Tommy John surgery is the kryptonite of many MLB pitchers.
With the ability to sideline a player for the entire season, early comebacks are not the norm. Right-handed starting pitcher River Ryan is hoping to defy the odds and return to the mound in 2025.
The Los Angeles Dodgers placed Ryan on the 15-day IL with right forearm tightness in August. Ryan sustained the season-ending injury in his fourth MLB start after allowing only four runs in 4.2 innings.
By the fifth inning of the Dodgers’ 4-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Ryan exited the game early with a trainer.
The Dodgers ultimately transferred him to the 60-day IL eight days later, expecting him to be unavailable for all of 2025. But, Ryan is aiming to be back by the postseason.
“Hopefully looking to be back by September, that’d be fantastic,” Ryan said to Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain at spring training. “I’m not going to rush anything if I’m not feeling it elbow-wise. I’m definitely not going to try to push through that, got a lot of time left.”
Ryan’s surgery marked the third time a Dodgers pitcher underwent an elbow procedure over the last few seasons. Starting pitcher Dustin May and reliever Kyle Hurt both had elbow ligament surgeries.
Hurt was able to make three appearances in 2024, while May missed the entire season.
Ryan, who was ranked as the Dodgers No. 14 prospect in 2023, excelled in his rookie season last year. Los Angeles called him up for his MLB debut in July against the San Francisco Giants after designating left-hander James Paxton for assignment.
Through four starts with the Dodgers, Ryan logged a 1.33 ERA with 18 strikeouts. Despite being short-lived, his rookie season suggests the 26-year-old has a promising future ahead.
He’s hoping that can be as soon as late 2025.
