Dodgers prospect after Tommy John
Dodgers pitching prospect River Ryan returned post‑Tommy John and struck out 5 over 4 innings while touching 97–98 mph on his fastball — an encouraging audition for a hard‑throwing arm spring outing: 5 K, 4 IP, 97–98 mph. That kind of velocity plus effective breaking stuff makes him a name to watch as rosters get finalized across camps.
River Ryan underwent Tommy John surgery after an August 10, 2024 UCL injury and the procedure was completed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Aug. 28, 2024, sidelining him for the 2025 season. dodgerblue.com In his brief 2024 MLB stint he made four starts and posted a 1.33 ERA across 20 1/3 innings, a small-sample performance the Dodgers still reference when assessing his readiness. mlb.com Scouting outlets grade his arsenal highly: Baseball America lists a double-plus fastball that has touched triple digits, a mid‑80s slider, and prospect grades including a 70‑grade fastball and a 60‑grade slider while flagging control as an area of concern. baseballamerica.com During rehab Ryan added roughly 30 pounds of muscle—reporting a jump from about 195 to the mid‑220s—which he credited for making it easier to generate increased velocity coming out of surgery. clutchpoints.com The Dodgers are deliberately managing his workload—manager Dave Roberts has said the club wants to "build up" Ryan and has used Cactus League relief outings to get Major League looks—while evaluators project he may begin 2026 as a multi‑inning option as he ramps back to starter length. dodgersbeat.com
