It was just a couple dozen pitches. That’s one below-average inning for Twins star right-hander Joe Ryan under normal circumstances. And hardly anyone was watching as he threw from the Target Field mound a few hours before Tuesday’s meeting with the Atlanta Braves. But as he works his way back from a strained left glute muscle that has kept Ryan on the injured list for nearly two weeks now, pitching from the mound was an important milestone. “Very encouraging. To be out there watching, I think he threw 25 pitches total, looked free and easy,” said Twins manager Derek Shelton during his pregame meeting with the media. “He’s a very important part of our team, and to see him out there and be healthy. So, you know, first step in the progression to getting him back.” Ryan, who was named to the All-Star Game roster in 2025 and 2026, last pitched on Aug. 4, an 8-2 loss in Kansas City. It was his third consecutive loss in a start, and he later said the injury made it feel like Ryan was pitching underwater. On Tuesday he said he has been doing something to keep his pitching arm moving nearly every day since going on the injured list. But pitching from the mound was a big step for his body and mind. “I think it’s good to get off the mound and see how we feel,” said Ryan, who is 6-8 with a 3.65 earned-run average this season. “Just check in that area and, yeah, just do my job out there.” Shelton said getting Ryan back onto the mound, even a few hours before fans filed in, was important for a pitcher’s psyche, and they hope to increase his number and variety of pitches as Ryan gets closer to a return. “I think anytime a guy’s dealing with an injury, to be able to cross hurdles like that, it’s extremely important,” Shelton said. “We diagnose what we think the situation is. And then we treat it and then we take the step of him getting out on the mound. And today was just all fastballs. So then the next step is we’re going to mix in some breaking balls. I think the most encouraging sign was the way he was moving today. It looked really good.” Ryan got one inning of work at the 2026 All-Star Game in Philadelphia, allowing one hit and striking out two on the way to the American League’s 4-0 win over the National League. Clemens thrives on versatility Twins utility man Kody Clemens knew that he would need more than a famous name to thrive in the major leagues. So on his way to the show, the Texan vowed to play anywhere and everywhere that he was needed. Entering Tuesday’s game, Clemens was the only player in the majors to log 20 or more appearances at four different positions. “It’s been fun. I like switching it up, different angles, all over the field,” said Clemens, who has seen time at first base, second base and all three outfield positions this season. “It switches up the game for me, and I’m obviously doing whatever to help the team win.” The son of all-time great pitcher Roger Clemens, Kody has proven to be a valuable tool for Shelton this season and has become a Twins fan favorite since arriving in a trade from Philadelphia early in the 2025 season. “I just think it’s the mindset of him being able to move, whether it’s in game, day to day,” Shelton said. “I know early in the year was a lot of first base and then since we moved (Brooks Lee) to third and Royce (Lewis) going to first, the fact that he’s able to do it not only day to day going position to position, but also during the game and it not affecting him.” Clemens entered Tuesday’s game second on the team in home runs with 21, trailing only Byron Buxton’s 25. Related Articles
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