The crazy thing about prospect rankings is that many of them don’t consider momentum or whether a player is injured. In the most recent round of MLB Pipeline’s rankings for the Los Angeles Dodgers, there were two pitchers who haven’t even appeared in a game this season.
Righty Nick Frasso — who is currently ranked No. 3 and almost a shoo-in to make his MLB debut this year — underwent shoulder surgery in February to repair a torn labrum and is expected to be out for up to 12 months.
Another right-hander, 25-year-old River Ryan, was also shut down due to shoulder issues before this season began. Late last year, many pundits expected one or the other to make their MLB debut in 2024.
Starting Late
The good news for Ryan is that he’s back on the mend after appearing in an Arizona League game two weeks ago. He only threw two full innings, but he also struck out five batters, showcasing why the Dodgers were so high on him when they dealt for him back in the spring of 2022.
On June 10, Ryan made another relief appearance at Low-A Rancho Cucamonga, striking out three batters over two scoreless innings.
Ryan’s late start in 2024 could conceivably prevent him from debuting in the majors this year, but it won’t stop him from climbing the prospect rankings. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Charlotte native might be a bit undersized, but his pure athleticism is what makes him stand out.
A Steal of a Deal
For those who don’t remember the trade with San Diego, the Dodgers acquired Ryan straight up in a deal for utilityman Matt Beaty. At the time of the trade, the Padres were grooming Ryan as an infielder. During his first year on the San Diego farm, he hit .308 in 43 plate appearances for the Arizona League Padres.
During his time at UNC Pembroke, Ryan was a two-way player who played all around the infield and was among the club’s top relief pitchers. He never hit for much power, but he slashed .422/.495/.611 in 108 plate appearances during his junior year. As a freshman, he appeared in 10 games and threw to the tune of an impressive 0.71 ERA over 25-1/3 innings of work.
Seemingly, the Dodgers knew right away they wanted to nurture Ryan as a pitcher, ushering him to Rancho Cucamonga where he started 10 games and posted a 2.67 ERA in 2022. He earned a promotion to High-A Great Lakes later in the season and appeared in five games — three of which were starts — and tallied an impressive 1.93 ERA with 22 punchouts in just 14 innings.
In 2023, Ryan made it as high as Triple-A Oklahoma City. He made 24 starts between Double-A Tulsa and OKC by the end of the season, posting a 3.80 ERA with 110 strikeouts over 104-1/3 innings of work.
An Elite Repertoire
The thing that makes Ryan stand out among all the other pitching prospects on the farm is that he has so many plus pitches. His fastball typically sits at 95 to 97 MPH and topped out as high as 99 MPH in 2023. Scouts also rank his slider and curve as plus pitches. Because of his success with his breaking pitches, he got away from his changeup in recent years, which still could develop in time.
According to MLB Pipeline: “Ryan’s outstanding athleticism and clean arm action have eased his transition to full-time pitching and add to his upside as a No. 2 or 3 starter. While his control and command are still works in progress, he has the tools to become an average strike-thrower with more experience. He had no trouble handling a career-high 104 1/3 innings last year, though Los Angeles never let him top five innings or 76 pitches in any of his 26 outings.”
Obviously, the Dodgers have no need to rush Ryan, especially in a season when Dustin May and Clayton Kershaw could provide late-season reinforcements. However, with his high ceiling, Ryan will certainly be someone to keep an eye on heading into next spring.