Elite strikeout numbers have River Ryan surging in Triple-A, leaving Los Angeles to decide if the rehabbing righty is a future rotation staple or the ultimate trade chip.
At 27 years old, the Los Angeles Dodgers are taking their time with right-handed pitching prospect River Ryan.
Ryan, a former No. 340 overall draft pick back in 2021, has been tremendous this season at the Triple-A level.
That said, he's coming off Tommy John surgery, so the team's cautious approach is more than justified.
Sure, that surgery was back in 2024, but Ryan is finally starting to look like himself again and it's not like LA was ever in desperate need to call up a starter.
Dodgers Set the Record Straight
Katie Woo, the team's reporter for The Athletic, had a chance to speak with Dodgers' president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman.
"Especially with our young pitchers, as much patience as we can exercise when they’re coming back from a major surgery, the better,” he said. "The level of intensity is different at the major league level than it is in the minor leagues.”
Ryan is getting up there in age, no doubt, but the surgery set him back a good year-plus and now the Dodgers want to be as sure as possible he's ready to go before they put him in a loaded six-man rotation.
Ryan's Numbers Through Eight Triple-A Starts in 2026
After missing the entire 2025 season, Los Angeles is finally getting to see what Ryan can do on a consistent basis in Triple-A. With Tarik Skubal on the trade market, one has to question whether or not including Ryan in a package to bring in the back-to-back Cy Young Award winner would be a good move.
Here in 2026, Ryan sports a 4.46 ERA. He's 3-1 and has started all eight games he's pitched in this season. In 36.1 innings pitched, batters are hitting .267 against him and his WHIP sits at 1.29.
One of the most impressive things about Ryan's 2026 season is his HR/9. He may have more hits allowed (39) than innings pitched (36.1), but he's allowed just one homer.
Not only that, he's walked just eight batters compared to striking out 43. Both of these statistics are incredible, and would have to be something you'd assume the Detroit Tigers would be interested in.
That said, is Ryan on the trade block? Only time will tell. LA needs to figure out how much they truly want Skubal, but if they aren't calling up Ryan this season anyways, it might be worth it to make him the focal point of a trade.
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