Los Angeles Dodgers General Manager Brandon Gomes has provided the most anticipated offseason injury update regarding two key young pitchers, Gavin Stone and River Ryan. The news is overwhelmingly positive, with both pitchers expected to be ready for Spring Training 2026.
The organizational depth provided by the return of these two players is essential for the Dodgers, even with their star-studded rotation.
🏥 Recovery Timelines and Status
Gomes confirmed at the recent GM Meetings that both pitchers are progressing well through their recovery from major surgeries and should be on a standard track for the start of the 2026 season.
| Pitcher | Injury/Surgery | Date of Surgery | Expected Return | GM Update (Nov. 2025) |
| Gavin Stone | Right Shoulder Surgery (Capsule/Labrum/Rotator) | October 2024 | Start of 2026 Season | “Ready for spring training and a ‘normal’ buildup.” (Source 1.3, 3.7) |
| River Ryan | Tommy John Surgery (UCL) | August 2024 | Start of 2026 Season | Expected to have a “relatively normal spring training” as he approaches 18 months post-op. (Source 3.6) |
“We expect them to have a pretty normal year, whatever a normal year is coming off surgery.”
— Brandon Gomes, Dodgers General Manager (Source 1.3)
📈 Implications for the 2026 Rotation
The return of Stone and Ryan significantly bolsters the Dodgers’ organizational depth, which is paramount given the high number of pitching injuries the team has faced in recent years.
- The Depth Chart: As of now, the projected 2026 starting rotation is already stacked with big names: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani (pitching), Emmet Sheehan, and possibly Roki Sasaki (Source 1.3).
- Initial Roster Adjustment: Given this depth, neither Stone nor Ryan are likely to make the Opening Day rotation (Source 3.1). They both have options remaining, allowing the Dodgers to “stash them in the minors and wait until they’re inevitably needed” (Source 3.1).
- The Inevitable Need: The Dodgers are famous for managing pitcher workloads and dealing with constant rotation churn. Stone and Ryan provide crucial, high-quality reinforcement to step in when injuries or performance issues arise, protecting the team against the possibility of a setback for pitchers like Glasnow (due to injury history) or Sasaki (if he struggles in a starting role) (Source 1.3).
Gavin Stone is the more established of the two, having pitched a solid $140.1$ innings with a 3.53 ERA in 2024 (Source 1.3). River Ryan, who underwent Tommy John, showed high potential in his four 2024 starts, posting a 1.33 ERA (Source 3.6). Both will use a strong Spring Training performance to make their case for the first call-up.
