After a month-long absence due to a hamstring injury, River Ryan made a triumphant return to the mound for the Oklahoma City Comets on Friday night in Albuquerque. Despite the notoriously hitter-friendly conditions at Isotopes Park—often called "the moon" for its high altitude and thin air—Ryan looked sharp, striking out four batters and allowing just one run over four innings. He surrendered only two singles and a walk while throwing 53 pitches, with several fastballs topping 100 mph. It was a welcome sight for Dodgers fans, especially with Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow currently sidelined on the injured list in Los Angeles.
Ryan's performance immediately sparks speculation about a potential call-up to the big league rotation. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, however, urged caution. "The most important thing is his progression," Roberts told reporters on Friday. "If everyone isn’t on board with that and speeding it up, it’s moot. But if the training staff feels it’s okay and you’re not compromising him, then it’s a conversation." Translation: Ryan may need another start or two in Triple-A before he dons the Dodger blue.
The Comets didn't just get a great start—they erupted at the plate, turning the game into a rout. Four players collected three hits apiece. Alex Freeland homered and drove in five runs, while Jack Suwinski added a homer, a stolen base, and four RBIs. James Tibbs III reached base an incredible six times. Even veteran Kiké Hernández, on a rehab assignment, got in on the action, reaching base five times with three hits and two walks while scoring three runs. He's played third base exclusively so far, but Roberts indicated he'll see time at second and in the outfield before his rehab stint ends next weekend.
Elsewhere in the Dodgers' minor league system, the Tulsa Drillers had a tough night. They allowed the tying run in the eighth inning and eventually fell to the Springfield Cardinals in 12 innings, when Springfield pushed across three runs to win it. Despite the loss, keep an eye on prospects Josue De Paula and Kendall George, who continue to develop in the organization's pipeline.
For Dodgers fans, Friday was a reminder that help is on the way—and that the future of the rotation might just be heating up in Albuquerque.