Former Dodgers Pitcher Ross Stripling Retires After 9 MLB Seasons

Gabriel Arteaga
Gabriel Arteaga
4 Min Read

Originally published by DodgerBlue.com

Former Los Angeles Dodgers draft pick Ross Stripling announced his retirement on Monday. The right-hander played professionally for 13 seasons after being drafted by the Dodgers in the fifth round in 2002.

“After 13 seasons and full of tremendous pride and gratitude, it’s time to hang up the cleats. I never could have imagined the experiences and memories I’d be a part of,” Stripling wrote in his retirement announcement shared on social media.

“They exceeded every hope that my younger self could have dreamt for my baseball career. It never could have been possible without my family and friends. I also want to give a huge tahnk you to all my coaches and teammates over the years. I had so much love and support along the way, and I’m thankful to everyone that was a part of it in any form or fashion.

“All of you helped me be the best baseball player I could be. This has been an unbelievable honor, and I feel incredibly lucky to be so fulfilled and content with leaving the game behind. Now, I’m excited to be home and begin the next chapter of my life with my amazing family.”

Stripling made his MLB debut with the Dodgers in 2016 and spent parts of five seasons with the team. He additionally pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics.

During his career, Stripling also maintained a portfolio as a licensed stockbroker. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in finance.

Stripling’s off-field interest also included launching a podcast with Cooper Surles, a close friend and fellow alumni of Texas A&M. The duo paired with former Dodgers reporter Alanna Rizzo to host a live recording of their podcast at the Baseballism store in Scottsdale, Ariz., in February 2020.

Ross Stripling’s stats

Stripling finished his career with a 40-54 record, 4.17 ERA, 4.06 FIP and 1.25 WHIP in 248 games (129 starts). He was drafted and developed as a starter but often filled a swingman role during various stretches with the Dodgers.

Stripling appeared in a career-high 33 games (21 starts) during the 2018 season, when he earned a selection to the All-Star Game behind a remarkable first half.

At the time of being selected as a National League All-Star, Stripling was 8-2 with a 2.08 ERA in 25 appearances (14 starts).

Stripling’s Dodgers career came to an end when he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in August 2020. The deal called for the Dodgers to receive two players to be named later, which became Kendall Williams and Ryan Noda.

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