2025 Twins Daily Pitcher of the Year

[Sherry Cerny]

Today we continue to hand out awards for the Twins 2025 season. After naming our MVP and Rookie of the Year, we name today's pitcher of the year. 

37 pitchers took the mound for the Minnesota Twins in 2025. Well, 33 pitchers and four position players. Ryan Fitzgerald might have been the best, posting a 0.00 ERA over his two innings. Our voters were impressed, but it appears they were looking for pitchers that threw more innings. In reality, it was a pretty easy selection, especially after the team traded seven pitchers at the trade deadline. There were injuries in the big leagues but also in the upper levels of the minors. There we players who didn't pitch as well as they did previously. But the Twins were led by one starting pitcher the whole season, and he was the unanimous choice for Twins Daily pitcher of the year. 

Here are three pitchers who did well before getting to our choice. 

#4: Simeon Woods Richardson certainly made the most improvements on the mound this season. SWR started 22 games and posted his lowest career ERA, 4.04. He also struck out 107 in 111 1/3 innings. Compared to the previous season, Woods Richardson improved his command, improved a couple of his pitches, and did a much better job getting out of jams. Toward the end of the season, he was able to complete five to six innings in games. His best game of the season was against the Yankees in September. He struck out a career-high 11 batters over six scoreless innings as the Twins beat the Yankees, 7-0, at Target Field. He gave up just two hits. 

#3: Jhoan Duran is more than an honorable mention. Coming in at number three in our voting is the best closer that the Twins have had since Joe Nathan. Duran was traded to the Phillies on July 30th, but his impact as a Twin was a fan favorite from his cool entrance to his 104mph fastball to strike out hitters. Duran was arguably having his best season before the trade; he was 6-4 with a 2.01 ERA. He struck out 53 hitters over 49 1/3 innings. Duran was also one of the highest contributors to the Twins fWAR at 1.6, third for pitchers on the Twins roster and sixth on the team, according to fan graphs. He got hitters to swing 53.3% of the time, the most swings were inside at 69.9%. Duran is number 13 on the relief pitcher rankings on FanGraphs but had the sixth most saves of those 13. Duran is dominant, he's 27, and Twins fans deserved to see more years of his show. 

#2: Pablo Lopez had three stints on the Injured List, but when he was on the mound, he was dominant. López made 14 starts and posted an overall 2.74 ERA, striking out 73 in 75 2/3 innings. There was not a game that Lopez started where fans were worried about getting a solid performance. Lopez is also a candidate for the Roberto Clemente Award, which is given to the player who has made a significant community impact. Lopez, even during his downtime due to injury, was engaging with the fans, making sure to help the younger pitchers, and was present at every game he could attend. Lopez is everything that the team needs in a veteran pitcher. 

Pitcher of the Year:  Joe Ryan 
Ryan had his best season of his career in 2025. He avoided injury but also anytime on the IL; he started 30 games, attended the All-Star game, and had one of his best seasons since joining the Twins. Ryan struck out 194 over 171 innings. His 3.42 ERA is the lowest it has been since he started with the Twins. He finished in the AL’s Top 10 in WAR for Pitchers (6th), ERA (10th), BB/9 (6th), K/9 (3rd), and K/BB (5th). One fun stat is that he left 76.8% of baserunners on base. Even in his struggles of giving up home runs at least once a game, his numbers show that he is reliable and able to get out of jams. 

Ryan has not been in a conversation for the Cy Young, but hopefully it’s something he is considered for in the next season or two if he continues to be dominant.  Even though the All-Star appearance was a replacement for Houston Astros pitcher Hunter Brown, The Joe Ryan Experience can now check off “All-Star” on his resume. Ryan pitched at the top of the fourth, striking out Manny Machado, Kyle Tucker, and a pop-up to Will Smith. 

There is no doubt that Ryan is the most dominant and consistent pitcher on the Twins' starting rotation. While there is a lot of fear over the next move of Ryan, the front office has made it clear that they want to keep the Lopez-Ryan duo a part of the Twins. 

The overall feel of the pitching is that there is a lot of talent. While there were a lot of struggles in the bullpen, the pitchers under the direction of Pete Maki, continue to make adjustments, improve and give their all every game. While there is no talk about what will happen in the off-season, a tip of the cap to the pitchers of 2025.

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[Rod Carews Birthday]

This was a slam dunk.  Ryan was excellent and deserving in any year.   It's too bad that the competition wasn't a bit (or a lot) more fierce!

[Permanent Twins Fan]

That is pretty much where I would put it. I would also add Kody Funderburk in as an honorable mention because he really solidified himself in the 2026 bullpen down the stretch. It wasn't a great year pitching wise aside for Ryan. I would also add Duran, Jax, Varland, Coulombe, and Stewart to this list. Oh, wait, never mind.

[Whitey333]

Ryan was an obvious choice.  Im hoping he can be a little more consistent.   The last two seasons he hasn't pitched well the last couple of months.  He looked tired.  After pitching only 177 innings, that's a little concerning.  I realize in this day and age approaching 200 innings seems to be the ultimate.  Not like years ago when aces pitched well into 225-250 innings.  Many times aces through over 300 innings.   Today's pitchers IMO are babied and pampered.  My goodness they make more money now than ever and only expected to pitch 5 to 7 innings at most per game.  Yet pitchers in this newer modern age are getting injured more and more.  I hope the newer pitchers like Skubal stay healthy. 

[S Bart]

On 10/6/2025 at 6:00 PM, Permanent Twins Fan said:

That is pretty much where I would put it. I would also add Kody Funderburk in as an honorable mention because he really solidified himself in the 2026 bullpen down the stretch. It wasn't a great year pitching wise aside for Ryan. I would also add Duran, Jax, Varland, Coulombe, and Stewart to this list. Oh, wait, never mind.

Funderburk had a 3.51 ERA and should get competition for the closer role next year.  He also needs to complete a full year at this level. I guess he deserves honorable mention. Hopefully, he and Sands can improve. There is going to be competition during spring training. This "Revolving Reliever" tradition of claiming castoffs and letting them go has to stop. Finally....Joe rocked this year...hope he and Lopez are not given the " Pohlad Push" out the door to save $.