A former left handed pitcher for Michigan State has gotten the call up back to the major leagues by the Minnesota Twins

The Twins’ starter needed 34 pitches to get back to the dugout. He joked that 34 pitches is fine for the first three innings, but a bit much for the first inning alone.

Joe Ryan posts the best first-half ERA by a Minnesota Twins pitcher since Johan Santana in 2007, earning a long-overdue All-Star recognition.

Injured Twins starting pitcher Zebby Matthewsthrew live batting practice Tuesday, on the road back from a right shoulder strain that put him on the injured list retroactive to June 5. He missed his 30th game Tuesday.

The Twins could be sellers come the MLB trade deadline and have a pitcher that’s drawn quite a bit of interest from other teams.

Transitioning relievers (let alone elite ones) into starting pitchers midseason is relatively unheard of. Yet, given the unique situation Minnesota finds itself in, there may never be a better time.

MINNEAPOLIS — Twins outfielder Byron Buxton has a traveling companion for next week’s All-Star Game back in his home state of Georgia: Pitcher and teammate Joe Ryan on Wednesday was named an injury replacement for the American League team.

After being snubbed over the weekend despite some very impressive numbers, Twins pitcher Joe Ryan was slowly starting to feel at peace with not being selected to compete in the All-Star Game. Never mind that he believed that he had more than earned the right to pitch next week in the Midsummer Classic alongside his peers.

"Our goal is like the three of us are sitting on a couch in the clubhouse watching the game," Justin Morneau said of the broadcast.

Chris Paddack figures he owes Colin Rea a lot for his help in navigating Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery and rehab a decade ago. So he’s willing to put up with the needling he knows is coming from his former teammate after the Twins’ 8-1 loss to the Cubs on Thursday.