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Ricci to lead Lopes pitching from Triple-A ranks
6/20/2026 6:10:00 PM | Baseball
Former Twins Triple-A pitching coach led George Mason to A-10 title, NCAA Regional final
Grand Canyon baseball head coach Steve Bieser announced the addition of Ryan Ricci as the Lopes' pitching coach, bringing a blend of high-level professional baseball coaching experience, college player development and strength-and-conditioning background to GCU's staff.
Ricci comes to Phoenix after a rapid rise through the Minnesota Twins organization, where he climbed from Single-A to Double-A to Triple-A coaching in three seasons. After joining the organization in 2024 as pitching coach for Single-A Fort Myers, Ricci moved to Double-A Wichita in 2025 before earning a promotion to Triple-A St. Paul for the 2026 season. Ricci's official hire is pending completion of university hiring processes.
"Ryan has a complete view of pitching development," Bieser said. "He understands pitch design and biomechanics, but he also understands the human side of coaching and how to build trust with players. He has lived the process of finding ways to maximize himself as a pitcher, and that perspective is valuable. He is going to help our pitchers understand who they are, build the right plans and compete with confidence."
Ricci's professional experience included working with former GCU ace Pierson Ohl at Double-A Wichita in 2025. Ohl has since reached the major leagues and was traded to the Colorado Rockies, adding a GCU connection to Ricci's player-development work in the Twins system. Ohl went 4-1 with a 2.08 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 39 innings while working with Ricci at the Double-A level in 2025.
In his first season with Minnesota, Ricci led the pitching staff at Single-A Fort Myers to a 4.13 ERA that ranked fifth in the Florida State League. He followed with his move to Double-A Wichita, where he continued working with advanced prospects before being elevated to Triple-A St. Paul, the final step before the major leagues.
"Ryan's path through the Twins organization speaks to how highly he is regarded in professional baseball," Bieser said. "To move through three levels in three seasons, including a promotion to Triple-A, says a lot about his ability to develop pitchers, connect with players and work within a high-level player-development system. He is going to bring a professional standard to our pitching staff every day."
Before joining the Twins organization, Ricci served as George Mason's pitching coach and recruiting coordinator in 2023 and helped lead the Patriots to the postseason. George Mason won the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship, earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Winston-Salem Regional and won two NCAA Tournament games for the first time in program history, advancing to the regional final.
The Patriots' pitching staff played a major role in the championship run. George Mason led the Atlantic 10 in ERA at 5.02 and saves with 15 while posting the lowest opponent batting average in program history at .258. Ricci's staff also set single-season program records with 516 strikeouts and 8.36 strikeouts per nine innings while lowering its team ERA from 6.44 in 2022 to 5.02 in 2023. Ricci also coached Chad Gartland, who was named Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year, selected to the A-10 All-Championship Team and voted to the Winston-Salem Regional All-Tournament Team.
Ricci's own playing career also shaped his coaching style after he developed from a pitcher who had to learn how to maximize his ability, giving him a clear understanding of how to help pitchers win on the margins, refine their arsenals and build confidence through a development plan.
Prior to returning to his alma mater at George Mason, Ricci spent two seasons as Lafayette's pitching coach. In 2022, the Leopards led the Patriot League in conference ERA at 3.84 and strikeouts with 397. Lafayette also advanced to the Patriot League Tournament semifinals during Ricci's first season in 2021.
Ricci began his coaching career at George Mason as a graduate assistant coach in 2019 and 2020. During that time, he worked with the Patriots' pitching staff, coordinated strength and conditioning for pitchers, assisted in recruiting and helped coach two pitchers who later signed professional contracts: Jared DiCesare with the Toronto Blue Jays and Brian Marconi with the Philadelphia Phillies.
His background in player development extends beyond traditional pitching instruction. Ricci has experience with movement assessments, strength and conditioning, athletic training collaboration and individualized development plans, giving him a comprehensive approach to building pitchers physically, mentally and competitively.
"I am beyond excited to get down to Phoenix and am grateful to Coach Bieser for the opportunity," Ricci said. "GCU has the chance to compete at the highest level, and I can't wait to work with the staff to help elevate the program. Looking forward to a great experience at GCU, and can't wait to get to work!"
Ricci played professionally in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization after signing in June 2018. He appeared in 15 games across two levels, pitching for the Hillsboro Hops and the Arizona League Diamondbacks.
A George Mason alum, Ricci pitched for the Patriots from 2015 to 2018. He ranks fourth in program history with 70 career appearances and set a single-season school record in 2018 with 0.79 walks allowed per nine innings. Over his final two collegiate seasons, he posted a combined 2.55 ERA in 56 1/3 innings.
Ricci earned a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and a master's degree in sport management from George Mason.
Ricci joins a GCU staff led by Bieser, who was hired after building Jacksonville State into a top-25 program and leading the Gamecocks to 48 wins, Conference USA regular-season and tournament championships and an NCAA Regional final in 2026.
Ricci comes to Phoenix after a rapid rise through the Minnesota Twins organization, where he climbed from Single-A to Double-A to Triple-A coaching in three seasons. After joining the organization in 2024 as pitching coach for Single-A Fort Myers, Ricci moved to Double-A Wichita in 2025 before earning a promotion to Triple-A St. Paul for the 2026 season. Ricci's official hire is pending completion of university hiring processes.
"Ryan has a complete view of pitching development," Bieser said. "He understands pitch design and biomechanics, but he also understands the human side of coaching and how to build trust with players. He has lived the process of finding ways to maximize himself as a pitcher, and that perspective is valuable. He is going to help our pitchers understand who they are, build the right plans and compete with confidence."
Ricci's professional experience included working with former GCU ace Pierson Ohl at Double-A Wichita in 2025. Ohl has since reached the major leagues and was traded to the Colorado Rockies, adding a GCU connection to Ricci's player-development work in the Twins system. Ohl went 4-1 with a 2.08 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 39 innings while working with Ricci at the Double-A level in 2025.
In his first season with Minnesota, Ricci led the pitching staff at Single-A Fort Myers to a 4.13 ERA that ranked fifth in the Florida State League. He followed with his move to Double-A Wichita, where he continued working with advanced prospects before being elevated to Triple-A St. Paul, the final step before the major leagues.
"Ryan's path through the Twins organization speaks to how highly he is regarded in professional baseball," Bieser said. "To move through three levels in three seasons, including a promotion to Triple-A, says a lot about his ability to develop pitchers, connect with players and work within a high-level player-development system. He is going to bring a professional standard to our pitching staff every day."
Before joining the Twins organization, Ricci served as George Mason's pitching coach and recruiting coordinator in 2023 and helped lead the Patriots to the postseason. George Mason won the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship, earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Winston-Salem Regional and won two NCAA Tournament games for the first time in program history, advancing to the regional final.
The Patriots' pitching staff played a major role in the championship run. George Mason led the Atlantic 10 in ERA at 5.02 and saves with 15 while posting the lowest opponent batting average in program history at .258. Ricci's staff also set single-season program records with 516 strikeouts and 8.36 strikeouts per nine innings while lowering its team ERA from 6.44 in 2022 to 5.02 in 2023. Ricci also coached Chad Gartland, who was named Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year, selected to the A-10 All-Championship Team and voted to the Winston-Salem Regional All-Tournament Team.
Ricci's own playing career also shaped his coaching style after he developed from a pitcher who had to learn how to maximize his ability, giving him a clear understanding of how to help pitchers win on the margins, refine their arsenals and build confidence through a development plan.
Prior to returning to his alma mater at George Mason, Ricci spent two seasons as Lafayette's pitching coach. In 2022, the Leopards led the Patriot League in conference ERA at 3.84 and strikeouts with 397. Lafayette also advanced to the Patriot League Tournament semifinals during Ricci's first season in 2021.
Ricci began his coaching career at George Mason as a graduate assistant coach in 2019 and 2020. During that time, he worked with the Patriots' pitching staff, coordinated strength and conditioning for pitchers, assisted in recruiting and helped coach two pitchers who later signed professional contracts: Jared DiCesare with the Toronto Blue Jays and Brian Marconi with the Philadelphia Phillies.
His background in player development extends beyond traditional pitching instruction. Ricci has experience with movement assessments, strength and conditioning, athletic training collaboration and individualized development plans, giving him a comprehensive approach to building pitchers physically, mentally and competitively.
"I am beyond excited to get down to Phoenix and am grateful to Coach Bieser for the opportunity," Ricci said. "GCU has the chance to compete at the highest level, and I can't wait to work with the staff to help elevate the program. Looking forward to a great experience at GCU, and can't wait to get to work!"
Ricci played professionally in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization after signing in June 2018. He appeared in 15 games across two levels, pitching for the Hillsboro Hops and the Arizona League Diamondbacks.
A George Mason alum, Ricci pitched for the Patriots from 2015 to 2018. He ranks fourth in program history with 70 career appearances and set a single-season school record in 2018 with 0.79 walks allowed per nine innings. Over his final two collegiate seasons, he posted a combined 2.55 ERA in 56 1/3 innings.
Ricci earned a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and a master's degree in sport management from George Mason.
Ricci joins a GCU staff led by Bieser, who was hired after building Jacksonville State into a top-25 program and leading the Gamecocks to 48 wins, Conference USA regular-season and tournament championships and an NCAA Regional final in 2026.
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