American baseball player (born 1982)
Baseball player
Brendan Wood Ryan
(born March 26, 1982) is an American former
professional baseball
infielder
. He played 10 seasons in
Major League Baseball
(MLB) for the
St. Louis Cardinals
,
Seattle Mariners
,
New York Yankees
and
Los Angeles Angels
.
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
[
edit
]
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
[
edit
]
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.
In the 2002 summer season, Brendan played
collegiate summer baseball
for the
Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks
in the
Alaska Baseball League
.
[
citation needed
]
Professional career
[
edit
]
In 2003, Ryan entered the
MLB amateur draft
and was selected in the seventh round (215th overall) by the
St. Louis Cardinals
.
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).
St. Louis Cardinals
[
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]
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 the 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 Marmol
. 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]
Seattle Mariners
[
edit
]
On December 12, 2010, Ryan was traded to the
Seattle Mariners
for
Maikel Cleto
.
[5]
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]
In 2011, Ryan finished second for the second straight year in the voting for the
Fielding Bible Award
.
[
citation needed
]
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
Felix Hernandez'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
[
edit
]
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 $5 million over two years. His deal also includes a club option for $2 million, and a player option for $1 million, 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 $1 million player option for the 2016 season.
[13]
Chicago Cubs
[
edit
]
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]
Washington Nationals
[
edit
]
On February 2, 2016, the
Washington Nationals
signed Ryan to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
[16]
[17]
He did not make the team, but accepted an assignment to the
Syracuse Chiefs
of the
Class AAA
International League
.
[18]
Los Angeles Angels
[
edit
]
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
[
edit
]
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]
Personal life
[
edit
]
Ryan is married and has two children.
[22]
They reside in
Miracle Mile, Los Angeles
.
[23]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Rosencrans, C. Trent (October 25, 2012).
"Is Brendan Ryan the best fielder in baseball? One group believes he is"
. cbssports.com
. Retrieved
February 3,
2014
.
- ^
Benko, George Von (April 23, 2008).
"Ryan makes return to Cardinals"
.
MLB.com
. Retrieved
July 30,
2010
.
- ^
Cardinals Press Release
stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com, February 10, 2010 (accessed August 1, 2010)
- ^
Dorsey, Steve
Ryan shows no rust in Grapefruit debut
MLB.com, March 20, 2010 (accessed August 1, 2010)
- ^
Adams, Steve (December 12, 2010).
"Mariners Acquire Brendan Ryan: MLB Rumors"
. MLBTradeRumors.com
. Retrieved
September 30,
2013
.
- ^
"Video: Brendan Ryan plunders A's, reaches third on infield single"
.
Yahoo! Sports
. Retrieved
February 3,
2016
.
- ^
"With controversial final out, was Philip Humber's perfect Game really perfect"
.
nbcsports.com
. NBC Sports Chicago LLC. May 5, 2020
. Retrieved
April 19,
2023
.
- ^
"Brendan Ryan recalls playing a big role in perfect game by friend and former teammate Felix Hernandez"
.
Los Angeles Times
. May 15, 2016.
- ^
"The 2012 Awards"
. ACTA Sports. October 25, 2012. Archived from
the original
on October 27, 2012.
- ^
Baker, Geoff (September 11, 2013).
"Traded shortstop Brendan Ryan gave Mariners plenty of memories | Mariners blog | Seattle Times"
. Blogs.seattletimes.com. Archived from
the original
on March 1, 2014
. Retrieved
September 30,
2013
.
- ^
"New York Yankees trade for Seattle Mariners' Brendan Ryan with Derek Jeter still out ? ESPN New York"
. Espn.go.com. September 11, 2013
. Retrieved
September 30,
2013
.
- ^
"Rough first sets tone as Yanks fall to Astros"
. Yankees.com. August 25, 2015. Archived from
the original
on February 21, 2017
. Retrieved
August 26,
2015
.
- ^
MARK FEINSAND (November 3, 2015).
"Yankees' Brendan Ryan exercises player option for 2016"
.
NY Daily News
. Retrieved
April 10,
2016
.
- ^
Hatch, Ryan
"Yankees officially send infielder Brendan Ryan to Chicago Cubs
, "NJ.com" December 17, 2015
- ^
"Paul Sullivan on Twitter"
.
Twitter
. Retrieved
December 23,
2015
.
- ^
"Nationals, Brendan Ryan agree on contract"
.
Washington Nationals
. Archived from
the original
on January 6, 2017
. Retrieved
February 3,
2016
.
- ^
Chelsea Janes (March 9, 2016).
"Brendan Ryan hopes to prove he can be healthy, still belongs"
.
Washington Post
. Retrieved
April 10,
2016
.
- ^
Chelsea Janes (April 3, 2016).
"Nationals finalize opening day roster, release Sean Burnett and Reed Johnson"
.
Washington Post
. Retrieved
April 10,
2016
.
- ^
"Angels' Brendan Ryan: Traded to Angels on Tuesday"
.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
. May 10, 2016
. Retrieved
May 10,
2016
.
- ^
Kristen Bentley (December 19, 2016).
"Detroit Tigers Sign Brendan Ryan to Minor League Contract"
.
Motor City Bengals
. Retrieved
December 19,
2016
.
- ^
"Minor League Free Agents 2017"
.
baseballamerica.com
. Retrieved
June 7,
2023
.
- ^
Baker, Geoff.
"Mariners | Mariners' funnyman Brendan Ryan has taken to his role as team leader | Seattle Times Newspaper"
. Seattletimes.com. Archived from
the original
on September 28, 2013
. Retrieved
September 30,
2013
.
- ^
"Angels bring veteran infielder Brendan Ryan 'home' to help fill void at shortstop"
.
Los Angeles Times
. May 11, 2016.
External links
[
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]