Dodgers' top pitching prospect returns in style, dials it up to 100+ mph six times
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River Ryan cruised right back into form with over a month in between starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City.
The Dodgers’ No. 6 prospect got back on the mound Friday night after a right hamstring strain had kept him out of action since April 11. Ryan had his good stuff against Albuquerque (Rockies) at RGCU Field at Isotopes Park, delivering four innings of work with just one run allowed on two hits and one walk.
The right-hander struck out four Isotopes, while the Comets cruised to a 17-1 victory.
Ryan, whose fastball ran up to 100.9 mph on the night, threw his heater 49.1 percent of the time. He averaged 98.6 mph on the 65-grade offering, up more than 2 mph from the start of the year. He pumped six four-seamers at or above the triple-digit mark, eclipsing his previous MLB-best velocity of 98.4.
Of the nine swings-and-misses he generated, the 27-year-old got three apiece from his fastball and slider, respectively.
The return of premium velocity is an encouraging sign for Ryan, who missed the entire 2025 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Dodgers gave him his first glimpse at MLB action in '24 when he pitched to the tune of a 1.77 ERA in four starts for the eventual World Series champions.
Now the top-ranked pitching prospect in the Dodgers’ organization, Ryan is knocking on the door of a return to Hollywood, particularly in the wake of the news that Blake Snell (loose bodies in his left elbow) was placed on the 10-day injured list and will require a lengthy absence.