The Los Angeles Dodgers' pitching depth is about to get a promising boost. River Ryan, the right-handed pitcher who dazzled in his 2024 debut, is finally set to return from injury this Friday for the Oklahoma City Comets, the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate. After missing over a month with a hamstring strain, Ryan will take the mound against the Albuquerque Isotopes for his first start since April 11.

Ryan's 2024 MLB debut was nothing short of electric. In just four starts for the Dodgers, he posted a microscopic 1.33 ERA over 20.1 innings, striking out 18 batters while allowing only 15 hits. That dominant stretch had fans and analysts alike buzzing about his potential as a future rotation anchor. However, his 2025 season was completely wiped out by Tommy John surgery, making his 2026 return all the more critical.

So far this season, Ryan's numbers in the minors have been modest—a 5.14 ERA over two starts, with no strikeouts and two walks. But those stats may be misleading, largely due to the hamstring injury that sidelined him. The Dodgers are taking a cautious approach, with manager Dave Roberts acknowledging that expecting a full 30-start workload from a pitcher coming off major arm surgery and a recent leg injury is unrealistic. Instead, the team is carefully managing Ryan's innings to keep him fresh for the second half of the season.

This measured return couldn't come at a better time for the Dodgers. Their rotation, even with superstars like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, has been hit hard by injuries and inconsistency. Tyler Glasnow is on the shelf, Blake Snell just returned from his own stint on the injured list, Roki Sasaki has been up and down, Emmet Sheehan's ERA is climbing, and Justin Wrobleski recently had his first rough outing. With the season still young and the schedule long, there's a clear path for Ryan to earn his way back to the big leagues.

For now, all eyes are on Friday's start in Albuquerque. If Ryan can recapture even a fraction of his 2024 form, he'll be a valuable addition to a Dodgers rotation that's always looking for reliable arms. And for fans who love a good comeback story, this is one to watch closely.