A source within the Los Angeles Dodgers organization has revealed that right-handed starting pitcher River Ryan is going on the injured list with a strained hamstring, according to Fabian Ardaya and Katie Woo of the Athletic. Ryan, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery at the minor league level, is considered one of the brightest prospects in the Dodgers’ farm system. Unfortunately, this is the second time this season that Ryan has been sidelined with a similar injury. He missed about four weeks with the initial strain.
Sources to me and @katiejwoo: Dodgers pitching prospect River Ryan is going on the minor league IL with a hamstring issue. Missed time earlier in OKC’s season with hamstring trouble and had his start skipped this week.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) June 26, 2026
Rising Star
The right-hander had a meteoric rise through the Dodger system after being acquired from the San Diego Padres in 2022. He made his major-league debut when everyone in the starting rotation spent some time on the I.L. He made a lasting impression in his brief appearance in Dodger blue with a record of 1-0 and an earned run average of 1.33 before his elbow gave out. He missed all of 2025 recovering from surgery.
Ryan entered spring training this year with no physical limitations placed on him. The right-hander immediately showed why the Dodgers are so high on him in exhibition play. It may not have been as impressive as 18 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings as in his first stint, but it was close enough. Ryan looked like he had done enough to secure the sixth spot in the rotation. However, Los Angeles preferred that he build innings on his arm to make sure he could handle the rigors of a Major-League workload. They seemed to be saving him for a second-half call-up. Now, it looks like the timeline for a promotion has been pushed back even more.
A Quick Recovery
Right-fielder Kyle Tucker is back in the lineup tonight for the opening game of a series against the San Diego Padres. Tucker left a game earlier in Minnesota, against the Twins, with back tightness. Hopefully, the days off gave the right fielder the mental break he needs to reset himself. Tucker has underperformed thus far this season with a batting average hovering around .230. Fortunately, the Dodgers have won consistently despite the right fielder’s struggles. Hopefully, he will get hot when the Dodgers need him most…as will Ryan.
Main Image Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
