Q&A: Rays AAA pitching coach Knapp on new Twins prospects Ryan and Strotman

Rays AAA pitching coach Rick Knapp talked with KSTP Sports, via Zoom, about new Twins prospects Joe Ryan and Drew Strotman. Knapp coached both with the Durham Bulls.

***Click the video box above to watch our conversation with Knapp and to see Ryan/Strotman in action***

Ryan and Strotman were acquired on Thursday when the Twins sent DH Nelson Cruz to Tampa.

Ryan, 25, has made 12 appearances (11 starts) for Triple-A Durham so far this season, going 4-3 with a 3.63 ERA (57.0 IP, 23 ER), 10 walks, 75 strikeouts and a .175 opponent batting average. The 6’2”, 205-pound right-hander was selected by the Rays in the seventh round of the 2018 First-Year Player Draft out of California State University, Stanislaus. He was ranked as the No. 10 prospect in the Rays’ system, per MLB.com.

Ryan is currently with Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics, and he will start their first game.

Strotman, 24, has spent the 2021 season with Triple-A Durham, going 7-2 with a 3.39 ERA (58.1 IP, 22 ER), 33 walks, 62 strikeouts and a .235 opponent batting average in 13 games (12 starts) for the Bulls. The Sunnyvale, California native was selected by the Rays in the fourth round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of Saint Mary’s College of California, He was ranked as Tampa Bay’s 17th-best prospect according to MLB.com.

Knapp worked for the Twins 1995-2008 as their minor league pitching coordinator, and he has served as the Tigers pitching coach.

Twins Communications contributed to this report