It's family first for Ryan brothers as they compete for roster spots

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Most pitchers in the Dodgers’ clubhouse are fighting for a roster spot or a rotation role. But for Ryder Ryan and River Ryan, every day at Camelback Ranch is about something more personal. It’s about a dream that started in a North Carolina backyard and, as of January, finally became a professional reality.

The last time the Ryan brothers wore the same jersey was in 2014, at North Mecklenburg High School in Huntersville, N.C. In the decade-plus since, they’ve lived a world apart.

Ryder, 30, became a baseball nomad, pitching for Team USA in the Tokyo Olympics and grinding through five MLB organizations before signing a Minor League deal with Los Angeles in January. River, 27, transformed from a college shortstop into one of the most electric pitching prospects in the game. It was a transition only interrupted by a grueling Tommy John rehab that saw him add 35 pounds of muscle to handle the stress of throwing his 100 mph heater.

The reunion wasn't just a feel-good story for the family; it caught the eye of manager Dave Roberts early in camp.

“They’re brothers first, right?” Roberts said. “I watch the interaction from afar, but then there are certain things I see. I ask River about his brother, and he just starts to glow. He talks about what Ryder can do and how much he’s already learned in this camp. It’s cool. Very fun.”

On Tuesday, River backed up that "glow" with a dominant spring debut, striking out three Guardians in two scoreless innings.

On Friday, in the Dodgers' 6-0 win over the Royals at Camelback Ranch, Ryder followed suit with a two-inning scoreless start, with one strikeout and two walks. For the elder Ryan, the two innings were about more than just the box score; they represented the end of a 12-year wait to share a professional dugout with his brother.

“It means everything,” Ryder said of the glow Roberts described. “Growing up, we did everything together. We had a really good connection. But since we've been in professional ball, I haven't seen him in three years during Spring Training because we were in different places. I’ve missed my brother. Now, being here and actually seeing what he does? It’s just awesome.”

The journey to this shared clubhouse was anything but linear. After Ryder graduated from high school in 2014, he went to UNC Chapel Hill and began a journey that took him from Cleveland to New York, Texas, Seattle and Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, River was finding his footing at UNC Pembroke, eventually being drafted by the Padres as a two-way player before a 2022 trade brought him to the Dodgers.

The stars finally aligned this winter when the Dodgers saw the Ryder throwing at a high-performance facility.

“I trained a little bit in the offseason with [River], but I didn't know where I was going to sign yet,” Ryder recalled. “I threw at Tread [Athletics] and the Dodgers saw me and signed me a week later. All of a sudden, I’m here with my brother and everyone else in this clubhouse. It’s amazing to watch them do their routines day in and day out.”

While River’s physical transformation was the talk of the early spring, Ryder provides the veteran stability the Dodgers value. For the brothers, the competition is still there, but it's tempered by the perspective of two men who spent a decade watching each other's box scores from opposite sides of the country. Now, they only have to look a few lockers down or over the dugout railing.

“I’m still competitive, but I just love this job and doing the best I can,” Ryder said. “It’s really cool having him right there on the railing. He’s my brother, and hearing him say, ‘Good job’ when I’m coming in ... this is something you dream about. You wish you could play with your brother in the big leagues. It feels surreal that it’s actually coming true."