The Cincinnati Reds drafted Ryan Olson in the 13th round out of Cal Poly in 2016. He wouldn’t pitch until the 2017 season, though, after missing most of the college season in 2016 and the rest of the year after signing. In 2017 he made just four starts in Dayton before injury took away the remainder of that season, too.
With only four starts in Low-A in 2017 the Reds still felt confident that Ryan Olson was ready to make the jump to Advanced-A. He joined the Daytona Tortugas to begin his season and made his first start on April 7th. He would allow three runs over 5.0 innings with three walks, three strikeouts, and give up two home runs. It was a rough-ish start to the season. It would be the only one he had during the month. On the 13th he allowed just one run with six strikeouts and a walk in 6.0 innings. The next time out he gave up two runs with seven more strikeouts. Against Florida on the 24th he was charged with two unearned runs over 6.0 innings with a walk and six strikeouts. And he capped off the month with eight strikeouts while allowing a run in 6.0 innings against Fort Myers. The month finished with him posting a 2.17 ERA in 29.0 innings with seven walks and 30 strikeouts.
May began with a continuation of where April left off. On the 5th the right-handed pitcher allowed just one run in 6.0 innings with two walks and six strikeouts against Lakeland. It was his fifth consecutive start of exactly 6.0 innings. The run of outstanding starts ended the next time out for Ryan Olson. Clearwater touched him up for seven runs in 4.0 innings on the 11th. Things didn’t get better the next two times out as he allowed eight earned in 11.0 combined innings with five walks and four strikeouts to round out the month. He finished May with four starts and a 6.86 ERA in 21.0 innings. He allowed just one home run, but walked nine batters with just 13 strikeouts.
Ryan Olson only made one start in June. He allowed four earned runs in 2.1 innings on the 3rd. He hit the disabled list with a lower back strain following the start. The starter returned on a rehab assignment a month later with the Greeneville Reds. He pitched in two games, both out of the bullpen, before being shut down once again. He didn’t return to the mound in 2018.
For all 2018 Season Reviews and Scouting Reports – click here (these will come out during the week throughout the offseason).
Ryan Olson Scouting Report
Position: Right-handed pitcher | B/T: Right/Right
Height: 6′ 1″ | Weight: 195 lbs | Drafted: 13th Round, 2016
Born: 11/22/1994 in Upland, California
Fastball | When he was at his best in 2018, the pitch worked 93-96 MPH and showed good sinking action to it. It’s an above-average offering.
Change Up | Another above-average pitch that works in the 85-88 MPH range.
Slider | A solid offering that’s a fringe-average pitch.
Curveball | Another solid, fringe-average breaking ball.
Health has been a very big problem for Ryan Olson over the last three years. He threw just 28.0 innings in 2016 as a junior at Cal Poly and didn’t pitch with the Reds after signing. In 2017 he missed almost the entire season with ulnar nerve irritation. Then in the 2018 season he missed almost the entire second half.
The stuff has always been there for Olson, but he turned 24-years-old in the offseason and he’s thrown a total of 78.1 innings since being drafted in 2016. There’s enough stuff there for him to be a starting pitcher, but there’s a chance that health and his age could also lead to a move to the bullpen despite having starters stuff.
A move to the bullpen would certainly accelerate his timeline. That is, of course, assuming he can remain on the mound. Coming out of the bullpen could allow both the fastball and change up to play up. Focusing on one of the two breaking balls may also allow it to improve and play up, too.
Interesting Stat on Ryan Olson
He dominated right-handed hitters, holding them to an OPS of just .636 in 108 plate appearances. Left-handed hitters, though, posted an .872 OPS against him during the season in 136 plate appearances.