Cody Snavely
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ injury woes continue. Yet another starter in the rotation, rookie River Ryan, will end up on the injured list.
River Ryan was removed from yesterday’s start against the Pittsburgh Pirates after a dominant four and two-thirds, allowing only four hits and collecting four strikeouts without allowing a single run.
Ryan is highly regarded as one of the Dodgers’ top pitching prospects if not one of the best in baseball. Despite a shoulder injury earlier in the year, he has performed exceptionally well since his return, with a 2.66 ERA in Triple-A and a 1.33 ERA in his first four major league starts.
It was no guarantee that Ryan would make his Major League debut in 2024, but the Dodgers needed pitching after the All-Star break, with multiple starters on the injured list and veteran lefty James Paxton being DFA’d. Ryan was the next man up in the Dodgers’ endless pitching toy box in the minors.
Alas, the team still announced that the young righty would be done for the 2024 season, placing him on the 15-day injured list with right forearm tightness while awaiting the results of more MRIs to determine the next steps.
Manager Dave Roberts says the team is still figuring out the proper diagnosis and the next steps for the 25-year-old hurler, but he will not be able to return to the mound in 2024. Even if Ryan can avoid a worst-case scenario, he won’t have time to rest, rehab, and return before the end of the year.
In his absence, the Dodgers have recalled right-handed pitcher Landon Knack, who has made a few brief appearances with the club this season, pitching to a 3.07 ERA and 4.00 SIERA. He has a 3.97 ERA in 59 innings at Triple-A. While he is primarily a starting pitcher, he will join L.A. as additional bullpen depth, with Walker Buehler rejoining the club on Wednesday in Milwaukee.
Ryan’s time on the 15-day injured list will be short-lived. The Dodgers will need to clear 40-man roster space when Max Muncy and Tommy Edman are activated off the 60-day injured list on their next homestand.
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