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Look for left-handed pitcher Kyle Ryan to play some role in the Cubs bullpen in 2019, as the Cubs have signed the 27-year-old to a major league contract.
Ryan, who pitched in part of four seasons with the Tigers, spent 2018 at Triple-A, with the Iowa Cubs. He was pretty damn good too, producing a 61 percent ground ball rate in 66 innings.
The #Cubs and LHP Kyle Ryan have agreed to terms on a 2019 major league contract. pic.twitter.com/H2DXN7NBI7
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) November 28, 2018
Ryan pitched in 22 games at Iowa this past season, making eight starts and putting up a 2.86 ERA. He made seven career starts with the Tigers before he made the full transition into the bullpen. In 2016, Ryan recorded a 3.07 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 55.2 innings with Detroit.
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#Cubs sign LHP Kyle Ryan to major-league contract, source tells The Athletic. Was minor-league free agent. At AAA with CHC last season: 2.86 ERA in 66 IP, 22 games, eight starts. From 2014 to ‘17, 3.87 ERA in 128 IP during various stints with #Tigers.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 28, 2018
When you take a look at the splits in his time with the Tigers, Ryan found most of his success out of the bullpen. He recorded a 3.65 ERA in 91.1 relief innings, compared to a 4.42 ERA in 36.2 innings as a starter.
He’s a crafty pitcher, relying on getting ground ball outs. Ryan’s fastball average in the majors has been at 88.9 mph, striking out only 4.9 batters per nine innings. However, he did strikeout 8.3 batters per nine innings in 22 games at Triple-A Iowa this past year.
So, you can add Ryan to the bullpen depth that includes fellow lefties Mike Montgomery, Brian Duensing and Randy Rosario.
If Ryan finishes 2019 on the Cubs 40-man roster, he’d be arbitration eligible next offseason as a Super Two player. He could be under team control for five years.
