Rockies bring up prospect Ryan Ritter, lines triple in major league debut with family in the stands

DENVER (AP) — Ryan Ritter's major league debut Friday night was cause for a family gathering. Mom, dad and all six of his younger siblings arrived at Coors Field for the special occasion.

They were treated to quite a show, too, as the newest Colorado Rockies shortstop lined a triple in the fifth inning for his first big league hit. He looked in his family's direction after sliding into third.

“They traveled a long way so I've got to show them some love,” Ritter said after a 4-2 loss to the New York Mets. “I was so excited get this game, not over with, but play my first game and then be able to relax after.”

Ritter was brought up to fill in for banged-up shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who was placed on the 10-day injured list — retroactive to Tuesday — with a strained left oblique. The 24-year-old Ritter had his contract selected from Triple-A Albuquerque just before Colorado began a three-game series with the NL East-leading Mets.

It was part of a series of moves made by the last-place Rockies. They also released catcher Jacob Stallings and recalled catcher Braxton Fulford from Triple-A. Reliever Zach Agnos was reinstated from the bereavement list. Agnos took the loss Friday after surrendering a two-run double to pinch-hitter Francisco Lindor in the ninth.

Ritter was picked by Colorado in the fourth round of the 2022 amateur draft out of the University of Kentucky. He has batted .284 with 48 homers, 166 RBIs and 42 stolen bases over parts of four minor league seasons.

“Hitting is something that takes time. I’ve always wanted to be really great at hitting,” said Ritter, who had approximately 20 family and friends in attendance. “I always want to get better. Just like wine, the longer it (stays) in the cabinet, the better it tastes. That’s the mindset. Just as I get older, the better I’m going to get.”

Ritter was recently named the Pacific Coast League player of the month for May after hitting .381 for the Isotopes with 12 homers and 31 RBIs. That provided the perfect backdrop to deliver the news he was going to the majors.

He read aloud a letter he thought was in recognition of his award from the league.

“It ended up being congrats going to the big leagues,” said Ritter, who grew up in Illinois. “It was cool. It was a good way to do it.”

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Ritter primarily played shortstop this season for Albuquerque.

“Ryan Ritter is fantastic. It's good to see him up here,” Rockies interim manager Warren Schaeffer said. “He earned it. I'm happy for him to get his shot in the big leagues.”

Tovar, a Gold Glove winner last season, is hitting .258 with three homers and 10 RBIs in 32 games. He spent time on the injured list earlier this season with a bruised left hip.

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Colorado Rockies' Ryan Ritter reacts after reaching third base with a triple off New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga in the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, June 6, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies shortstop Ryan Ritter warms up before making his Major League debut in baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, June 6, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies shortstop Ryan Ritter warms up before making his Major League debut in a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, June 6, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Ezequiel Tovar, right, can't beat the throw to New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, June 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — An explosive device was detonated Thursday in a popular cafe in the Syrian capital of Damascus, killing at least nine people, Syria's Health Ministry said.

The explosion near the main courthouse complex left 20 others wounded, the ministry said as reported by Syria's state-run Al-Ikhbariya network.

No group immediately claimed responsibility. Security forces rushed to the cafe and cordoned off the area as they investigate the attack.

Syria's Interior Ministry said in a statement that the explosive was a “crude improvised explosive device weighing approximately one kilogram equipped with metal shrapnel.” It said investigators were reviewing security camera footage, collecting forensic evidence and interviewing witnesses.

“The perpetrators of this terrorist act and those behind it will be brought to justice, and no one involved will escape accountability,” it said.

A video circulating on social media showed several wounded people lying on the ground, with police officers nearby. Ambulances later rushed to the scene treating people on site and taking the more severely wounded to hospitals in the Syrian capital.

The cafe is near the Syrian capital's main judicial complex and was frequented by lawyers who worked in the neighborhood.

Jalal Aljanani, who owns a restaurant next door, ran toward the cafe when he heard the explosion and was horrified by the sight of the bodies on the floor.

“We carried the victims to the cars until the traffic police arrived,” he told The Associated Press, his shirt covered in blood. "Many of them had suffered severe impact injuries, and almost all of them were bleeding.”

Since overthrowing the Assad dynasty and taking power in a lightning insurgency in December 2024, Syria’s new rulers have cracked down on militants from the extremist Islamic State group in an attempt to thwart attacks in and around the capital.

During the uprising-turned war in Syria that began in 2011, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa led the Hayat Tahrir al Sham group, formerly affiliated with al-Qaida, but since coming to power has vowed to protect Syrians of all backgrounds, especially religious and ethnic minorities.

Al-Sharaa has reasserted the government's full authority across the vast majority of the country, wresting control back from extremist groups or Kurdish-led forces. However, he still contends with security concerns as he tries to stabilize the country.

Security agencies frequently announce that they have raided IS cells and thwarted attacks reportedly targeting minorities and busy commercial areas. However, several incidents such as a suicide bombing in a church in July 2025 have raised concerns among many Syrians.

— Associated Press writers Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut and Omar Albam in Damascus contributed to this report.

Syrian security inspects the site after an explosive device was detonated in a cafe near the main courthouse complex, in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, July 2, 2026 (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrian security inspects the site after an explosive device was detonated in a cafe near the main courthouse complex, in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, July 2, 2026 (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)

Syrian security inspects the site after an explosive device was detonated in a cafe near the main courthouse complex, in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, July 2, 2026 (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)