DETROIT — The Los Angeles Dodgers, limping into the All-Star break with more pitchers on the injured list than any team in baseball, are planning on calling up reinforcements. The organization’s pitching plans coming out of the break will include the organization’s top pitching prospect: the Dodgers are anticipating calling up 25-year-old right-hander River Ryan, league sources told The Athletic.
Ryan’s expected start date is unknown, but the right-hander is expected to help fill a rotation slot for a group that already includes three rookies (Gavin Stone, Landon Knack, Justin Wrobleski) along with veteran James Paxton.
His rise is quick and comes within two years of his full-time conversion to pitching. Ryan was an 11th round draft choice in 2021 as an infielder for the Padres before the Dodgers — noting his strong arm and track record as a pitcher at the University of North Carolina Pembroke — acquired him via trade for infielder Matt Beaty and moved him to the mound.
Ryan has quickly climbed up prospect lists ever since, ranking 33rd on The Athletic’s Keith Law’s top 100 prospects list this spring after putting together a 3.80 ERA and striking out 110 batters over 104 1/3 innings in Double A and Triple A in 2023.
The remnants of that transition are still apparent. Ryan reported shoulder fatigue this spring after the increase in workload, and did not pitch for the Dodgers in any spring training games. He didn’t appear against competition until June, slowly ramping up before returning to Triple-A action.
Ryan has never topped five innings in a professional outing (a feat he matched in his most recent start on Wednesday), nor has he ever topped 75 pitches in a start.
The Dodgers’ depth options, however, have run thin. Tyler Glasnow is not eligible to come off the injured list until July 21. The decision to option Bobby Miller to the minors left the Dodgers with a hole in their rotation, particularly with the club already trying to give its starters extra rest whenever possible. When Miller was optioned, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts suggested Ryan’s arrival wasn’t too far off.
Their search for innings took them to the waiver wire this weekend. With the bullpen sustaining a heavy workload and no immediate starter for Sunday’s pre-All-Star break finale, the club opted to claim multi-inning reliever Brent Honeywell Jr. and start him against the Detroit Tigers.
“It’s desperate times, absolutely,” Roberts said Sunday morning. “I don’t think there’s any other way to say it. It’s unfortunate. We’re here for various reasons but it doesn’t change the fact that this is where we’re at.”
It’s unclear how long Ryan will remain in the rotation. Glasnow isn’t expected to miss much time with back tightness. Clayton Kershaw is in the middle of his rehabilitation assignment, throwing three scoreless innings on Saturday night with Triple-A Oklahoma City; Roberts suggested that Kershaw could be an option after his next start, which is scheduled for Friday.
“I think anything should be on the table,” Roberts said.
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