Learning how to win at an early age is a critical part of development because it motivates young athletes to want more. Winning breeds competitiveness, competitiveness leads to work ethic, and work ethic leads to success. 

Ryan Sublette is a Right-handed relief pitcher in the Dodgers organization that knows nothing other than winning, and now he’s poised for the biggest baseball victory of his career, the MLB.

Sublette grew up in Lemont, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, and always loved baseball for as long as he can remember, and for good reason, he’s always won. He won 2 State Titles in High School, played on the same showcase Summer team as Bobby Miller, and went to Texas Tech in college where he got to pitch in the College World Series. He was also a big part of Great Lakes’ miraculous comeback in the first half of this past season when they made up an 8 1/2 game deficit with 13 games to go, so, all he knows is winning, and he doesn’t plan on changing that any time soon. 

Lemont High School

Sublette helped lead a recent rise at Lemont that has placed the school as one of the perennial powers in the State of Illinois, and one that has become known for cranking out State Titles.

During his time at Lemont, the 3/4 throwing Sublette not only led his team to 2 State Titles, he also earned All-Conference honors and holds the Illinois State Tournament single-game strikeout record with 14. He was named to the WWBA Underclassmen World Championship team and also played on the Cincinnati Reds Midwest Scout team, so his prep career was jam-packed and full of elite achievements. 

Sublette received several offers from D1 schools and eventually chose Texas Tech.

Wreck ’em

It’s funny how history tends to repeat itself, and, just like back home at Lemont, Texas Tech has seen a resurgence in its baseball program in the last decade. Under Tim Tadlock, the Red Raiders have made 4 College World Series appearances and have won 5 Regionals and 3 Conference Titles all in the last 8 years. 

Dan Law Field is the home for Tech and the fans in Lubbock pack it out for almost every game. Sublette knew he wanted to play for a winner, he wanted to play South of Chicago, and he wanted to play big-time College baseball in front of packed crowds. 

Texas Tech checked every box.

Going to Tech stems back to my Travel ball days where we didn’t lose very much, then it so happened that my High School team won 2 State Titles, so I’ve always just wanted to be on a really good team.

With a Sublette grin, he continued

I was fortunate enough to be pretty well recruited during my time in High School, but it was kind of a situation where I always dreamed of going to play at a big stadium with a lot of fans down South and having the chance to go to a World Series. Thankfully J-Bob Thomas came out to watch me pitch, took me on a visit and that was that. 

 Sublette made an immediate impact at Tech and earned 13 appearances as a Freshman on a team that was loaded full of great arms. He also got to pitch in the College World Series against Michigan as a Sophomore then helped the Red Raiders build a 16-3 record during his Junior year in 2020 before Covid ended their season. As a Redshirt Junior in 2021, he posted an ERA of 2.34, an average against of just .183, and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.64 to 1. 

Sublette was a starter his whole life and came to Tech as a starting pitcher, but transitioned during his Sophomore year into the role of a high-leverage reliever. He loved being a starting pitcher, and that’s a feeling that will never go away, but the move has worked out very well and is one that he has bought completely into. 

I would say that, at first, I still wanted to be a starter, but looking back I was definitely more of a thrower than a pitcher and I wasn’t throwing enough strikes to be a starter. So, although I may not have fully liked it at the time, I feel like I’ve bought into it and adopted the role. Not to say I don’t miss starting, but I’m happy coming out of the bullpen.

Here’s what his Pitching Coach in college, Matt Gardner, had to say about Sublette.

We love Ryan.
Ryan was a kid that had arm talent when he came to campus. He worked extremely hard to become the pitcher he is today. He is mentally tough as a player and he had some ups and downs in college but really decided to put in the work. His success is not a surprise with how he dedicated himself on and off the field. He is one of the best competitors and teammates we have had on our pitching staff. 

Those are very big words considering the amount of talent, and specifically pitching talent, that has found its way through Lubbock.

On To The Next Winner

Sublette was drafted in the 7th Round of the 2021 draft and was moved to Single-A Rancho Cucamonga after just 1 start in the Complex League. During his time with Rancho, the side-slotting former Red Raider continued to show his ability to strike hitters out by posting a 12 to 1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He paired that with a WHIP of just 1.03 and an ERA of 3.72 so he left 2021 ready to be promoted and that’s exactly what happened.

Sublette broke camp with High A Great Lakes this past season, in 2022, and was with the Loons for the entirety of the season. After a good May where his ERA was 3.48, June was bumpy, but then he really settled in. His ERA in July was just 1.59, it was 1.93 in August then 0.00 in September.

He was also a big part of the Loon’s big comeback in the first half of the season when they miraculously caught Dayton after trailing by 8 1/2 games with just 13 to play. 

Sublette says it was fun because the team was so focused.

Everyone was locked in every pitch and really wanted to win and wanted to out-compete the other team and it was just a lot of fun when things were going our way. When you play hard you get rewarded and that was a crazy streak we had there to clinch the first half. To have the champagne showers was pretty fun too.

Feature Cut

Sublette throws with what is known as a low 3/4 slot which might make one assume that he should be a sinker ball pitcher.

This is where modern-day machinery and analytics have revolutionized the game, however.

Although he does have a low 3/4 arm slot, he still stays on top of the ball, so he gets the best of all worlds. His delivery makes it uncomfortable for Right-handed hitters, but he can still ride the ball at the top of the zone and throw a true slider and a  changeup, the preferred mix for the vast, vast majority of relief pitchers in today’s game. 

Here is what he looks like in full speed, and notice the 3/4″ arm slot.

On Top of the Ball

Now look at this still photo and notice how, although his slot is a 3/4, his hand is still directly behind the baseball, which means he is able to stay on top. This is big because it allows him to maximize the amount of backspin he can get on the ball which increases his velocity and allows him to ride the top of the zone. 

Look at this release and imagine how difficult this makes it on the hitter when he comes up and in.

Slider

Another thing that staying on top of the ball does for Sublette is it allows him to get depth on his slider. If he was on the side of the ball he would be able to get good East/West movement, but it would be difficult for him to create tumble and sink. 

Changeup

Moving the ball away from hitters is always preferred which is why Right-handed pitchers like to throw the slider to righties and the changeup to lefties. The slider takes a left turn and the changeup fades into a right turn. Having both of these shapes allows them to be equally effective to right-handed hitters as they are left-handed hitters.

What’s Next?

Sublette spent all of 2022 in High A Great Lakes so it will be interesting to see where he starts in 2023. Regardless of where he starts, I would have to imagine that he will spend a good amount of time in AA Tulsa, something which I am looking forward to because I will get to see him pitch in person.

Actually, I should say, see him again.

I saw him in person while he was in college, and all I can say is that I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a hitter square him up. Between his 3/4 slot and the way he is able to sink the ball, but also carry the top of the zone makes it an incredibly uncomfortable at-bat for hitters, and one that usually ends in weak contact or a swing and a miss. 

To go with his talent, Sublette has always been on winning teams, so he knows nothing different and carries himself like a winner. He’s certainly not arrogant, but he damn sure is confident, a trait that has been the backbone of his Alma-Mater Texas Tech.

If I could make a suggestion, do yourself a favor and watch Texas Tech play a big weekend series next year, put it in your memory bank, and keep it until the next time you have a chance to watch Sublette. Once you see the confidence, some may say swagger, you’ll have a full picture of this young Illinois natives mentality, where it came from, and why it’s never going away.

In closing, I would like to thank Ryan for joining Dodgers Daily for an interview. Although he was a rival to my beloved Pokes, it was an honor to get to speak with this young man, and I’m so excited that he’s on my side now.