A little something I posted on The Athletic:
How about Joe Ryan starting the season 5-0 in his first five starts? First time since 1979, Jerry Koosman.
Koosman was born in Appleton, MN. He graduated from high school in Morris, MN and went on to win two games in the World Series for the 1969 Amazing Mets.
Here's a great note from his Wikipedia page:
"Koosman was discovered by the son of a Shea Stadium usher, John Lucchese, who caught Koosman when he pitched in the United States Army at Fort Bliss, Texas. The Mets offered Koosman a contract after his discharge from the military. Koosman was about to be cut from the Mets in 1966, when Joe McDonald, the assistant farm director, requested Koosman be retained at least until his first payday, as he owed the Mets money they had wired him after his car broke down en route to spring training."
Koosman was traded from the Mets to the Twins for Jesse Orosco! Orosco would go on to pitch in the big leagues for 24 years before retiring in 2003 at age 46, after appearing in eight games for the Minnesota Twins.
Still with me? Koosman won 20 games for the Twins in 1979. How many wins will Joe Ryan collect in 2023?
Note: No one has won 20 games since Cole and Verlander did it in 2019.