Starting pitcher Joe Ryan and several teammates gathered at Target Field on Monday for an interview with insider Chris Rose, as part of his Dugout Discussions series. During the segment called Baby Ballplayers, players attempted to identify teammates based on childhood photos, leading to a humorous moment involving Ryan and catcher Christian Vázquez’s early picture.
When shown a young photo of Vázquez, Joe Ryan joked that the image looked more like the famous Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez rather than his teammate.
“This is tough. I’m going to phone a friend, who is this?” Ryan said (Timestamp: 18:44). “It’s Christian Vazquez? He looks like Canelo Alvarez, kind of a cinnamon ball.” Joe Ryan said.
Interestingly, both Alvarez and Vázquez were born in 1990 and have reached notable success in their respective fields. Alvarez is widely celebrated in Mexico, holding an impressive professional boxing record of 63 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws across 67 fights. Meanwhile, Vázquez boasts over a decade of Major League Baseball experience, primarily with the Boston Red Sox, where he contributed to two World Series championships in 2018 and 2022.
Joe Ryan Excelling in 2025 Season
Joe Ryan is currently enjoying the best season of his professional career, holding a 10-5 win-loss record alongside a solid 2.82 ERA and 137 strikeouts. As the lead pitcher for the Minnesota Twins, he tops the team’s leaderboard in both earned run average and strikeouts. His strong performance in the first half of the season earned him his first career All-Star selection.
Despite Ryan’s individual success, the Twins are struggling to keep pace within the American League Central division and the wildcard standings. Their performance this season suggests a likely absence from the postseason for the second consecutive year.
Given the team’s position, talks have surfaced about Ryan possibly being traded to a club with better playoff prospects. However, no official moves have been confirmed. Twins fans remain hopeful that Joe Ryan will stay with the organization for years to come, given his standout contributions in 2025.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Joe Ryan healthy?
A. Ryan was sidelined for the last two months of the 2024 season because of a strain in his throwing shoulder. Recently, he has been performing well and appears to be in great shape in Fort Myers. His consistent performance on the mound is encouraging for the Twins, as it seems he is getting back to his former self.
Q. What weight class is Joe Ryan in Muay Thai?
A. Secures the ISKA World Muaythai Light-middleweight championship at 160 pounds.