"I'm starting Game 1!"
As the United States participated in the Tokyo 2020 Opening Ceremony today, one of Joe Ryan's teammates on the field, Eddy Alvarez, led the way as co-flag bearer for Team USA. Ryan, a Stanislaus State alumnus, was a face in the sea of red, white, and blue, hobnobbing with Kevin Durant and chatting about getting the call on the baseball diamond next week.
Ryan was announced as a member of the
24-man roster on July 2. Team USA went 3-0
in a series of training games last week against the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team.
Ryan previously pitched for USA Baseball during the Olympic Qualifier round, striking out ten batters over 4.2 innings of work
against the Dominican Republic on June 1. AFter being selected in the seventh round of the 2018 draft, Ryan currently plays with Tampa Bay's Triple-A affiliate, the Durham Bulls. In 12 outings (11 starts) with the Bulls in 2021, Ryan has posted a 4-3 record and 3.63 ERA in 57 innings pitched, adding a team-best 75 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .175 batting average. Ryan was traded to the Twins organization today.
Team USA manager Mike Scioscia
spoke to the Tampa Bay Times after the roster announcements, noting, "Love Joe Ryan, and I love his makeup. I love his demeanor on the mound. He's certainly not going to be intimidated by any situation. He has a terrific arm. … Excited to give him the ball."
Ryan closed his career at Stanislaus State as the CCAA's Most Valuable Pitcher in 2018, and became the Warriors' highest draft pick in program history after a stellar year on the mound. Ryan led all of NCAA college (all Divisions) with 127 strikeouts during the 2018 regular season to set a new Stanislaus State single-season record. He went 8-1 with a 1.65 ERA, holding opponents to a .190 average and walking only 13 all season.
The sport of baseball is making its return to the Olympics for the first time since 2008. Team USA won a gold medal at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games as a demonstration sport and then at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The team also won two bronze medals at the Atlanta 1996 and Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Team USA is joined by the Dominican Republic, Israel, Japan, Korea and Mexico in the six-team field in Tokyo. The U.S. is slated to play Israel on July 30, followed by a game with Korea on July 31. Both games from Yokohama Stadium are set to start at 6 a.m. ET. Then, the tournament knockout stage will be contested Aug. 1-7.
