Ricky Vanasco

Ricky Vanasco…born October 13, 1998 in Morriston, Florida…selected in the 15th round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers out of Williston High School in Williston, Fla.

2023

Began the year with Double-A Frisco before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 1... With Double-A Frisco, gave up six runs over 2.1 innings in two starts... In one start with Rookie-level ACL Dodgers, retired the side in five pitches, including one strikeout... Spent a majority of the season with Double-A Tulsa, appearing as a reliver for 20 games…amassed a 1-4 record with a 1.52 ERA (4 ER/23.2 IP) while holding batters to a .189 average and boasting a 1.10 WHIP...With Triple-A Oklahoma City, made five scoreless outings over 5.1 innings…only gave up three hits and one walk while striking out six... Recorded his first professional save on July 25 with Tulsa against Springfield, tossing one hitless inning of relief, walking one batter and striking out one Was scoreless in his 10 outings over 11 innings in the month of August with Tulsa for a 1-2 record, giving up seven unearned runs, 10 hits, and seven walks while striking out 18…only gave up runs in a combined four games out of the 28 games he appeared in.

2022

Saw first official game action in over two seasons, combining to go 3-5 with a 4.69 ERA (48 ER/92.1 IP) after earning a late-season call-up…spent most of season with Hickory, and ranked among team leaders in games started, (T1st, 21), innings pitched (4th, 84.1) and strikeouts (3rd, 111)…tied his career-high when he struck out 10 batters vs. Greensboro on 6/29…first 10 G: 5.67 ERA (24 ER/38.1 IP) and 46 SO, last 11 G: 3.52 ERA (18 ER/46 IP) and 65 SO…his 118 strikeouts across both clubs ranked 5th in the Texas farmhands…promoted to Double-A on 9/9 and made a pair of starts with Frisco, giving up three runs apiece in each outing…did not make an appearance on the mound in Frisco’s postseason run…more effective when facing LHB (.222) than RHB (.277)

2021

Missed the entire season while recovering from ‘Tommy John’ surgery (9/14/20) on his right elbow…did not see official game action, but returned in time to participate in the Fall Instructional League…made his first appearance in a game setting on 10/5 and was the starting pitcher for the final stop of the team’s Texas Tour against local universities, taking the mound against Texas Christian University on 10/29 in Fort Worth…entered season rated as the Rangers’ no. 19 prospect according to Baseball America.

2020

Did not see official game action after minor league season was canceled due to pandemic…added to the club’s Alternate Training Site roster on 8/12 and suffered an elbow injury while pitching there in September...underwent ‘Tommy John’ ligament replacement surgery performed by Rangers Team Physician Dr. Keith Meister on 9/14 in Arlington...tabbed as the Rangers’ 12th-best prospect according to Baseball America.

2019

Combined to go 3-1 with a 1.81 ERA (10 ER/49.2 IP) over 11 starts with Hickory (Low-A) and Spokane (Short-A)... opened the season with Spokane and was named the 10th-best prospect in the Northwest League by Baseball America...with Spokane, ranked among Northwest League leaders in strikeouts (T7th, 59) and had the 4th-highest SO/9 rate (13.6) on the circuit (min. 30 IP)…promoted to Hickory on 8/21…started Game 1 of the South Atlantic League semifinals (W, 6.0 IP, 2 ER) and Game 3 of the Championship series (3.2 IP, 0 ER), with Hickory losing the best-of-5 series to finish as the league’s runner-up.