Newest Mariners pitcher will get fans hooked on his fascinating MLB story

In an under-the-radar move, the Mariners claimed right-handed reliever Ryan Loutos off of waivers from the Nationals. Normally, these reliever additions are par for the course in the offseason, as the majority of big moves are yet to be made.

But unlike most bullpen acquisitions, Loutos had quite an unorthodox path to the big leagues. He was an undrafted free agent, which isn't abnormal by itself, but it's what he was doing before he began his professional career that sets him apart.

Before signing with the St. Louis Cardinals, Loutos was originally bound for a promising career in software engineering

Loutos pitched at Washington University in St. Louis, a Division III school not well-known for producing future major leaguers. Although he posted an impressive 1.84 ERA over his college career, it wasn't enough for him to get drafted. He was all set to begin a software engineering job in Chicago before a strong showing in the Northwoods Collegiate Summer League gave him the exposure he needed to sign a deal with the Cardinals. After debuting a cup of coffee with them in 2024, he was traded to the Dodgers this year and claimed off of waivers by the Nationals where he got a chance to face off against his former teammate, Caleb Durbin.

Loutos is closer to being a project than he is to being a mainstay in the Mariners' bullpen, but there's some potential there. At 6'5" 240 pounds, he has the physical frame to be able to be a power pitcher and touched 97 mph on his four-seam fastball last year. He also has an effective slider in the high-80s that he uses as his main put-away pitch. Don't let his 10.67 ERA fool you — he has just 14.1 innings under his belt. Because of this small sample, there's still plenty that we don't know about what he can and can't do.

He isn't meant to be a major piece of Seattle's offseason and should be seen as a depth option that could, given a strong showing in spring training, claim a bullpen spot if one is available. The Mariners have already solidified the role of their more important relievers heading into next season but more pitching optionality is to be expected at this time. The offseason is still in its infancy and with the contract option and qualifying offer deadline passing just a few days ago, teams will have until November 21st, the non-tender deadline, to clear the roster space necessary for negotiations to truly begin. Until then, Seattle's biggest potential free agent moves will remain in the works.