Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander River Ryan’s first foray into the major leagues ended in the fifth inning of his fourth career start. Now, his 2025 is in jeopardy, as the Dodgers announced Tuesday that the 25-year-old would undergo Tommy John surgery.
Ryan exited Saturday’s start against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fifth inning after shaking his hand following a misfired slider to outfielder Michael A. Taylor. He’d noted discomfort in his forearm two innings prior and dismissed any potential concerns after the game. Subsequent testing revealed a sprained ulnar collateral ligament, which after further consultation with doctors on Monday resulted in the decision to opt for surgery.
Given the timing of the injury, it’s unlikely Ryan will factor into the Dodgers’ plans next year. The standard recovery time for Tommy John surgery is 12-18 months
Ryan, the converted former infielder, impressed in his first cameo in the big leagues. Manager Dave Roberts said Ryan “was making a case for himself” to enter the Dodgers’ uncertain rotation plans for their stretch run. Ryan allowed just three earned runs in 20 1/3 innings (1.33 ERA) while getting as pushed as far into starts as he ever has in the two years since the Dodgers acquired him in a deal for Matt Beaty and pushed the two-way player into exclusively pitching.
Now, he becomes the third notable young Dodgers pitcher to undergo Tommy John surgery this season, following Emmet Sheehan and Kyle Hurt; the club has already been without former All-Star Tony Gonsolin for the entire 2024 season after he underwent Tommy John nearly a year ago. Dustin May has been out all season after he underwent surgery to repair his flexor tendon and revise his 2021 Tommy John procedure, ramping up before requiring emergency surgery for a torn esophagus last month.
It’s been a concerning spate of injuries for a Dodgers club that, according to Baseball Prospectus’ injury ledger, has lost more days and production to the injured list than any team in baseball. Ryan became the 11th starting pitcher the Dodgers have placed on the injured list this season alone (though five were expected to start the season there throughout the offseason).
“We’re looking into it and trying to figure out: Is there an acute thing? Is there an over-arching issue to get at?” Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said this week about the glut of impactful players on the shelf. “Right now, I wish I had more answers but we continue to dig. We’re seeing it across the industry. We feel it more acutely when it happens to us. But I don’t think this is all that unique.”
(Photo of River Ryan: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)
