Ricky Vanasco makes MLB debut
FRISCO, Texas (April 16, 2024) – Former Frisco RoughRiders pitcher Ricky Vanasco made his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, April 15th in their game against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium. Vanasco came out of the bullpen in the Dodgers’ 6-4 loss and did not allow
FRISCO, Texas (April 16, 2024) – Former Frisco RoughRiders pitcher Ricky Vanasco made his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, April 15th in their game against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium.
Vanasco came out of the bullpen in the Dodgers’ 6-4 loss and did not allow a base runner over 2.0 innings, striking out Riley Adams for his first and only strikeout of the outing.
A 15th round draft pick by the Rangers in 2017, Vanasco excelled in 2019 tossing 49.1 innings with 75 strikeouts on his way to a 1.81 ERA across 11 starts games for Spokane and Hickory. He was promoted to Frisco in 2022, making just two starts as a RoughRider.
In 2023, Vanasco was designated for assignment by the Texas Rangers and later traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for LHP Luis Valdez. After electing for free agency and passing through waivers without being claimed at the end of the 2023 season, the Dodgers re-signed Vanasco. In 25 appearances out of the bullpen for Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City, he boasted a 1-4 record with a 1.24 ERA.
He opened the 2024 season in Triple-A and tossed 4.0 innings across four games before being called to join the big league club.
Vanasco is the sixth former RoughRiders player to make his MLB debut in 2024 and the 203rd player in franchise history, joining Wyatt Langford, Justin Slaten, Justin Foscue, Davis Wendzel and Cole Winn.
The RoughRiders continue their six-game series with the Arkansas Travelers (Seattle Mariners) at 6:35 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16th. RHP Ben Anderson (0-0, 1.93) will take the mound for Frisco against RHP Logan Evans (0-1, 3.24) for the Travs.
For tickets and more information about the Frisco RoughRiders, visit RidersBaseball.com or call 972.731.9200.
About the RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and the 2022 Texas League champions. In 2023, the team celebrated its 20th anniversary and has consistently finished in the top five among all Double-A franchises in attendance yearly. In August 2014, the RoughRiders were purchased by an ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg. Since then, the new ownership group, together with the City of Frisco, has spearheaded numerous major franchise enhancements, investing over $8 million in a wide array of facility upgrades and improvements, including a state-of-the-art HD video board, sound system, Bull Moose Saloon, Bullpen Bar, Riders Outpost Team Store and the world's largest water feature in a sports facility, the massive Lazy River. These enhancements earned the Riders and the City of Frisco Ballpark Digest's prestigious "Best Ballpark Renovation" award for two consecutive years (2015 and 2016). More than 190 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball including current Rangers Josh Jung, Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford. For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders, please visit RidersBaseball.com or contact [email protected].