Calling All Ryans! Ryan Baseball Classic Set to Bring Hundreds of Ryans to Target Field

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (KVRR) — Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers has a simple message for anyone named Ryan.

“Brothers in the name, just come out and enjoy a baseball game with your fellow Ryans.”

Twins utility player Ryan Kreidler agrees.

“Great name. Happy I have it. And yeah, shout out to my parents.”

Their names are Ryan. The publisher of this story is Ryan. Is your name Ryan?

If it is, I know exactly where you should be on Saturday, July 25.

Target Field is preparing for an invasion of Ryans as the Minnesota Twins host the Ryan Baseball Classic, a special event expected to bring hundreds — if not thousands — of people sharing the same first name together for a night at the ballpark.

“I would say my guess would be between 700 and 1,000,” said Ryan Cousins, who serves as the “Chief Creative Ryan” for Ryan Meetup.

The event is the latest chapter in what has become an unexpectedly viral movement. What started with one Ryan posting flyers in a Brooklyn neighborhood looking to meet more people named Ryan has evolved into Ryan Meetup, an organization hosting large-scale gatherings across the country.

One of the group’s most notable events came on June 20, 2025, when hundreds of Ryans took over Coors Field in Denver. The success of that gathering caught the attention of the Twins.

“There was a Ryan within the Twins organization who reached out to us,” Cousins said. “There were other teams that vied for us to come to their stadiums as well, and the main criteria is we need Ryans to root for.”

The Twins checked that box.

Kreidler has appeared in 26 games this season for Minnesota, while Jeffers is enjoying one of the best offensive seasons of his career, batting .295. (Though Jeffers is currently on the Injured List.)

Even Twins manager Derek Shelton is embracing the Ryan takeover.

“Someone remind me to play the Ryans that day,” Shelton joked. “Maybe we should trade for or call up… do we have any more Ryans in the minor league? We go full Ryan lineup? Joe Ryan should pitch that day.”

Funny enough, Joe Ryan’s last name doesn’t automatically qualify him for Ryan Meetup royalty.

“It does not count as of now,” Cousins said. “But we have some Ryans within the Twins organization who we’re hoping to give some name-change paperwork so he can become Ryan Ryan, which would basically make him our king.”

King Ryan certainly has a nice ring to it.

Ryan was one of the 20 most popular boys names in America for a 30-year stretch from 1976 through 2006.

Kreidler says the name was a certainty for him no matter what.

“I learned when I was a little kid they were going to name me Ryan if I was a boy or a girl,” Kreidler said. “Kind of a multi-use name, which is pretty sick. Maybe two N’s on the girl name had I been a girl.”

While many assume the ultimate goal is to break the world record for the largest gathering of people with the same name, Cousins says the group isn’t in a hurry.

“I think there’s a scary finality to that,” he said. “We’ve really enjoyed doing all these different side quests and breaking these obscure records that don’t exist in the meantime. No date locked in yet, but I promise it will happen.”

As for the Ryan Baseball Classic, the Twins are pulling out all the stops.

“[They’re] going to let a Ryan sing the national anthem… Let a Ryan throw out the first pitch… Going to give [Ryans their] own section in the outfield… Going to let [us] do a full Ryan parade on the field before the game,” Cousins said. “[They] have a bar nearby (Cowboy Jacks – to be named Cowboy Ryan for the day) that we can set up for a pregame with. They really just came in, in true Ryan fashion — very prepared.”

With nearly 1,000 Ryans expected, Shelton says there’s no such thing as too many.

“No. Hell, if we can get 25,000 Ryans here, let’s go.”

The baseball game is only part of a weekend-long celebration.

“I think I saw they were doing one at Mall of America too,” Jeffers said. “Trying to get the most Ryans to ride a ride consecutively or something. It’s cool. It’s fun.”

Ryan is right.

On Friday, July 24, Ryan Meetup plans to gather at Mall of America in an attempt to set a world record for the most people with the same name to ride a roller coaster consecutively.

As Ryans prepare for the big weekend, Cousins offered one important reminder.

“No Byans or Brians allowed. That’s our one rule,” he said. “It’s nothing personal. It’s really just finally the Ryans have a time where we’re not going to be confused as a Bryan.”

The Ryan Baseball Classic is set for Saturday, July 25, at Target Field.

I’ll be there, and I hope to see all my fellow Ryans there as well.

More Information

Ryan Baseball Classic (Minnesota Twins): GET YOUR TICKETS!
https://www.mlb.com/twins/tickets/specials/ryan-baseball-classic

Ryan Meetup Roller Coaster World Record Attempt at Mall of America:
https://www.mallofamerica.com/events/view/37643

Official Ryan Meetup Website: (YOU WILL HAVE TO CERTIFY YOU ARE A RYAN (NOT BRIAN/BRYAN)
https://www.ryanmeetup.com/