Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Rupe follows a worn path

If Ryan Rupe's story sounds familiar, it's because it is.

A 30-year-old right-handed pitcher, Rupe came up through the Devil Rays' organization before his stock slipped, relegating him to a year in Japan before getting a shot with the Dodgers' Triple-A club.

That's not exactly a bad thing. After all, former Tampa Bay pitchers Wilson Alvarez and Tanyon Sturtze both brought their major league careers back to life by donning a Las Vegas 51s uniform for a while, and earlier this season, Rupe looked poised to do the same.

Not that the history had anything to do with his decision to come to the 51s. In fact, Rupe was just happy to find a team willing to sign a guy who struggled in Japan.

"I was just looking for a team. I was fortunate that they offered, that they gave me a chance to fight for the number five spot, which they did," Rupe said. "Honestly you pretty much come back from Japan hopeful a new team will come look at you."

The Dodgers let Rupe pitch in seven games in March, starting one. He gave up nine earned runs in 15 2/3 innings, but showed enough talent to prompt the Dodgers to keep him on reserve in Las Vegas.

What he couldn't do in spring training, he excelled at in Las Vegas. In the 51s' season opener at Colorado Springs, Rupe pitched three innings, giving up four hits and one earned run while striking out three batters.

A week later against Salt Lake, Rupe went 6 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs while fanning seven Stingers batters - but took a loss.

Six nights after that, Rupe's hopes of returning back to the major leagues were almost derailed.

On April 20 against Salt Lake, Rupe felt some muscle strains during warm-ups. In the second inning, the pain became unbearable and he came out. He would not pitch with the 51s for over a month.

"It's one of those injuries that you've got to take your time on," he said. "There's not much you can do about it. If I reinjure it I'm out another month."

On Monday, Rupe returned to the 51s lineup, pitching six innings in a win against Round Rock. The Express got six hits and four runs, including two home runs, off Rupe. But he struck out five batters in the first game of a series sweep of Round Rock.

"I've only seen him a few games but I know he knows how to pitch," 51s manager Jerry Royster said. "He rarely gets banged around, he can get outs and I'm looking forward to him pitching. I know the Dodgers are very high on him."

Royster said Rupe's ability to throw strikes, especially with the 51s' so-far steady defense this year, is particularly helpful.

"Me being a position player, we really appreciate guys that throw strikes," Royster said. "That's why we have under three-hour games when he and (Pat) Mahomes pitch."

Now, Rupe has to continue to try and work on the command of his fastball, another familiar story around Cashman Field this year.

Still, his 2005 ERA of 3.78 is a long way from the 6.67 ERA he logged while with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters last year, and well short of his major-league 5.85 ERA.

"He's really a rookie," Royster said. "I think sometimes we don't do them justice because they've been pitching for awhile, but they haven't pitched up there very long. He's done well up there and he's struggled up there. He'll pitch in the major leagues for sure this year because there's nothing stopping him. There's nothing to derail him except for injury."

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