Saints RHP Ryan Mason Makes Impression, Hopes to Make Debut in '22

A lackluster pro debut as a starting pitcher, Ryan Mason quickly made the jump to the bullpen. Dominating for Cedar Rapids in 2018, he repeated the strong numbers in 2019 when making it to Double-A Pensacola. While the missed season in 2020 helped no one, Mason didn’t let the non-existent game action deter his focus.
 
Starting 2021 at Double-A Wichita, Minnesota’s newest affiliate, Mason repeated his outstanding numbers from the year before. While he allowed zero homers in 23 innings with Pensacola, Mason also jumped the strikeout tally to double-digits per nine for the first time in his career. With Wichita, the strikeouts remained and the long ball stayed in check.

After getting to Triple-A St. Paul in the second half of the season, it became apparent something new was working for the Twins prospect. Mason posted an outstanding 12.1 K/9 with the Saints, and the H/9 numbers were down as well. The only caveat to this step forward was that the walk rate saw a slight bump jumping to a career-high 4.7 BB/9.
 
In going through a final workout at CHS Field before heading out to Louisville for the start of the Triple-A season, Mason had some insight as to his continued success. “Last season’s success was based on more sink action on the fastball which makes your offspeed better. I was always an offspeed first kind of guy, but last year I turned my fastball into more of a weapon with better downward action. My issue early on was getting people to not make contact with the fastball. I wasn’t getting it by a ton of people, but I was getting foul balls.”
 
Mason noted that the lack of swing-and-miss stuff never got to him as the foul ball percentages always suggested he was keeping hitters off balance. The outcome of both situations is still a strike, so figuring out how to further expand the repertoire was always going to be a key. On whether analytics helped him to see what was available for the next step Mason said, “We have to (be interested in that), it’s the modern era. There’s no way you get around baseball without that anymore.”
 
In changing his repertoire and adding a third look to his arsenal, he also sacrificed a bit of location. Noting the walks were up, Mason said “less accurate with the fastball early on in counts is probably where some of that comes from. What was a ground ball before that turns into an out now becomes a foul ball and I’m hunting for the punch out. I get deeper into counts now and every once in a while one gets away from you.” It’s not as though Mason’s walk rates are out of line for a reliever, and they certainly jive with an uptick in strikeouts for a guy looking to control the opposition in the box.
 
Mason is now 27 years old as he knocks on the door of his big-league debut. While not all paths are created equal, it’s clear this is about when and not if for the talented righty. “I’ve had the same outlook my entire career. If you continue doing what you’re doing, maybe it takes longer than some, you’ll get a shot. Everyone has their own path, mine is just a little bit more resistant, it’s ok.”
 
St. Paul kicks off their season on the road against the Louisville Bats on Tuesday. While calling CHS Field home, Mason is more than comfortable pitching in the park down the road from Target Field. “It gets tough at times down the line in right field, but for me guys try to elevate and that plays more for me as I’m a guy that throws down in the zone with a sinker.”
 
Keep an eye on Mason this season early for the Saints. The Minnesota Twins bullpen has seen late bloomers develop into key pieces over the years, and the 2016 draft pick could take his turn this time around.