Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitcher River Ryan gained 30 pounds of muscle during his recovery from Tommy John surgery, he revealed at DodgerFest Saturday.
Ryan attributes his tick in velocity to the weight gain, which he worked closely with Dodgers training staff in order to reach an optimal target.
“Before I got hurt, I think I was 195 pounds and now I’m hovering around 225. That’s helped a lot,” Ryan told reporters at DodgerFest Saturday. “I just ate a lot of calories and I lifted like an animal. I put on 30 pounds in like five months.
“I’ve always been able to throw pretty hard, but for me right now, I’m able to throw a lot harder a lot easier. Putting on some weight has really helped me in that process.”
After missing the 2025 season, the 27-year-old is set to make his long-awaited return to the big leagues.
River Ryan reveals he put on 30 pounds of muscle this offseason.
Ryan missed the entirety of the Dodgers 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. pic.twitter.com/KqBC7YdVXL
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) January 31, 2026 When Did the Dodgers Acquire River Ryan?
The Dodgers acquired Ryan from the San Diego Padres in 2022 via trade. L.A. sent utility player Matt Beaty to their NL Rival in exchange for Ryan.
Ryan was an 11th round pick by the Padres and transitioned to a full-time pitcher once he joined the Dodgers. The right-hander is considered one of the Dodgers’ top pitching prospects.
River Ryan Not Expected to Make Opening Day Rotation
Despite having a 1.33 ERA in the big leagues, Ryan is not expected to make the Dodgers’ Opening Day rotation.
Instead, the right-hander is expected to serve as a depth-piece for the Dodgers in 2026 as the starting rotation is already full.
It’s unclear whether the Dodgers will have a five or six-man rotation, but there are already six starters ahead of Ryan. The staples of the rotation include World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani, two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell, and All-Star Tyler Glasnow.
The remaining two slots will likely be filled by Japanese fireballer Roki Sasaki and Emmet Sheehan, who made his return to the Dodgers rotation last season after missing the 2024 season and the start of last year as he recovered Tommy John surgery.
He will likely receive opportunities throughout the season as injuries inevitably play a role in 2026.
Manager Dave Roberts expressed excitement for Ryan’s return as he looks to make an impact as the Dodgers chase the three-peat.
“I’m excited for River,” Roberts said at the Winter Meetings. “Because to see your teammates celebrate and go through what we went through and not be able to participate, those are things that we’re all betting on for that extra hunger to kind of make their impact in 2026.”
LA Baseball Report
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