Twins Offseason Injury Updates: Carlos Correa, Joe Ryan, and Brock Stewart

[Cody Christie]

Injuries are a never-ending theme for the Twins. Over the weekend, the team provided key updates on a trio of core pieces returning from injury.

Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

As Twins fans gathered at TwinsFest this weekend, the team’s leadership provided much-anticipated updates on the health of key players heading into the 2025 season. Manager Rocco Baldelli and president of baseball operations Derek Falvey addressed the media, offering a mix of optimism and reassurance about the roster’s health. Here’s a breakdown of the key injury updates that were shared.

Carlos Correa: “I’m ready to go.”
Correa’s health has been a hot topic since plantar fasciitis limited the All-Star shortstop to 86 games in 2024. Despite missing significant time, Correa turned in MVP-caliber numbers on a per-game basis, slashing .310/.388/.517 with 36 extra-base hits in 86 games. The good news? Correa appears to be fully recovered. Falvey was the first to confirm the positive outlook, stating that Correa has experienced “no issues” with his foot this offseason. Correa himself expressed confidence in his readiness for spring training:

“I’m ready to go, full go for spring training,” Correa said. “I’ve been sprinting. I’ve been running around. I’ve been doing about everything. I’ve been focused on not only just treatment, but also strengthening. A lot of walking barefoot around the house. All that’s helping work on my toes and all that, so I’m in a really good spot.”

Correa has already resumed hitting, fielding ground balls, and running at full speed, placing him well ahead of where he was entering last offseason. A healthy Correa anchoring the infield and batting order will be a massive boost for a Twins team looking to put their 2024 late-season collapse behind them.

Joe Ryan: Back on Track
The Twins’ pitching staff was dealt a significant blow last August when Ryan suffered a Grade 2 teres major strain. The injury sidelined the 28-year-old starter for the remainder of the season, but Ryan has fully recovered and is back to his normal offseason routine. According to Falvey, Ryan’s throwing program is progressing as planned, with no setbacks.

“He’s right where he would be during any other offseason,” Falvey said.

That’s fantastic news for the Twins, as Ryan was their most reliable starter in 2024, posting a 3.60 ERA (115 ERA+), 3.44 FIP, and an impressive 27.3% strikeout rate across 23 starts. A fully healthy Ryan will be a critical piece of the rotation as the Twins aim to contend in the AL Central.

Brock Stewart: Optimism for 2025
Stewart’s 2024 season ended abruptly after he underwent arthroscopic shoulder surgery in August. The reliever, who emerged as a key bullpen piece starting in 2023 but has only intermittently been available, is working his way back and progressing well in his rehab. Jeremy Zoll, the Twins’ newly minted general manager, sounded optimistic about Stewart’s recovery when talking to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson:

“He’s been throwing off a mound and working his way through," Zoll said. "He’s been mixing in some of his off-speed pitches, and he’ll be continuing that build-up and rehab process in the spring. But we expect to see him in game action in Spring Training and we’ll keep going from there.”

While the team is understandably cautious, Stewart has cleared every hurdle in his rehab so far. Zoll emphasized the importance of a step-by-step approach but noted that the Twins are optimistic he’ll be ready for a full spring training. If Stewart returns to form, his versatility and effectiveness could significantly boost the bullpen. The Twins' pen already projects to be baseball's best, but that's at least somewhat dependent upon Stewart, who is projected for 58 innings and a 3.25 ERA by FanGraphs.

“We want to take it one step at a time, for sure,” Zoll said about Stewart. “But we feel like he’s going to have a full Spring Training and just need to see how he continues to respond as he keeps getting ramped up. But every test that he’s had to pass so far as he’s moved from catch play to long toss to bullpens and so on has all been positive, and we want to be as responsible as possible in getting him through that process.”

As the Twins gear up for 2025, the updates on Correa, Ryan, and Stewart are welcome news for fans. A healthy roster, bolstered by these key contributors, gives Minnesota a strong foundation to compete for the AL Central title and beyond. Stay tuned for more updates as Spring Training approaches.

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What stands out most about these injury updates? Which player will impact the Twins the most in 2025? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

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[Mark G]

Don't we hear this every year?  Our guys are right where we want them to be going into spring training? I don't know, maybe it is just me, but all I am hearing from the FO is wolf.  

I hope they are right this time, and I am wrong, but for me the jury is still out.  Get back to me in May.  

[tony&rodney]

It is late January with pitchers and catcher reporting in a couple of weeks; time for optimism. All three of the players discussed in this article are important to the Twins fortunes. They will all be true veterans in how they prepare and ramp up for the season. It's great to hear everything is looking good. Thanks for the report.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

Yes, yes.... time to be optimistic.  Glad to hear everyone is supposedly on track.  The cynical part of me is saying wait until things start to matter.

[DJL44]

Translating the comments on Brock Stewart 

"He's a 34-year-old pitcher with a history of shoulder injuries. His arm could fall off loading his truck in the Home Depot parking lot. If he pitches at all this season, we'll be thrilled."

[UK Twin]

It really is hardly surprising that baseball players get injured so regularly compared to other sports. They have to play 5 games a week on average for 6 months. Obviously SP's only play 1 every 5 or 6 days and RP's are managed but I still think any baseball player's workload is more than any other sport. NFL - play once a week and have huge rosters so players can rotate. NBA - more off days in a week and players can sub in and out during a game. Admittedly baseball isn't as physically demanding as those sports but the sheer volume of game time takes its toll, particularly for positions like SS and CF. Players get minor injuries but feel they can play through it and it blows up into something more serious and then they miss weeks rather than days or even months rather than weeks.

Hopefully Rocco will be proactive in blowout games (both for wins and losses) and take Correa and Buck out of the game when the result is almost certainly a foregone conclusion.

[USAFChief]

7 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Translating the comments on Brock Stewart 

"He's a 34-year-old pitcher with a history of shoulder injuries. If he pitches at all this season

Yeah I've got the under on that "58 IP" projection. 

 

[Rod Carews Birthday]

I’m not concerned about Correa or Ryan.  They will be fine.  Brock Stewart, on the other hand, makes me nervous.  He’s really only been healthy and effective for short spurts in his career.  Those healthy moments have been tantalizingly good, but it’s hard to write his name into the plans in ink, that’s for sure.  I’m not so worried about his age, as that arm doesn’t actually have that much mileage on it, but he just seems fragile.  

[NYCTK]

9 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Yeah I've got the under on that "58 IP" projection. 

 

Yeah, Zips calling for 27 seems a lot more realistic. And I still might take the under. 

[stringer bell]

There are a lot of pitchers like Stewart. They're fully healthy only every once in a while, but when they are, they are very good. He just can't be counted on to provide many innings. That said, if he is healthy, he can really help a bullpen. 

[T.O.]

1 hour ago, Mark G said:

Don't we hear this every year?  Our guys are right where we want them to be going into spring training? I don't know, maybe it is just me, but all I am hearing from the FO is wolf.  

I hope they are right this time, and I am wrong, but for me the jury is still out.  Get back to me in May.  

The FO has been sketchy at best in reporting on player status in the past. I don't trust anything they say.

But I am hopeful.

[bean5302]

I wasn't expecting Stewart to be healthy this year, but I am hopeful he'll still be effective and could maybe throw 40+ innings.

Reading between the lines on Zoll's comments, Stewart isn't expected to be game ready at the opening of Spring Training, but they're hopeful he'll get in some live game action before the regular season starts to qualify for having a "full" Spring Training in terms of technically participating in all facets of the game.

[jmlease1]

1 hour ago, stringer bell said:

There are a lot of pitchers like Stewart. They're fully healthy only every once in a while, but when they are, they are very good. He just can't be counted on to provide many innings. That said, if he is healthy, he can really help a bullpen. 

I think that's right. I do feel like the bullpen is in a place right now where we don't have to count on Stewart being healthy all or most of the year to have a good, productive bullpen. Which is where you have to be with pitchers like that, IMHO. Set yourself up so that if they can pitch you go up a level, but you have options in place that doesn't leave you desperate if/when they can't go.

I'd like to know where Larnach is as well: he was battling turf toe all season, even when he played and i don't know that he was ever fully healthy.

How is Miranda doing? he didn't need surgery (good), but is his shoulder going to be strong enough? how's his back?

What's Brooks Lee's injury status? Again, no surgery (good!) but how's his back going into the year?

Sounds like Buxton and Lewis are in good shape as well, but they're two guys I'd love to hear more about their health status and how they're approaching the upcoming season. I'm sure it was a relief for them to not be coming off surgery this off-season!

[ashbury]

Most years, the spring headlines are, "Player X Arrives in Best Shape of Career."

This year it's shaping up as, "40-Man Roster Arrives in Best Shape in Baseball History."

[Fire Dan Gladden]

2 hours ago, UK Twin said:

It really is hardly surprising that baseball players get injured so regularly compared to other sports. They have to play 5 games a week on average for 6 months. Obviously SP's only play 1 every 5 or 6 days and RP's are managed but I still think any baseball player's workload is more than any other sport. NFL - play once a week and have huge rosters so players can rotate. NBA - more off days in a week and players can sub in and out during a game. Admittedly baseball isn't as physically demanding as those sports but the sheer volume of game time takes its toll, particularly for positions like SS and CF. Players get minor injuries but feel they can play through it and it blows up into something more serious and then they miss weeks rather than days or even months rather than weeks.

Hopefully Rocco will be proactive in blowout games (both for wins and losses) and take Correa and Buck out of the game when the result is almost certainly a foregone conclusion.

NFL injuries are caused by the sheer violence of the sport with half of the players carrying 30-50 lbs more than their body is designed for.
NBA injuries are generally orthopedic in nature due to the constant stress the game puts on all of the joints.
MLB, especially pitchers, are due to repetitive stress at unnatural angles with max effort.  The repetitive torque of swinging a bat (again with high effort).  The start-stop flow of the game also contributes to injuries as it can be difficult for the body to stay loose while standing for 10 minutes.

People discount the role genetics play into injuries as well.  Look at an athlete like LeBron James who is a genetic freak combined with a great work ethic.  The amount of miles on his body is staggering and he still competes at the highest level with virtually no injuries.  Others, like Byron Buxton, have bodies that seem to be predisposed to injuries as their bodies (for whatever reason) do not hold up over time.

Teams try to remedy this in various ways.  The Twins have had a mix of bad luck and rolling the dice on previously injured players, combined with normal baseball injuries over the past few years.  At some point, this needs to swing the other direction.

[Karbo]

Once again, predicting "the best pen in the league". I just cringe when I hear that, especially after all the hype last year. IMHO the better way to put it would be "on paper this looks to be one of the best pens in the league", and hope that doesn't jinx things!

[gman]

It was good for an update on these 3. I would like to hear any news on Lewis, Lee, Duran and maybe Canterino. Also does anybody know anything about how Emma's hand surgery went?

[rv78]

I'm pretty sure Correa was "ready to go" last year too. Health in January, February and March doesn't mean anything when April, May, June, July, August, September and October gets here. I really think the regulars need to be rested during all of spring training and then Rocco needs to give them more rest for at least 4 games a week during the season to keep them healthy. Even with a schedule like that Buxton will hurt himself getting out of bed or tying on his shoes at some point during the season.

[Dantes929]

How very odd.   Coincidentally, my plantar fasciitis problems have followed the same schedule as Correa.   Quick google search tells me what I thought it said last year.   Walking bare foot is not recommended and should be avoided.   Am I missing something here?

[Rod Carews Birthday]

1 hour ago, Dantes929 said:

How very odd.   Coincidentally, my plantar fasciitis problems have followed the same schedule as Correa.   Quick google search tells me what I thought it said last year.   Walking bare foot is not recommended and should be avoided.   Am I missing something here?

You are and you aren't.  Support is important but nothing but support is also not the greatest.  I too have suffered from that strange malady.  I was told by my orthopedist that when I felt like I was better with shoes, I should try a bit without shoes, as it will help strengthen muscles when the support is removed.  I do not normally walk barefoot for any great lengths of time or distance, but when I do, I haven't had any additional issues in about four years.  One added bit of terror though. . . you never stop waiting for the hammer to fall again. I had three serious bouts in about a four year period and did stretching exercises through PT, cortisone shots in my feet (not a good time), ice, etc.  Since the last bout, I've been clean, but I'm always holding my breath. 

[gman]

I always walk around the house and yard barefoot. Its the best way for your feet to strengthen and the foot nerves to naturally react to walking surfaces. Most of the plantar facsiitis problems started around the early 1970 when all shoes started having heals. If you were born long after that, you probably think its normal to have heals on your shoes. If it was normal people would be born with bigger heals. They are not just in case you haven't noticed. Stop wearing shoes with heals, get a pair of minimalist shoes. That is shoes that are flat with a minimum of protection. No heals, just enough soul to keep the nails and broken glass out of your feet. Even your doctor doesn't seem to know this.

[Doctor Wu]

Speaking of injury updates, what's the status of Matt Canterino as we approach the new season?

[jmlease1]

20 hours ago, ashbury said:

Most years, the spring headlines are, "Player X Arrives in Best Shape of Career."

This year it's shaping up as, "40-Man Roster Arrives in Best Shape in Baseball History."

It really is the biggest cliché in professional sports.

[TCSquad]

Has Correa gotten new shoes? He moved on from Nike as of last September. He's at that age, I think New Balance is really the way to go.

[twinstalker]

Arthroscopic shoulder surgery?  Heh.  What's his pension status?