Ryan Pepiot Bio
Ryan Michael Pepiot is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2022 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and currently wears jersey number 44. Pepiot was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, and has built his career as a starting pitcher who relies on control, swing-and-miss stuff, and poise on the mound.
After developing through the Los Angeles Dodgers system and later being traded to Tampa Bay, Pepiot has settled into a meaningful role within the Rays rotation. His career to this point reflects steady growth across the minor leagues, a productive debut season in the majors, and an emerging leadership role with his current club.
Early Life and Background
Ryan Michael Pepiot was born on August 21, 1997, in Indianapolis, Indiana, and grew up in nearby Westfield, Indiana. He attended Westfield High School, where he was a multi-sport athlete competing in baseball, basketball, and football. In football, Pepiot played quarterback and earned Class 5-A All-State recognition as a senior, demonstrating the competitive drive and athleticism that would later translate to the baseball diamond.
After high school, Pepiot attended Butler University in Indianapolis, where he played college baseball for the Butler Bulldogs for three seasons. Following his sophomore year in 2018, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks of the Cape Cod Baseball League, one of the premier wooden-bat leagues in the country. That experience helped sharpen his command against high-level competition.
As a junior at Butler, Pepiot went 4-4 with a 3.92 earned run average in 14 starts while striking out a school-record 126 batters over 78 innings. He finished the season as Butler’s career leader in strikeouts with 306, cementing his reputation as one of the top pitchers in program history before turning professional.
Path to Baseball
Pepiot’s path to professional baseball accelerated when the Los Angeles Dodgers selected him in the third round of the 2019 MLB Draft. He became the highest-drafted Butler Bulldogs player in program history, a milestone that validated his college production and set the stage for his ascent through the minors.
He signed with the Dodgers and was initially assigned to the Arizona League Dodgers before being promoted to the Class-A Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League. Pepiot finished his first professional season with 13 appearances, including 10 starts, between the two levels. He recorded no decisions but posted a strong 1.93 earned run average with 31 strikeouts in 23.1 innings pitched.
In 2021, Pepiot was named to the Dodgers’ Spring Training roster as a non-roster invitee, signaling the organization’s belief in his readiness for higher competition. He opened the season with the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, where he went 3-4 with a 2.87 earned run average and 81 strikeouts over 59 and two-thirds innings, before earning a promotion to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers.
Ryan Pepiot Career
Early Career (2019-2021)
Pepiot’s early professional years were marked by rapid development through the Dodgers’ farm system. After his productive debut between the Arizona League and Great Lakes in 2019, he returned to action in 2021 as a more polished pitcher. His performance in Double-A Tulsa, paired with his Triple-A exposure at Oklahoma City, established him as one of the Dodgers’ top pitching prospects heading into 2022.
The combination of strikeout ability, improved command, and durability across two minor league levels convinced the Dodgers that Pepiot was ready to contribute at the major league level. That confidence translated into his promotion to the big leagues midway through the 2022 season.
Los Angeles Dodgers Era (2022-2023)
Pepiot began 2022 with Oklahoma City and started the year 2-0 with a 2.05 earned run average and 36 strikeouts in six starts. On May 11, 2022, the Dodgers promoted him to the major leagues, and he made his debut as the starting pitcher against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pepiot struck out the first batter he faced, Ben Gamel, for his first MLB strikeout and pitched three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one hit batter while walking five.
On July 5, 2022, Pepiot earned his first major league win against the Colorado Rockies. He appeared in nine games for the Dodgers that season, making seven starts, and finished with a 3-0 record and a 3.47 earned run average. Pepiot also made 19 appearances and 17 starts for Oklahoma City in 2022, going 9-1 with a 2.56 earned run average.
Heading into 2023, Pepiot was expected to open the season in the Dodgers’ starting rotation but suffered a left oblique strain in his final spring training start and began the year on the injured list. After several minor league rehab starts, he rejoined the Dodgers on August 19, 2023. He made three starts and five bulk relief appearances that season, finishing with a 2-1 record and a 2.14 earned run average.
Tampa Bay Rays Era (2024-Present)
On December 16, 2023, the Los Angeles Dodgers traded Ryan Pepiot and Jonny DeLuca to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for pitcher Tyler Glasnow and outfielder Manuel Margot. The trade launched a new chapter for Pepiot, who joined a Rays organization known for developing pitching talent and maximizing value from its arms.
In 2024, Pepiot became a fixture in the Rays rotation. On September 18, 2024, he recorded the 115th immaculate inning in Major League Baseball history, striking out three batters on nine pitches, and the fourth immaculate inning in Tampa Bay Rays history, against the Boston Red Sox. Through the 2025 season, Pepiot had compiled a 24-21 win-loss record with a 3.54 earned run average and 389 strikeouts across his major league career.
In 2025, Pepiot served as the Rays’ Opening Day starter, pitching six innings and taking a no-decision in a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies. The selection reinforced his standing as a frontline starter for Tampa Bay.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Ryan Pepiot’s career came on September 18, 2024, when he threw an immaculate inning against the Boston Red Sox, a rare feat accomplished by striking out three batters on nine consecutive pitches. He was also named the Rays’ Opening Day starter for the 2025 season, underlining his role as a leader of the Tampa Bay pitching staff.
Ryan Pepiot Career Wins
Across his major league career, Ryan Pepiot has accumulated 24 wins, 389 strikeouts, and a 3.54 earned run average through the 2025 season. His win total reflects both his durability as a starter and his ability to deliver quality outings for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays.
MLB Highlights
Pepiot’s first major league win came on July 5, 2022, when he earned the victory against the Colorado Rockies as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He finished that debut season with a 3-0 record and a 3.47 earned run average, signaling his potential as a future rotation piece.
Following his trade to the Tampa Bay Rays, Pepiot posted a 2-1 record with a 2.14 earned run average during a shortened 2023 campaign split between the Dodgers’ system and the majors. He then settled in as a starter for Tampa Bay in 2024 and 2025, combining for the bulk of his career victories.
Other Wins & Performances
In the minor leagues, Pepiot compiled a 9-1 record with a 2.56 earned run average across 19 appearances and 17 starts for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers in 2022. He also posted a strong 2.05 earned run average with 36 strikeouts in six starts at Oklahoma City before his first major league promotion, further reinforcing his readiness for the big leagues.
Ryan Pepiot Family
Personal Life
Ryan Michael Pepiot was raised in Westfield, Indiana, after being born in Indianapolis, and attended Westfield High School before continuing his baseball career at Butler University. Public information about his immediate family, marital status, or children is not currently verified from available sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Ryan Pepiot’s first full year as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays rotation following his December 2023 trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was entrusted with the Opening Day start against the Colorado Rockies, pitching six innings in a 3-2 Rays victory and establishing the tone for his campaign.
Throughout the 2025 season, Pepiot continued to develop into a reliable mid-rotation starter for Tampa Bay, relying on the strikeout ability he first showcased at Butler University. His performance contributed to the Rays’ ongoing effort to remain competitive in the American League East, even as the team balanced development with veteran leadership on the mound.
Looking ahead, Pepiot’s outlook in Tampa Bay remained positive entering the following season, given his track record of strikeouts, his role as an Opening Day starter, and his continued growth within the Rays organization.
