The Los Angeles Dodgers enter the All-Star break with a depleted starting rotation. With more pitchers on the injured list than any team in the majors, the Dodgers have another reinforcement coming up. The Dodgers will promote 25-year-old right-hander River Ryan, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Ryan’s start date is unknown, but he should help fill a rotation that has three rookies (Gavin Stone, Landon Knack and Justin Wrobleski) and veteran left-hander James Paxton. Ryan was an 11th-round draft pick in 2021 as an infielder for the San Diego Padres before the Dodgers acquired him for infielder Matt Beaty and moved him to the mound.
Dodgers Prospect River Ryan to Be Promoted After All-Star Break
Ryan did display strong potential last season with a 3.33 ERA and 23.7 percent strikeout in 97 1/3 innings at Double-A. His start to the 2024 campaign came late due to a shoulder issue, returning in June. He has been dominant in his five starts at the Triple-A level this year, posting a 2.76 ERA in 16 1/3 innings and 19:6 K:BB. It’s not a surprise that the Dodgers will turn to Ryan after the woes of the starting rotation. Walker Buehler, Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are all currently on the IL. Tony Gosolin, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May and Emmet Sheehan are also out.
The Dodgers’ pitching injuries have been a factor in the struggles for Bobby Miller. The right-hander has an 8.07 ERA in seven starts as he was recently optioned to the minor leagues. It’s left the club in need of pitching help for the rotation. James Paxton is the only pitcher in the rotation with major-league experience. Both Knack and Wrobleski continue to find success this year while Stone is establishing himself as the option at the moment. Wrobleski has put up strong numbers in the minors but has struggled in his brief time in the rotation. A lack of a fifth starter made the Dodgers sign Brent Honeywell Jr. who came off waivers on Saturday.
Ryan is one of the top prospects in the Dodgers’ system. The Athletic’s Keith Law is high on Ryan, ranking him 33rd on his preseason top 100 prospects list. Ryan has an upper-90s fastball as part of a four-pitch mix and has the ceiling of a No. 2 or No. 3 starter.
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