Yarbrough Joins Team USA WBC Roster for Injured Ryan

New York Yankees pitcher Ryan Yarbrough was added to the Team USA roster for the World Baseball Classic on Sunday, replacing Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan, who is sidelined by lower back tightness.

The 34-year-old left-hander, who signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Yankees in November to provide rotation depth, joins a stacked American pitching staff that includes Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal, Logan Webb, Clayton Kershaw, Clay Holmes and Nolan McLean. Yarbrough posted a 3-1 record with a 4.36 ERA in 19 appearances, including eight starts, during his first season with New York last year, striking out 55 batters in 64 innings. Over his eight-year major league career with five teams, he holds a 56-41 mark and 4.22 ERA in 215 games.

Joe Ryan, a 29-year-old right-hander who went 13-10 with a 3.42 ERA for the Twins last season, was scratched from his first spring training start on February 22 due to the injury. He has since thrown a bullpen session and plans to face hitters this week. Ryan now occupies a spot in Team USA's designated pitcher pool, allowing him to rejoin the active roster if the team advances beyond pool play and he recovers in time. Pool play...