Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Ryder Ryan (72) pitches against the Seattle Mariners during the fifth inning at PNC Park on Aug 18, 2024.
The Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly signed right-handed pitcher Ryder Ryan to a minor league contract, according to The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya. He will make $800k if he makes it to MLB during the 2026 season.
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Ryan is also the older brother of current Dodgers starting pitcher River Ryan. The Dodgers acquired River in a trade with the San Diego Padres in March 2022 then he went on to make his MLB debut with Los Angeles in 2024.
The Dodgers signed RHP Ryder Ryan to a minor league deal, sources tell The Athletic. Brother of Dodgers RHP River Ryan. Will make $800K if he makes the majors.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) January 29, 2026
Ryder is three years older than River and has two seasons of MLB experience under his belt. He pitched one inning for the Seattle Mariners to mark his MLB debut in August 2023. Then, he signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 2024 season and made 15 appearances for the team out of the bullpen.
Ryder re-signed with the Pirates and earned an invitation to spring training. However, he never made an MLB appearance for Pittsburgh in 2025. He posted a 4.73 ERA and threw 61 strikeouts across 72.1 innings in Triple-A last season.
Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Ryder Ryan (72) pitches against the Seattle Mariners during the fifth inning at PNC Park on Aug 18, 2024.
Both Brothers Want to Return to MLB This Season
Like his brother, River also did not pitch in MLB during the 2025 season.
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River started the 2024 season on the 60-day IL then made his MLB debut in July of that season. He only made four appearances that season before having to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery in August.
The operation kept River off the mound during both of the Dodgers’ World Series championship runs and all of the 2025 season. Now, the right-hander is healthy and should be an exciting name to watch in spring training next month.
River expressed his excitement for spring training, especially now that his older brother will be on the team with him for the first time since high school.
“Last time we were on the same team was high school,” River said, per Dodgers Nation. “He’s got a sinker, a good cutter, working on a changeup right now. I think the Dodgers are going to really like what they see in him.”
Ryder is projected to start the season in Triple-A and work his way back to MLB. Meanwhile, River could be a back-end starter for the Dodgers’ rotation at the start of the 2026 season.
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Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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