Going into the 2025 season, Ryan Jennings was a rising prospect in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. The Jays’ 2024 minor league pitcher of the year climbed to No. 22 in MLB Pipeline’s preseason rankings ahead of the 2025 season.
Jennings, a fourth-round MLB Draft pick out of LSU in 2022, had a 1.93 ERA in 21 games across two minor league levels in 2024. He made 12 starts and tossed 60.2 innings.
Since then, Jennings’ baseball career has been a series of fits and starts. It officially ended in May when Jennings retired, a decision he made public on his Instagram account June 8.
MORE: Former Blue Jays catcher announces retirement from baseball at 28
“A few weeks ago I decided to retire from the game of baseball,” Jennings wrote on Instagram. “What an unbelievable blessing this journey was! From championships to call-ups and everything I between I can’t explain how grateful I am to have gotten this opportunity.”
Jennings was a non-roster invitee to the Blue Jays’ major league spring training camp each of the last two seasons.
MORE: Former Blue Jays, Yankees outfielder suddenly retires from MLB at 28
Jennings’ four-pitch repertoire (a high-90s fastball, slider, curveball and changeup) seldom translated to results in 2025, his first season as a full-time reliever. He went 1-3 with a 4.25 ERA in 34 games last season for the Buffalo Bisons, the Jays’ top farm team, after a midseason promotion last summer.
“The hardest part of the transition was getting used to the short burst of energy needed as a reliever,” Jennings told JaysProspects.com in March. “As a starter you are mentally prepared for the long haul whereas a reliever it’s a much shorter competitive window.”
MORE: Former Yankees, Blue Jays infielder announces immediate retirement at 34
The San Antonio native got into two Grapefruit League games this spring and allowed two runs. The Blue Jays reassigned Jennings to their minor league camp on March 13. He was ticketed for Triple-A again, but never got off the mound for the Bisons.
Jennings went on the minor league injured list to begin the season, which ultimately ended his career.
In four minor league seasons (2022-25), Jennings went 7-13 with a 3.07 ERA in 83 games.
