills and talent.
Comparison to other MLB pitchers
Since Ryan has only pitched one game, it is too early to make a fair comparison to other MLB pitchers. However, one can compare his minor league stats to those of other minor league pitchers with similar experience, age, and background.
In the minor leagues, Ryan posted a record of 3-0 in six games, with a 2.77 ERA and 33 strikeouts over 26 innings. His stats, while not outstanding, did show promise and potential.
Strengths and areas for improvement
Ryan clearly has some strengths, such as his strikeout ability as evidenced by his debut. Additionally, his minor league stats suggest that he has a strong ability to limit the number of runs scored against him, which is an important trait for any pitcher.
He also has a good fastball that helps him pitch at a high velocity, which can be an asset in striking out batters.
On the other hand, Ryan needs to work on his command over his pitches. He needs to increase his accuracy to minimize the number of walks he concedes to opposing batters.
Additionally, he needs to work on his consistency across multiple games, as one good debut does not guarantee future success in the major leagues.
Ryan’s debut is a positive sign for Twins fans, but it is too early to make definitive assessments of his capabilities.
His strengths include his strikeout ability and the ability to limit runs scored against him, while his areas for improvement include his command and consistency. As he gains more experience pitching in the MLB, Ryan will likely continue to develop both his strengths and areas of weakness.
Ryan’s Role on the Twins
Baldelli’s decision to name Ryan the Opening Day starter
Manager Rocco Baldelli’s decision to name Ryan the Opening Day starting pitcher for the 2022 season speaks volumes about the young pitcher’s potential as a cornerstone of the Minnesota Twins’ rotation.
Ryan made his MLB debut at the end of the 2021 season, impressing the Twins’ coaching staff and fans alike with his poise on the mound, impeccable command, and electric fastball. In his debut against the Cubs, Ryan pitched five solid innings, giving up just three runs and striking out five batters.
Ryan’s role within the Twins’ starting rotation
As the Opening Day starter, Ryan brings a level of excitement and expectation to the Twins’ roster. He is expected to anchor the starting rotation and set the tone for his fellow pitchers. Ryan’s impressive debut in 2021 and his impressive stats in the minors suggest that he is up to the task.
Throughout the spring training, Ryan has been working hard to improve his fastball velocity and tighten up his command of his secondary pitches, such as his curveball and slider.
It is also worth noting that Ryan will be pitching alongside some seasoned veterans such as Kenta Maeda, Jose Berrios, and J.A. Happ who will be fully in support of Ryan’s role in the starting rotation.
Expectations for Ryan’s 2022 season
With his natural ability, work ethic, and potential, expectations for Ryan’s 2022 season are high. Many believe that he has the potential to be a future ace for the Twins and already has the tools to become a top-level starter in the league.
Ryan is known for his excellent command and mix of pitches, including his fastball, curveball, and slider, which are expected to continue to develop this season.
If Ryan can continue to improve his velocity and refine his command of his secondary pitches, he could end up being one of the most dominant pitchers in the league.
With the Twins’ current rotation stacked with quality starters, Ryan should not be relied on to carry the load entirely, but he will be a key contributor in 2022 season.
How Fast Can Joe Ryan Pitch?
Pitching Repertoire: A Breakdown of Joe Ryan’s Pitches
Joe Ryan is a pitcher who primarily relies on his four-seam fastball, splitter, and slider. He throws the fastball at an average speed of 93 mph, the splitter at 84 mph, and the slider at 82 mph.
Breaking Down the Four-Seam Fastball
Ryan’s four-seam fastball is his go-to pitch. It is a straight pitch that he throws hard, averaging at 93 mph. He commonly uses it to pitch at the top of the strike zone, inducing batters to swing and miss.
Understanding Ryan’s Splitter
Ryan’s splitter is another pitch that he frequently uses. This pitch has a lot of movement and can be thrown for strikes or as a chase pitch. He throws it at an average speed of 84 mph, making it a relatively slower pitch than his fastball.
Analyzing Ryan’s Slider
Ryan’s slider is his secondary pitch, which he uses less frequently. He throws this pitch at 82 mph, and it has a sweeping movement across the plate. It is an effective pitch to throw to batters who typically struggle against breaking balls.
Comparing Ryan’s Speeds to Other Pitchers in the MLB
Joe Ryan’s fastball averages at 93 mph, which is above the average fastball speed of MLB pitchers, making it a formidable pitch. His splitter’s speed is also on par with other pitchers in the league. However, his slider speed falls below the average slider speed amongst MLB pitchers.
Is Joe Ryan Any Relation to Nolan Ryan?
Joe Ryan is a professional baseball pitcher who plays for the Minnesota Twins, while Nolan Ryan is a retired professional baseball player who played for several teams during his career, including the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers.
Clarification on Relationship
Despite sharing the same surname and both being pitchers, Joe Ryan and Nolan Ryan are not related to each other in any way.
Common Misconception
Many fans mistakenly believe that Joe Ryan is the son or other family member of Nolan Ryan, however, this is not true.
Differences in Career and Achievements
While both Ryans are pitchers, they have had different careers and achievements in baseball. Nolan Ryan is considered one of the greatest pitchers of all time, with over 5,700 strikeouts and seven no-hitters, while Joe Ryan is relatively new to the professional baseball scene.
Comparison of Joe Ryan and Nolan Ryan
Despite not being related, some fans still compare Joe Ryan to Nolan Ryan due to their similar pitching styles and impressive performances on the field. Only time will tell if Joe Ryan can achieve the same level of success as Nolan Ryan in his career.
Did Nolan Ryan Ever Pitch a Perfect Game?
Nolan Ryan’s career: A brief overview
Nolan Ryan was a Major League Baseball (MLB) player from 1966 to 1993.
He played for the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers.
Ryan was known as one of the most dominant pitchers in MLB history.
Nolan Ryan’s two-hitters
Ryan pitched 18 two-hitters in his career.
Despite this, he never pitched a perfect game.
A perfect game is a game where a pitcher allows no hits, walks, or errors, and no opposing player reaches base.
Why Ryan never pitched a perfect game
Ryan’s high walk rate was largely attributed to why he never pitched a perfect game.
Walks are when a pitcher throws four balls and the batter is allowed to take first base without making contact with the ball.
Ryan averaged 4.7 walks per nine innings, which was higher than most pitchers with his level of success.
Nolan Ryan’s other achievements
Ryan was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.
He holds MLB records for strikeouts (5,714) and no-hitters (7).
Ryan was an eight-time All-Star and a two-time National League strikeout champion.
Nolan Ryan’s longevity
Ryan is one of only 29 players in baseball history to have appeared in MLB games in four different decades.
He played his first game in 1966 and his last in 1993, spanning 27 seasons.
Ryan’s longevity as a player is a testament to his talent and dedication to the game.
To Recap
After analyzing Joe Ryan’s career so far, it’s safe to say that he’s definitely a starting pitcher. Not only did he impress in his debut game, but his skills and talent have been recognized by his coach, who has chosen him as the Opening Day starting pitcher for 2022.
Joe Ryan’s career is only beginning, and there’s much more to look forward to as he continues to grow and shine in the MLB.
