The Los Angeles Dodgers may be getting one of their top pitching prospects back at the perfect time.
River Ryan, the Dodgers’ No. 6 overall prospect, returned to the mound Friday night for Triple-A Oklahoma City after missing more than a month with a right hamstring strain.
The 27-year-old right-hander looked dominant in his first appearance since April 11, helping lead the Comets to a lopsided 17-1 victory over Albuquerque.
Ryan worked four innings while allowing just one earned run on two hits and one walk. He also struck out four batters, but perhaps the biggest takeaway from the outing was the return of his elite velocity.
The right-hander touched 100.9 mph with his fastball during the outing, marking the hardest pitch of his professional career. Ryan averaged 98.6 mph on his four-seam fastball and threw six pitches that reached at least 100 mph.
Earlier in his career, including during his major-league debut stint with the Dodgers, Ryan’s fastball had previously topped out at 98.4 mph.
The increase in velocity is an encouraging development for both Ryan and the Dodgers' organization, especially considering everything the right-hander has battled through over the last two seasons.
Ryan missed the entire 2025 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery, making health and durability one of the biggest focuses surrounding his development entering this year.
Friday’s outing provided another reminder of why the Dodgers remain extremely high on his long-term potential.
Ryan relied heavily on the fastball throughout the outing, throwing it nearly half the time while consistently overpowering hitters. In addition to the velocity, his secondary pitches also generated plenty of swing-and-miss. He finished with nine total whiffs, with both the fastball and slider accounting for three apiece.
Beyond the raw stuff, Ryan’s ability to command the strike zone after such a lengthy layoff stood out as well. He limited damage effectively, avoided major traffic on the bases, and looked comfortable attacking hitters throughout his outing.
The timing of Ryan’s return could become increasingly important for Los Angeles. The Dodgers recently placed Blake Snell on the Injured List due to loose bodies in his left elbow, an injury that is expected to sideline the veteran left-hander for an extended period.
With additional pitching uncertainty continuing to surface across the roster, Ryan has quickly re-entered the conversation as a possible major league option later this season.
Ryan already showed flashes of his upside during his brief MLB stint in 2024, posting a 1.77 ERA across four starts for the eventual World Series champions.
Now healthy once again and armed with even more velocity, the organization may not have to wait much longer before giving him another opportunity in Los Angeles.
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