Listen now (26 min) | It was a somber day when the Twins traded fan favorite Nelson Cruz to the Tampa Bay Rays just days before the 2021 deadline. Cruz was the catalyst for the most powerful lineup in baseball history. Thankfully, it looks like the Twins got plenty in return. Joe Ryan threw 147 innings in a very solid rookie season in 2022, establishing himself as a building block for the future. Ryan is only 26 years old and under team control through 2027.