River Ryan's Dodgers debut was a breath of fresh air amidst rotation woes

On Monday night, River Ryan became the latest top Dodgers prospect to make his MLB debut this season, following in the footsteps of Andy Pages, Landon Knack, and Justin Wrobleski. Ryan probably would've gotten the call before either of the pitchers, or at least Wrobleski, if it weren't for the fact that he started the season on the IL. He was a non-roster invitee to spring training but wasn't able to make an appearance because of shoulder fatigue that later required surgery.

He was sent out on a rehab assignment in early June and returned to Oklahoma City on June 15. Although he did get into some trouble in that first appearance, going only 2/3 of an inning and giving up two runs before getting pulled, he worked his ERA down to 2.76 over 16 1/3 innings before getting called up.

He was widely expected to make his major league debut after the All-Star break, even before we got the good news that Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw would be coming back the week after. Sure enough, Ryan was the pitcher on the mound for the Dodgers' first game against the Giants on Monday, where he didn't disappoint.

Through 5 1/3 innings, representing an unexpectedly long outing, he gave up four hits and just one unearned run thanks to a passed ball, while striking out two. He departed to a standing ovation from the crowd at Dodger Stadium. Credit to Dave Roberts for letting Ryan ride.

River Ryan's great MLB debut was exactly what the Dodgers needed

Ryan threw 73 pitches and mostly relied on his fastball, but threw in a healthy mix of the five other pitches in his arsenal. His two strikeouts came on a perfectly painted 96.6 MPH fastball to Tyler Fitzgerald in the third, and the second on a nice back foot cutter to Mike Yastrzemski in the fourth.

He was clearly starting to feel the pitch count a little (his 5 1/3 innings on Monday represented a professional career high) in the sixth, and gave up two singles to LaMonte Wade Jr. and Patrick Bailey before being replaced by Alex Vesia. The Dodgers went through three more relievers after him, and Ryan Yarbrough almost spoiled the win when he gave up a homer to Fitzgerald, but Teoscar Hernández responded with an RBI single in the eighth to win the game for LA.

The Dodgers rotation is getting some relief with Glasnow and Kershaw's returns, but Ryan's presence and his great debut is further assurance that the rotation isn't in total shambles. Even if he gets the bump when/if the Dodgers get at least one more starter at the deadline, then he'll almost certainly be back next year to get a real rookie season under his belt.