Interview with Phillies Prospect Ryan Dromboski

Screenshot 2025-08-29 at 8.53.54 AM — Graphic image credit Jersey Shore BlueClaws

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Last month, I had the opportunity to talk again with Phillies minor leaguer Ryan Dromboski. Last time we talked he was finishing up his sophomore year at UPenn where he was named Ivy League Pitcher of the Year. As luck would have it, he signed a free agency deal with the team he grew up watching – the Philadelphia Phillies. We talked about Draft Day, his time at Clearwater and what the future holds. I can tell by Ryan’s enthusiasm and passion that he is going to continue his success with the Phillies. He’s since been promoted to High-A since this interview. Dromboski pitched in 17 games at Single-A Clearwater this season, starting nine of them. In 54.2 innings, he’s averaged 8.7 K/9 with a 1.17 WHIP. Now at High-A Jersey Shore, as of August 29th, he’s been in three games (2 GS) having pitched 14.2 innings.

BPS: I know Draft Day didn’t go as expected but it looks like it worked out for the best looking back. What was draft day like for you?
RD: I had teams interested in me and there were some opportunities to pursue but I turned them down not because of cold feelings but where I wanted to be. So the draft ends – down in the dumps a little bit but I would have been happy to go back to Penn. I’m out to lunch with my old high school coach and he’s asking me about the draft and I’m not in the best mood. My agent calls me and he says that there are some teams who are interested in me so I’m feeling a little better now. Then a few days later my agent calls again and says the Phillies were interested in me and there was no way I was going to turn that down.

BPS: You played in the Cape Cod League last season. How was that experience? I saw you dominated there and bounced back in a big way.
RD: I loved my time in the Cape. I was originally going to so after my sophomore year but they wanted to watch my innings that season. I had a great time there. I was able to compete against the best and I was happy with how I performed.

BPS: You’re in Clearwater now (as of this interview) for the Phillies Single-A team. How’s that going?
RD: It’s been super fun, a dream come true. I love it down here with the team.

BPS: Walk us through a typical day there?
RD: The mornings are usually off because they don’t expect us there until around noon for an evening game. Anywhere from noon to 2pm depending on batting practice. We’ll eat lunch, practice, going through drills then we have a pregame meal before the game starts. Long days but they are fun and awesome and I’m learning a lot.

BPS: Are there any surprises or things you learned being in A ball as compared to college?
RD: In Clearwater the biggest thing is that it’s another level of baseball. You go from college where each hitter has their tendencies then you come here and the level of completion is definitely higher. It’s like the saying goes – if you want to be the best then you have to face the best and that’s what it is here as you move up the levels. It was also a kind of introduction to me and my mindset now is that I want to attack guys. As a pitcher, I don’t want to give the hitter too much credit. I’m working now to trust in my stuff, get the pitches over and make the hitters get themselves out.

BPS: What goals do you have for the rest of the season?
RD: My biggest goals are to finish the season healthy and make it to Jersey Shore High-A which is only 40 minutes away from home. I want to throw a lot of strikes, not walk many batters and get back to Jersey.

BPS: It’s no secret that the Phillies have some concerns with the bullpen at the major league level. Who knows that can happen as you continue this success?
RD: I’m going to take it one day at a time and hopefully it all works out but the team knows they have someone who will go all out for them if given the chance.

Tony Bps

Tony Bps Spina is a lifelong baseball fan hailing from the City of Brotherly Love - Philadelphia! Tony has loved baseball since 1980 and has followed the Phillies through good and bad times. Tony is married with 3 kids and works for a financial institution but has enough free time to play in 20 fantasy baseball leagues with 75% of them being Dynasty Leagues. He lives a few blocks away from Citizens Bank Park and attends many Phillies games per year in addition to their minor league teams in Lehigh Valley and Reading. He can be reached on Twitter at @TonyBps1.