River Ryan

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #10 prospect in 2025
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.
  
  Track Record: At UNC Pembroke, Ryan was both an infielder and a pitcher. The Padres drafted him as a hitter in the 11th round in 2021, and he spent his first pro summer as a position player in the Arizona Complex League. His one home run came off of future big leaguer Walter Pennington. Ryan returned to the mound for instructional league and showed off a vicious mix of pitches which signaled the end of his days in the batter’s box. The Dodgers were intrigued and acquired him in the deal that sent Matt Beaty to San Diego. Ryan made his big league debut on July 22, 2024, but had Tommy John surgery in late August and will miss all of 2025.
  
  Scouting Report: At his best, Ryan has the nastiest repertoire in the organization, and scouts outside the organization were also impressed with his combination of stuff, athleticism and feel to manipulate the ball. Ryan’s mix features six distinct pitches, though his main weapons are a four-seam fastball which averaged 97 mph and touched 100 and a shorter slider in the mid 80s. He backs those two offerings with a cutter, changeup, two-seamer and curveball, the latter two of which were thrown sparingly during his time in the minor leagues and across his four major league starts. Ryan’s curveball and changeup have each earned above-average grades in the past and would give him four pitches which grade as 55 or better on the 20-80 scouting scale if his stuff returns intact from his recovery. His control is fringe-average but had shown improvement during his limited action in 2024.
  
  The Future: Ryan has the ceiling of a midrotation starter but will have to wait until 2026, when he will be 27 years old, for another crack at realizing that potential.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Cutter: 40 | Control: 45
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #7 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/Medium
  
  Track Record: Ryan played both ways as a shortstop/second baseman and relief pitcher at Division II north Carolina-Pembroke. He hit exclusively in his pro debut after the Padres drafted him in the 11th round in 2021, but he impressed on the mound in instructional league after the season, leading the Dodgers to acquire him for Matt Beaty. Ryan’s stuff ticked up with his focus exclusively on pitching as he conquered the Class A levels in 2022. He took another jump in 2023 and set new career highs in innings (104.1) and strikeouts (110) as he rose from Double-A to Triple-A.
  
  Scouting Report: Ryan is an elite athlete with a quick arm out of a strong, 6-foot-2 frame. His high-spin fastball sits 94-96 mph and touches 99 with late ride and tail up in the zone. His hard, 88-91 mph slider with depth and late movement is another plus pitch. Ryan also has an 80-84 mph power curveball with downward break and an 86-88 mph changeup with late fade that project to be above-average pitches, though his execution of them is inconsistent. He is a good athlete with a clean delivery and throws strikes with average control. Ryan has a promising blend of stuff, control and athleticism, but he is still new to starting and learning the finer points of pitch sequencing and execution. He mixes dominant outings with clunkers and is still learning how to last deep into games. He has yet to complete more than five innings in a start in his career.
  
  The Future: Ryan is 25 years old but still young as a pitcher. He has the stuff to be a midrotation starter if he can improve his execution and durability. If not, he projects to be a flame-throwing, high-leverage reliever.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 65 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 45
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #16 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Ryan played both ways as a middle infielder and pitcher at North Carolina-Pembroke and hit exclusively as a DH in his pro debut after the Padres drafted him in the 11th round and signed him for $100,000. He shined on the mound at instructs after the season, leading the Dodgers to acquire him for utilityman Matt Beatty during 2022 spring training. Ryan's stuff ticked up with his focus solely on pitching in his first full season, fueling a breakout season across the Class A levels.
  
  Scouting Report: Like fellow two-way college star Tony Gonsolin before him, Ryan is an elite athlete with a quick arm who is steadily gaining velocity with his focus on pitching. His fastball has ticked up to sit 95-97 mph with rising action and his cutter has become a plus pitch that sits 90-92 mph with tight spin. His firm, upper-80s changeup with late run is an above-average pitch and he has feel to spin an above-average mid-80s curveball. Ryan's control comes and goes, but it should sharpen with more experience on the mound. He has the arsenal to start but has to put on weight and strength and improve his durability. He experienced general soreness after throwing only 47.2 innings during the season and will need multiple years to build up to a starter's workload.
  
  The Future: Ryan has a chance to take off if he proves he can log enough innings to remain a starter. Otherwise, his stuff will play in late relief.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 55. Cutter: 60. Changeup: 55. Control: 45

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Ryan played both ways as a middle infielder and pitcher at North Carolina-Pembroke and hit exclusively as a DH in his pro debut after the Padres drafted him in the 11th round and signed him for $100,000. He shined on the mound at instructs after the season, leading the Dodgers to acquire him for utilityman Matt Beatty during 2022 spring training. Ryan's stuff ticked up with his focus solely on pitching in his first full season, fueling a breakout season across the Class A levels.
  
  Scouting Report: Like fellow two-way college star Tony Gonsolin before him, Ryan is an elite athlete with a quick arm who is steadily gaining velocity with his focus on pitching. His fastball has ticked up to sit 95-97 mph with rising action and his cutter has become a plus pitch that sits 90-92 mph with tight spin. His firm, upper-80s changeup with late run is an above-average pitch and he has feel to spin an above-average mid-80s curveball. Ryan's control comes and goes, but it should sharpen with more experience on the mound. He has the arsenal to start but has to put on weight and strength and improve his durability. He experienced general soreness after throwing only 47.2 innings during the season and will need multiple years to build up to a starter's workload.
  
  The Future: Ryan has a chance to take off if he proves he can log enough innings to remain a starter. Otherwise, his stuff will play in late relief.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 55. Cutter: 60. Changeup: 55. Control: 45
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Ryan played both ways as a middle infielder and pitcher at North Carolina-Pembroke and hit exclusively as a DH in his pro debut after the Padres drafted him in the 11th round and signed him for $100,000. He shined on the mound at instructs after the season, leading the Dodgers to acquire him for utilityman Matt Beatty during 2022 spring training. Ryan's stuff ticked up with his focus solely on pitching in his first full season, fueling a breakout season across the Class A levels.
  
  Scouting Report: Like fellow two-way college star Tony Gonsolin before him, Ryan is an elite athlete with a quick arm who is steadily gaining velocity with his focus on pitching. His fastball has ticked up to sit 95-97 mph with rising action and his cutter has become a plus pitch that sits 90-92 mph with tight spin. His firm, upper-80s changeup with late run is an above-average pitch and he has feel to spin an above-average mid-80s curveball. Ryan's control comes and goes, but it should sharpen with more experience on the mound. He has the arsenal to start but has to put on weight and strength and improve his durability. He experienced general soreness after throwing only 47.2 innings during the season and will need multiple years to build up to a starter's workload.
  
  The Future: Ryan has a chance to take off if he proves he can log enough innings to remain a starter. Otherwise, his stuff will play in late relief.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 55. Cutter: 60. Changeup: 55. Control: 45
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/Extreme
  
  August Update: A two-way player at UNC Pembroke, Ryan has seen his fastball tick up to 97 mph now that he&#39s focused solely on pitching. His developing secondaries, elite athleticism and fresh arm are all indications his best days are still ahead.