River Ryan's brief but impressive first stint in the big leagues was cut short due to injury. After a year rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, the 27-year-old right-hander should have a real chance to make an impact for the Dodgers in 2026.
When Ryan made his Major League debut in 2024, he was pressed into duty because the Dodgers had been hit hard by injuries to the rotation, a recurring situation over the past several years. Ryan looked sharp in a small sample of four starts, allowing three earned runs across 20 1/3 innings (1.33 ERA).
Following surgery in August 2024, Ryan -- the Dodgers' No. 9 prospect, per MLB Pipeline -- was away from the team for most of '25 and did not appear in any Minor League rehab games. But he ended the year in a good spot, and the time he missed could serve as a big motivating factor.
Ryan and fellow starter Gavin Stone (right shoulder surgery in October 2024) not only missed two postseason runs, but two World Series titles. Both are going through a normal offseason and should be ready for Spring Training.
"I'm excited for River. I'm excited for Gavin," manager Dave Roberts said at the Winter Meetings. "Because to see your teammates celebrate and go through what we went through and not be able to participate, those are things that we're all betting on for that extra hunger to kind of make their impact in 2026."
Ryan and Stone's paths back to the big league rotation are complicated by the Dodgers' impressive depth in that area, which should be in as good a spot as it has been in years heading into next season.
The Dodgers ended the regular season with a formidable six-man rotation consisting of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, Clayton Kershaw and Emmet Sheehan, with all but the retired Kershaw poised to return in '26. Roki Sasaki is also returning to starting after a temporary stint in relief.
In sum, that leaves two or three of the aforementioned group as the odd men out, depending on whether L.A. begins the season with a five- or six-man rotation. And that's not to mention others on the 40-man roster who could be used to start Major League games as needed.
As the Dodgers know all too well, it takes more than five or six starting pitchers to get through a season. Whoever does not make the cut out of Spring Training should still get a chance to contribute to the big league club at some point during the season.
Another way to approach the situation could be to trade some of that depth. Major League pitching is a valuable asset, and the Dodgers could leverage their surplus to pursue a costlier roster upgrade.
"We know that pitching depth is fleeting," general manager Brandon Gomes said at the Winter Meetings. "Now, that doesn’t mean if there’s a deal that we feel like, 'Hey, the risk-reward is worth it, we’ll do it.' But everything comes with its pros and cons."
As someone with tantalizing potential, but a limited track record and the uncertainty that comes after Tommy John surgery, Ryan could be an interesting trade chip for the Dodgers. Or they could bet on the exciting young arm they saw in 2024 becoming a valuable part of their rotation in the foreseeable future.
It's one of the many decisions the Dodgers have to weigh this offseason as they ponder how to continue winning in the present while extending their championship window for as long as possible. Having players like Ryan in the wings for a rotation that is already a big strength is a good indicator that this team is built to contend for the long haul.
"We have guys that are on the come and guys that have done it," Roberts said. "I think, again, it just speaks to how well equipped we are for not only this year but beyond."