Mariners SP Prospect Ryan Sloan on Year One in Pro Ball, His Pitch Arsenal, and What’s Next

I spent the winter down at spring camp and Shv Camp, getting rounds in, throwing bullpens, and learning how to live the pro schedule. It’s a different world from high school ball in Illinois — colder in the Midwest and, honestly, a lot more structured — but I’ve loved the chance to be around the big league clubhouse and see how those guys work every day.

Where I’m at right now

I was invited to big league camp this spring, which has been unreal. Being in the big league clubhouse, playing catch with those guys, sitting in meetings — you see how they prepare and it helps shape how you approach things. The WBC made schedules a little unpredictable, but the routine at Shv Camp helped keep everything grounded: bullpens, lifts, and one or two meetings per day on mental skills, pitching specifics, or nutrition.

Recap of my first full pro season (2025)

My first professional season was a grind in the best way. I appeared in 21 games and logged 82 innings between Modesto and Everett. The Mariners managed my workload tightly — a lot of three- and four-inning outings, with only three starts longer than five innings. That limited workload was part of the development plan, and it let me focus on command and finishing pitches rather than piling on innings right away.

The results were encouraging: 9.8 strikeouts per nine and just 1.9 walks per nine. I had six scoreless outings and allowed two or fewer runs in 16 of my 21 starts. There was a stretch in July where I threw 16 innings, posted a 1.13 ERA, a 0.75 WHIP, and struck out 20 while walking three. It wasn’t all smooth — I remember a rough patch right before that stretch where nothing seemed to fall in, and it forced a mental reset that ultimately led to that hot month.

Handling the grind: routines, recovery, and Whoop

One big surprise was how long the days feel in the minors. Game days could mean getting to the field at noon and not getting home until 10:00 or 10:30 p.m. The key has been creating a sustainable routine. I’ve tracked my recovery closely — I’ve mentioned I keep a near-perfect Whoop recovery score — and found a sleep schedule that works. During the season I settled into going to bed around midnight and waking up around nine a.m. It sounds late, but it fits the schedule and lets me be recovered for lifting and throwing.

Off the field, the clubhouse life keeps those long days from feeling empty. You hang out with teammates, play cards, and bounce ideas around. That camaraderie makes the daily grind fly by.

Pitch arsenal breakdown

I’ve been building a multi-piece arsenal and really focused on throwing everything for strikes. The staff grades pitches, and that grading gives you confidence — when you see a pitch is major league average or above, you learn to trust it in games. Here’s a closer look at the pitches I throw and where they’re at right now.

Four-seam fastball — The bread-and-butter. I threw it a ton last season to get ahead, and it sits in the mid-90s with the ability to touch 100. The goal is to keep it a reliable, strike-getting pitch.
Two-seam / sinker — This is newer for me. I’ve been experimenting with a one-seam orientation and developing it into a true second fastball. Some grips and reps in Modesto showed glimpses last year; this offseason I committed to it so I can have two distinct fastballs — both plus — to use against right-handers. Movement is a mix of horizontal and vertical depending on the release.
Cutter — Learned this pitch last year. It’s a fast, strike-friendly pitch I used a lot, especially against lefties. In bullpen sessions it’s clocked between 90 and 93 mph. The plan is to throw it with more intent this year and increase the velocity a bit as my feel improves.
Sweeper / slider — My bread-and-butter slider that had a lot of horizontal action last year. In pens it’s been sitting around 84–86 mph and produced a big chunk of my swinging strikes. I’m focused on improving location, especially getting it down and not just glove-side, so it can be equally effective against lefties and righties.
Kick change / changeup — I transitioned from a straight change to a kick change. Analysts have graded this one highly (it’s been listed as a 60-grade by some outlets), and when I throw it with confidence it does what it’s supposed to do. The key for me is to throw it with fastball intent — think “throw it hard” — so it comes off like a fastball and then dives or kicks away.

What the Mariners' grading system did for me

The internal grading really helped me believe in my stuff. When the system shows a pitch as major league average or above, you stop hesitating and start attacking. That confidence has a huge impact on how you compete on the mound.

Mental adjustments that mattered

One big lesson last year was dealing with stretches where the results didn't match the process. There was a period where I executed everything and still got hit — bloopers, strange balls finding space. After a few outings like that I had to change something mentally. I decided to focus only on executing my plan and accept the rest as out of my control. That mindset — worrying about the process rather than becoming results-obsessed — led to better outcomes and steadier performance.

Promotion to Everett and an unexpected medical bump

After a strong run in Modesto I got promoted to Everett late in the season. The call came after a good outing in Stockton; everything happened fast. I flew out the next morning, packed up months of stuff, and made the move. I threw a few starts at high A and thought I competed well, but I did give up some home runs and then needed a short eye muscle surgery that cut my season short.

The surgery fixed an inner-eye muscle that had been tight and causing my eye to pull when I got tired. It’s all healed now and I feel brand new in that department.

Offseason training and body goals

I trained six days a week on a high-low schedule. My offseason focus wasn’t to pile on mass but to get faster and more athletic — move heavy weight quickly and improve explosiveness. I sit around 230 pounds now, and the goal is being athletic on the mound so I can keep my velocity and compete later in outings without overthinking mechanics.

Life outside the lines: cards and teammates

Outside baseball, I’ve gotten into collecting cards. My Instagram handle is Sony Cards and I buy cards regularly — graded stuff, autos, numbered pieces — and try to grade cards through PSA when I can. It’s a hobby that keeps me grounded and excited off the field.

What’s next

This year I want to build on the confidence I earned in year one and keep growing my process. I’m excited to see how the sinker and cutter play in games, to continue sharpening the sweeper and the kick change, and to be ready to handle more innings. There’s also some discussion in the organization that injury moves and roster needs could create opportunities. That’s exciting, but I’m focused only on what I control: my preparation, my plan, and my execution.

The plan is simple — pitch with conviction, stick to the process, and let the results follow.