Yarbrough Replaces Injured Ryan on Team USA World Baseball Classic Roster

Yarbrough steps in for team USA

Ryan Yarbrough replaces injured Joe Ryan on Team USA's World Baseball Classic roster, bringing versatility and experience to the pitching staff.

Veteran lefty Ryan Yarbrough steps in for All-Star Joe Ryan, who withdraws from Team USA's WBC squad due to back injury...

Ryan Yarbrough is stepping in for Joe Ryan on Team USA's World Baseball Classic roster. The 34-year-old lefty from the New York Yankees will replace the Minnesota Twins' ace, who's dealing with a back injury. Joe Ryan will move to the designated pitcher pool, making him eligible to rejoin the team if they advance.

Yarbrough, who's had a solid career with a 4.22 ERA in 215 games, brings versatility to the team. He had a decent 2025 season with the Yankees, posting a 4.36 ERA in 19 games, with 55 strikeouts in 64 innings. Team USA's manager, Mark DeRosa, is optimistic about Yarbrough's potential impact.

Ryan Yarbrough, 34, had a solid season with the Yankees last year, posting a 4.36 ERA in 19 games (8 starts). He struck out 55 batters in 64 innings, allowing 58 hits and 19 walks.

Yarbrough is currently with Team USA for the World Baseball Classic, replacing Joe Ryan due to back issues. He's in the designated pitcher pool, so he could return to the Yankees if Team USA advances, assuming he's healthy.

Joe Ryan, now in his sixth season, earned his first American League All-Star selection last year. The San Francisco native had a breakout season, tossing a career-best 3.42 ERA in 31 starts, with 194 strikeouts in 171 innings.

His impressive stats include 138 hits allowed and just 39 walks, showcasing his dominance on the mound. Missing out on the World Baseball Classic is a tough break, but he'll be back stronger.

Joe Ryan made his MLB debut with the Twins in 2021, making five starts. Since then, he's been impressive, throwing below a 4.00 ERA in three of the next four years.

Joe Ryan is dealing!

The @Twins pitcher has 10 strikeouts this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/XbMYIfHWzP

— MLB (@MLB) April 27, 2025

Ryan's been a strikeout machine, recording at least 150 K's in four of his five seasons, with a slight dip to 147 in 2024. He's solidified himself as a top pitcher in the league.

Ryan Yarbrough, a veteran lefty, started his MLB career with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018 and spent five years with them. He then joined the Kansas City Royals in 2023, but was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he finished the season with a 4.52 ERA in 25 games, his second-worst career mark. Yarbrough now plays for the New York Yankees and has joined Team USA for the World Baseball Classic, replacing Joe Ryan due to back injury.

Ryan Yarbrough's seventh strikeout gets him through his fifth inning of work pic.twitter.com/atjNrnQgNo

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) May 27, 2025

Ryan Yarbrough had a breakout season in 2024, finishing with a career-best 3.19 ERA in 44 games after being traded from the Dodgers to the Toronto Blue Jays mid-season. Now, he's joining Team USA at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, replacing Joe Ryan, who's dealing with a back injury.

Yarbrough's versatility as a lefty veteran will be valuable to the team, having appeared in 215 games and made 76 starts in his eight-year career. He recently signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal to return to the New York Yankees, and his experience will be a great asset to Team USA's pitching staff, led by Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal.