The Los Angeles Dodgers’ long-term rotation picture continues to take shape as the organization looks beyond its star-studded present and toward 2026. Amid that forward-looking discussion, one familiar name has reentered the spotlight: River Ryan.
The right-hander was recently identified as the Dodgers’ top breakout candidate for 2026 by MLB.com’s Sonja Chen, who highlighted both the promise Ryan flashed at the major league level and the timing of his return from Tommy John surgery. For a pitcher whose ascent was interrupted just as it began, the recognition underscores how much belief still exists in his upside across the league.
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River Ryan’s Brief, Impressive First Impression
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Ryan’s introduction to the majors in 2024 was short but striking. Pressed into duty as the Dodgers’ rotation was ravaged by injuries, he made four starts and posted a 1.33 ERA, allowing just three earned runs across 20 1/3 innings. Each outing lasted at least 4.2 innings, and he surrendered two runs or fewer every time he took the mound.
That momentum came to an abrupt halt when Ryan exited his fourth start with an elbow injury that later required Tommy John surgery, sidelining him for the entirety of the 2025 season. Still, the impression lingered.
“Ryan’s first taste of MLB action was brief but impressive when he was pressed into big league duty in 2024,” Chen wrote. “Whether it’s out of Spring Training or at another point, Ryan should feasibly get a chance to impact the big league club in ’26.”
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Choosing Patience Over a Postseason Push
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As the Dodgers’ bullpen battled injuries and inconsistency late in 2025, speculation swirled about whether Ryan might attempt an accelerated return for the postseason. According to Ryan, the idea was discussed seriously before cooler heads prevailed.
“I know there was a lot of back and forth nearing the end of my rehab in Arizona to go back and pitch in the postseason,” Ryan said during an appearance on Dodgers Dougout Live with Doug McKain. “But my agent and the organization all came to the consensus of, ‘just have a normal offseason, there’s no reason to push it. Get yourself ready for 2026.’ And that’s what we decided to do.”
That decision allowed Ryan to focus on long-term health rather than short-term urgency, a choice the organization clearly believes will pay dividends.
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A Stronger Arm — and a Deeper Arsenal
The extended rehab period has also given Ryan time to reassess and refine his craft. He said the year away from competition allowed him to break down his mechanics, address shoulder strength issues, and rebuild his body.
“I was able to go back and kind of dissect some things and really tune in and tune up some things in my mechanics,” Ryan explained. “Coming into the end of ’25, I had all year to do a lot of shoulder strengthening. So I think that’s what the issue was in ’24.”
The results, by his account, have been encouraging. Ryan said he was consistently sitting between 98 and 100 mph in recent live sessions and recovering well between outings. He also revealed he has expanded his pitch mix during rehab, hinting at a new offering he plans to unveil in 2026.
“I’m not going to reveal the pitch. I want to kind of surprise people next year,” he said. “I think that’s seven now that I can throw, and I’m just really, really excited to be able to get out there and showcase all of them.”
One thing it isn’t: a knuckleball. “That’s one thing I cannot do,” Ryan joked. “It’s bad.”
Opportunity in a Crowded Rotation
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Ryan’s path back to a starting role will not be straightforward. The Dodgers enter 2026 with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani and Emmet Sheehan all in the mix, with Roki Sasaki expected to get another look as a starter as well. Gavin Stone, returning from shoulder surgery, is also part of that equation.
Still, Ryan isn’t concerned with labels or depth-chart math.
“We have a lot of great, great starting pitchers,” he said. “But I’m just going to do what they tell me to do. It’s a blessing just to be able to play Major League Baseball.”
General manager Brandon Gomes has echoed the organization’s cautious optimism, noting that both Ryan and Stone are expected to have “a pretty normal year” in terms of buildup coming off surgery.
Why 2026 Matters
Drafted by the Padres in the 11th round in 2021 and acquired by the Dodgers shortly thereafter, Ryan’s athleticism and versatility have long intrigued evaluators. At 27, he sits at an interesting intersection of development and readiness — old enough to contribute immediately, young enough to still project growth.
Whether he emerges as rotation depth, a high-leverage bullpen option, or a valuable trade chip, Ryan is once again firmly embedded in the Dodgers’ future calculus. For an organization built on both stars and depth, that alone makes him one of the most compelling names to watch as 2026 approaches.