Former Blue Jay Ross Stripling signs minor-league deal with Royals

Toronto’s favourite Ross was selected in the fifth round of the 2012 draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers, getting his start with the team in the 2016 season. Stripling had a productive time with the Dodgers, posting a 3.67 ERA and a 3.90 FIP in 420.2 innings, spending parts of five seasons with the team.

Before the 2020 trade deadline, the Toronto Blue Jays traded Kendall Williams and Ryan Noda to the Dodgers in exchange for the long-man. He wasn’t great in his 15.2 innings pitched after the trade and while he had some success in 2021, he ultimately wasn’t great that season either.

However, 2022 was the best season of his career and he was a big reason why the Jays made the post-season that year. After Hyun Jin Ryu required Tommy John surgery, Stripling took his spot in the rotation and finished the season with a 3.01 ERA and a 3.11 FIP in 134.1 innings pitched, with a 20.7 K% and a 3.7 BB%.

Unfortunately, that was Stripling’s final season with the Blue Jays, as he signed a two-year deal with the San Francisco Giants before the start of the 2023 season. That season, he had a 5.36 ERA and a 5.21 FIP in 89 innings pitched. Before the start of the 2024 season, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics, where he posted a 6.01 ERA and a 3.89 FIP in 85.1 innings pitched with a 12.9 K% and a 5.8 BB%.

Stripling joins Jordan Groshans and Luke Maile as former Blue Jays who have signed minor-league deals with the Royals as of late.

Hopefully, Stripling can earn a shot with the Royals at some point in 2025. His FIP from the season before is a good sign and he could potentially help them reach the postseason for a second consecutive season.