Ryan was a shortstop but was a versatile enough defender that he made professional appearances at every position but catcher. The 2012 winner of the Fielding Bible Award,Ryan had a reputation as one of the best defensive players in baseball.[1]
Early and personal life
Ryan was born in Los Angeles on March 26,1982,to Katie and Jim Ryan. He is the youngest of their four children. Ryan attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks,California. His father was an infielder for Loyola Marymount University and holds the school's single-season record for the most hits with a wooden bat. One of his uncles,Willie Ryan,was a National Champion First Team All-American first baseman for the USC Trojans baseball team;his other uncle,Dr. Patrick Ryan,was a college sprinter at UCLA and Michigan State.[citation needed]
College career
In the fall of 2000,Ryan enrolled at Lewis–Clark State College to play college baseball in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. In his first season,he batted .375 with 5 triples,the third most ever by a Warrior. As a sophomore shortstop,he hit .359 with 34 RBIs and hit .378 with runners on. During the 2002 season,he hit safely in 18 straight games. Beyond his solid offensive numbers,Ryan gained a reputation as a good defensive infielder.
Ryan hit .311 for the Cardinals' rookie league affiliate,the New Jersey Cardinals,in 2003. In 2004,he was promoted to the Cardinals' Class A affiliate,the Peoria Chiefs. With a .322 batting average and 30 steals in the 2004 season,another promotion came for Ryan,this time to the High A Class team,the Palm Beach Cardinals,where Ryan was selected as a Florida State League All-Star. He was promoted again during the middle of 2005 season to the Class AA Springfield Cardinals.
In 2006,Ryan suffered a wrist injury in spring training limiting him to 28 games spread among four stops in the minors. That same year,Ryan appeared in 28 games for the Peoria Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League and batted .310 (39-for-126) with two home runs,19 runs and 20 RBI. His 39 hits were tied for tops for the 2006 AFL season. He collected two four-hit games and hit safely in his first eight AFL games (.425 BA) and 10 of his first 11 (.396).
Ryan was originally called up on and made his major league debut for the Cardinals on June 2,2007,against the Houston Astros. He was later sent down on July 27,2007,but was recalled on August 12,2007,and remained with the Cardinals for the rest of the season. In his rookie year,he hit for a .289 batting average with 4 home runs and 11 runs batted in. Ryan also scored 29 runs and recorded 7 stolen bases without being caught stealing. He batted significantly better against left-handed pitching in his first season with a batting average of .354,as opposed to his .232 average against right-handers. His first major league home run was a game-winner in the top of the 11th inning off of Scott Schoeneweis of the New York Mets on June 26,2007. His second home run also came rather dramatically,as he contributed to a four run comeback on July 4,2007 when the Cardinals were at one point behind 4–1. The Cardinals won the game 5–4 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Ryan opened the 2008 season on the 15-day disabled list with a right oblique strain suffered in spring training. He rehabbed injury in the minor leagues in the first month of the season until called up on April 23.[2] He was the Cardinals' primary utility infielder for most of the season,although he played three games in the outfield. He was optioned to Memphis on August 6 and recalled again on September 2.
Ryan started the 2009 season in St. Louis. He went on the 15-day disabled from April 30 through May 15 with a left hamstring strain,making a rehab stint in Memphis. By June,he moved up to be the everyday shortstop,batting over .300 and playing spectacular defense. On August 20,2009,in the second inning of the Cardinals and Padres Game,Ryan hit his first career grand slam off of San Diego pitcher Tim Stauffer. On September 19,2009,Ryan hit a walk off single off Chicago Cubs closer Carlos Mármol. Ryan also had a home run in the 2–1 win. His game-winning single was the first walk-off hit of his career.
By the end of the 2009 regular season,Ryan's defense at shortstop had been recognized as a major factor in the Cardinals' divisional title. However,in February 2010,he underwent a procedure to debride dead tissue from his right wrist performed by Dr. Steven Shin in Los Angeles.[3] The start to his 2010 spring training debut was delayed due to the surgery. He made his 2010 Grapefruit League debut on March 20,but he showed no lingering effects.[4]
On July 26,2011,Ryan broke up CC Sabathia's bid for a perfect game with a base hit with one out in the seventh inning.
On August 2,2011,during a game against the Oakland Athletics,alert play by Ryan led to the unusual result of his reaching third on an infield hit. Ryan hit a ground ball fielded by Oakland shortstop Eric Sogard,but Sogard was left off-balance and his throw to first was late. Behind the back of Oakland first baseman Conor Jackson,Ryan ran for second which was left uncovered by Sogard,and then immediately for third as that base was also uncovered. While referred to in the media as an "infield triple",the play was officially scored as a single and fielder's choice.[6]
On April 21,2012,Ryan was the final out of Philip Humber's perfect game. He was called for a swinging third strike on a checked swing,though the ball was not caught cleanly. Rather than running to first base,Ryan momentarily argued umpire Brian Runge's decision that he had swung,allowing catcher A. J. Pierzynski to throw the ball to first base for the final out.[7] On June 8,he entered as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning of the Mariners' combined no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers and made one of the game's closest putouts by throwing Dee Gordon out at first base. On August 15 of that same year,he scored the game's only run in the third inning of teammate Félix Hernández's perfect game,the Mariners defeating the Tampa Bay Rays.[8]
In 2012,he won a Fielding Bible Award as the best fielding shortstop in MLB.[9] In 2013,Ryan was replaced as the starting shortstop by Brad Miller mid-season,as Ryan had been hitting around the Mendoza Line.[10]
New York Yankees
Ryan's pitching debut
On September 10,2013,Ryan was traded to the New York Yankees for a player to be named later.[11] On November 18,2013,he agreed to a new contract with the New York Yankees,and on November 27,2013,he finalized a deal worth $5million over two years. His deal also includes a club option for $2million,and a player option for $1million,for the 2016 season.
Ryan opened the 2014 season on the 15-day disabled list with back issues. As of May 2,2014,he was on the 15-day disabled list with cervical spine nerve damage and was playing rehab games at AA Trenton. Ryan played only 49 games in 2014,batting .167 with 8 RBI.
Ryan began the 2015 season on the 15-day disabled list due to a right calf strain. On August 25,2015,Ryan made his MLB pitching debut in the eighth inning against the Houston Astros,throwing two scoreless innings.[12]
Ryan exercised his $1million player option for the 2016 season.[13]
Chicago Cubs
On December 17,2015,the Yankees officially announced that Ryan had been the player to be named later in their trade with the Chicago Cubs for shortstop Starlin Castro.[14] He was released by the Cubs on December 23,2015.[15]
Following an injury to Andrelton Simmons,Ryan was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim,in exchange for cash considerations and a player to be named later,on May 10,2016.[19] He was designated for assignment on May 28,but was called back up on June 1.
Detroit Tigers
On December 19,2016,Ryan signed a minor league deal with the Detroit Tigers,worth $625,000,which included an invite to spring training.[20] He spent the 2017 season with the Triple–A Toledo Mud Hens,playing in 112 games and hitting .236/.324/.326 with 4 home runs and 28 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 6,2017.[21]
Anthony Nomar Garciaparra is an American former Major League Baseball player and current SportsNet LA analyst. After playing parts of nine seasons as an All-Star shortstop for the Boston Red Sox,he played shortstop,third base and first base for the Chicago Cubs,Los Angeles Dodgers,and the Oakland Athletics. Garciaparra is one of 13 players in Major League history to hit two grand slams during a single game,and the only player to achieve the feat at his home stadium.
Maicer Eduardo Izturis is a Venezuelan former professional baseball infielder. During his career he played for the Montreal Expos,Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim,and the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). Izturis is the half brother of shortstop César Izturis and minor league shortstop Julio Izturis.
Adam Thomas Kennedy is an American former professional baseball second baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals,Oakland Athletics,Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim,Washington Nationals,Seattle Mariners,and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Desmond DeChone Figgins,nicknamed "Figgy",is an American former professional baseball third baseman and outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim,Seattle Mariners,and Los Angeles Dodgers. Figgins was a utility player,playing all positions except catcher,pitcher,and first base.
Felipe López is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball infielder.
JoséLuis Vizcaíno Pimental is a Dominican former professional baseball player. He was a backup infielder for most of his Major League Baseball (MLB) career. He,along with Darryl Strawberry and Ricky Ledée,are the only Major League Baseball players to have played for all four former and current New York teams—the New York Yankees,the New York Mets,the Los Angeles Dodgers,and the San Francisco Giants. With the Yankees,he won the 2000 World Series against the Mets.
Ryan Stewart Theriot is an American former professional baseball shortstop and second baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs,Los Angeles Dodgers,St. Louis Cardinals,and San Francisco Giants.
Asdrúbal JoséCabrera is a Venezuelan-American former professional baseball infielder. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians,Washington Nationals,Tampa Bay Rays,New York Mets,Philadelphia Phillies,Texas Rangers,Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds. Cabrera,a switch hitter,is a two-time All-Star. He was primarily a middle infielder for most of his career,but transitioned to playing more third base during the 2017 season and began playing first base late in the 2019 season.
Lawrence William Milbourne is an American former professional baseball utility infielder whose career spanned 15 seasons,11 of which were spent in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Houston Astros (1974–76),Seattle Mariners,New York Yankees,Minnesota Twins (1982),Cleveland Indians (1982),and Philadelphia Phillies (1983).
Jed Carlson Lowrie is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played 14 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox,Houston Astros,Oakland Athletics,and New York Mets.
The following are the baseball events of the year 2009 throughout the world.
Rubén Darío Tejada is a Panamanian professional baseball shortstop for the Leones de Yucatán of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets,St. Louis Cardinals,San Francisco Giants,and Baltimore Orioles.
The following are the baseball events of the year 2010 throughout the world.
Eduardo Michelle Núñez Méndez is a Dominican former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees,Minnesota Twins,San Francisco Giants,Boston Red Sox,and the New York Mets. He also played for the Fubon Guardians of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for one year. Although shortstop is his primary position,Núñez serves as a utility infielder,and played in the outfield for the Yankees as well.
Daniel Richard Espinosa is an American former professional baseball infielder. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals,Los Angeles Angels,Seattle Mariners,and Tampa Bay Rays.
Peter Michael Kozma is an American professional baseball shortstop who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals,New York Yankees,Texas Rangers,Detroit Tigers,and Oakland Athletics. The Cardinals selected him in the first round of the 2007 MLB draft from Owasso High School in Oklahoma,and he made his MLB debut for them on May 18,2011. He is 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m),weighs 190 lb (86 kg),and bats and throws right-handed.
Bradley Austin Miller is an American professional baseball utility player who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners,Tampa Bay Rays,Milwaukee Brewers,Cleveland Indians,Philadelphia Phillies,St. Louis Cardinals,and Texas Rangers.
John Paul Crawford is an American professional baseball shortstop for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Aledmys Díaz Serrano is a Cuban professional baseball utility player for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals,Toronto Blue Jays,and Oakland Athletics. He played for the Naranjas de Villa Clara in the Cuban National Series from 2007 through 2012,before defecting to the United States. Díaz signed with the Cardinals in 2014,and made his MLB debut with them in 2016.
The 2016 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the franchise's 135th season overall,the 130th season as a member of the National League,and the 16th season at PNC Park. The regular season started with a win at home against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 3 and ended with a loss to the Cardinals at Busch Stadium on October 2. The Pirates finished the regular season third in the National League Central with 78 wins,83 losses and one tie. For the first time since the 2012 season,the Pirates finished with a losing record and did not qualify for the postseason.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
