MLB Rumors: Dodgers to Call Up No. 4 Prospect River Ryan amid Dustin May Injury

The Los Angeles Dodgers are turning to the minor leagues to add pitching depth.

Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reported that the Dodgers are calling up pitching prospect River Ryan to bolster the rotation after the All-Star Break. His debut is currently unknown, but he will aid a Dodgers pitching staff that has seen Clayton Kershaw, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Dustin May hit the 60-day injured list.

Ryan is the No. 4 prospect in the Dodgers system, the No. 2 pitcher and was rated as the No. 33 overall prospect in baseball by Keith Law of The Athletic.

Ryan will slot in next to veteran James Paxton as well as rookies Gavin Stone, Landon Knack and Justin Wrobleski in the Dodgers rotation. Los Angeles will see some pitchers, like Kershaw, Walker Buehler and Tyler Glasnow, return in the near future, but May is reportedly out for the season after an esophageal tear. Yamamoto will also not be eligible to return until mid-August.

Ryan has made seven starts across three levels in 2024, earning a 2.21 ERA and registering 27 strikeouts. The bulk of this has come at the Triple-A level, and the 25-year-old will now prepare to face major league hitters for the first time in his professional career.

The Dodgers have remained a force at the top of the National League despite the injuries. Los Angeles is 56-40 and holds a seven-game lead over the second place Arizona Diamondbacks.