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Ryder Ryan

Ryder Michael Ryan (born May 11, 1995) is an who is currently a . He stands 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighs 205 pounds, and throws and bats right-handed. Ryan made his (MLB) debut in 2023 and has appeared in 16 games across two seasons, compiling a 1–0 record with a 5.40 (ERA) and 19 strikeouts in 21.2 . Ryan attended the University of North Carolina, where he played college baseball as an infielder and catcher before transitioning to pitching. He was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 30th round of the 2016 MLB Draft with the 902nd overall pick. Throughout his minor league career, Ryan played for organizations including the Indians (2016–2017), New York Mets (2017–2020), Texas Rangers (2021–2022), Seattle Mariners (2023), and Pittsburgh Pirates (2024–2025), primarily as a relief pitcher in levels from Rookie ball to Triple-A. He made his MLB debut with the Mariners on August 11, 2023, and later appeared in 15 games for the Pirates in 2024, earning one win and three holds. On November 6, 2025, Ryan elected free agency after his contract with the Pirates expired. Internationally, Ryan represented the at the 2020 , where he won a after losing the gold medal final to . During the tournament, he made four relief appearances, pitching 5 scoreless innings with three strikeouts, including a crucial 1.2 perfect innings in the semifinal victory over that secured the win.

Amateur career

High school career

Ryder Ryan attended North Mecklenburg High School in , from 2011 to 2014. During his junior year in 2013, Ryan emerged as a standout , excelling both at the plate and on the mound. As a hitter, he batted .579 with five home runs and 29 RBIs. On the pitching side, he posted a 5-3 record with a 0.72 , two saves, and 109 strikeouts over 68 innings pitched. These performances earned him recognition as the Publications' 2013 Baseball Player of the Year. As a senior in 2014, Ryan continued his dual-threat capabilities, hitting .536 with a .723 while pitching to a 0.56 , securing seven wins, and recording 103 strikeouts in 62 innings. His versatility and dominance were further highlighted by preseason accolades, including selection to the MaxPreps 2014 Preseason All-American Baseball Team and as MaxPreps 2014 Preseason in , as well as being named to the Top 100 Baseball Seniors for the Class of 2014. Nationally, he ranked 145th overall and fifth among right-handed pitchers, while placing third overall and first among right-handed pitchers in according to rankings, marking his development as a top prospect. In July 2013, Ryan committed to play college baseball at the University of North Carolina, choosing the Tar Heels over offers from South Carolina and North Carolina State. Entering his senior year, Ryan was projected as a potential third-round pick in the 2014 Major League Baseball draft, but he was selected in the 40th round (1,199th overall) by the Cleveland Indians. Ryan did not sign with the team and instead enrolled at UNC.

College career

Ryan enrolled at the in the fall of 2014, joining the Tar Heels baseball program after a standout high school career that earned him a commitment to the school. Over his college tenure from 2014 to 2016, Ryan saw limited action primarily as a , appearing in a total of 33 games as a hitter across two seasons without significant contributions to the team's lineup. As a true freshman in 2015, he played in 13 games with one start, managing just two hits in 14 at-bats—including an RBI double for his first career hit—while batting .143 overall. In 2016, Ryan appeared in 20 games, recording six hits in 26 at-bats for a .231 average, along with two doubles, three runs scored, and two RBIs, but he remained a bench player rather than a regular starter. Throughout his time at , Ryan made only one pitching appearance, occurring in 2016 when he entered as a reliever but recorded no outs, allowing one hit, one run, and three walks. Despite his minimal mound experience in college, Ryan opted to enter the 2016 MLB Draft as a after his junior year, leveraging his high school two-way potential.

Professional career

Cleveland Indians

Ryan was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 30th round (902nd overall) of the out of the at Chapel Hill, where he had primarily played as an infielder and but made one pitching appearance that highlighted his potential as a reliever. The Indians signed him to a $100,000 bonus, converting him fully to pitching in professional baseball. Ryan made his professional debut in 2016 with the Arizona League Indians, the team's rookie-level affiliate, where he appeared in 15 games, posting a 0–1 record with a 3.86 ERA over 18+2⁄3 innings while striking out 24 batters and earning one save. His performance demonstrated early promise as a high-velocity reliever, with his fastball reaching the mid-to-high 90s mph. In 2017, Ryan advanced to the full-season Class A Lake County Captains of the Midwest League, where he emerged as a key bullpen arm early in the season. As of his selection for the Midwest League All-Star Game on June 7, 2017, he had compiled a 0.84 ERA over 21⅓ innings with 27 strikeouts, representing the Eastern Division. His overall season with Lake County included 33 appearances, a 3–4 record, six saves, a 4.79 ERA, and 49 strikeouts in 41+1⁄3 innings, though he struggled post-All-Star break with a 10.67 ERA. On August 9, 2017, the Indians traded Ryan to the New York Mets in exchange for outfielder Jay Bruce, marking the end of his brief tenure in the Cleveland organization.

New York Mets

Ryan was acquired by the New York Mets from the Cleveland Indians on August 9, 2017, in exchange for outfielder Jay Bruce, and was immediately assigned to the Single-A Columbia Fireflies of the South Atlantic League. In his brief stint with Columbia to close out the 2017 season, he appeared in eight games, posting a 2.08 ERA over 13 innings with 13 strikeouts. Ryan began the 2018 season with the High-A St. Lucie Mets of the Florida State League, where he excelled in relief, recording a 1-0 mark with a 1.77 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 20.1 innings across 16 appearances. His strong performance earned him a selection to the Florida State League All-Star Game as one of three relievers from the South Division. Later that year, he was promoted to the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies of the Eastern League, making 26 relief outings with a 4.13 ERA over 32.2 innings and securing three saves. In 2019, Ryan returned to Binghamton, solidifying his role in the Mets' Double-A bullpen with 25 appearances, a 3.05 ERA, and 40 strikeouts in 44.1 innings. A highlight came on May 8, when he combined with fellow right-hander Harol Gonzalez on a no-hitter against the Harrisburg Senators, contributing the final 2⅓ scoreless innings in a 7-0 victory. The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving Ryan without games that year. On December 18, 2020, the Mets traded Ryan to the Texas Rangers as the player to be named later in the August 31 deal that brought infielder Todd Frazier to New York.

Texas Rangers

On December 18, 2020, the Texas Rangers acquired right-handed pitcher Ryder Ryan from the New York Mets as the player to be named later in the trade that sent infielder Todd Frazier to the Mets, enabling Ryan's transition to the Rangers' organization and assignment to their Double-A affiliate, the Frisco RoughRiders. Ryan spent the 2021 season with the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate, the , where he appeared in 38 relief outings, posting a 2–7 record with a 5.60 over 45 . In those appearances, he recorded 55 s against 19 walks, demonstrating a strong strikeout rate of 11.00 per nine despite challenges with run prevention in the hitter-friendly . In 2022, Ryan returned to Round Rock for another full season in relief, improving his command and effectiveness with a 5–4 record and a 3.64 ERA across 47 appearances and 59.1 innings pitched. He struck out 67 batters while issuing 29 walks, highlighting his consistency as a high-leverage reliever at the Triple-A level without receiving a major league call-up during his tenure with the Rangers. Following the 2022 season, Ryan became a minor league free agent and signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners on December 19, 2022.

Seattle Mariners

On December 19, 2022, Ryan signed with the Seattle Mariners as a minor league free agent to a contract that included an invitation to 2023 spring training. Ryan spent most of the 2023 season with the Mariners' Triple-A affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League, where he made 48 appearances—47 in relief and one start—compiling a 4–2 record with a 3.76 ERA over 47 innings pitched, allowing 46 hits, four home runs, and 22 walks while striking out 56 batters. His performance in Tacoma built on prior Triple-A experience with the Texas Rangers organization, positioning him for a potential major league opportunity. On August 3, 2023, the Mariners added Ryan to their 40-man roster and optioned him to Tacoma, before recalling him to the major leagues on August 11. He made his MLB debut that day against the Baltimore Orioles, entering in relief during the eighth inning of a 9–2 Mariners victory; Ryan pitched one scoreless inning, striking out two batters (Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson) while issuing one walk. This lone major league appearance marked Ryan's transition to the big leagues, where he recorded no decisions, wins, or saves, finishing with a 0.00 ERA, two strikeouts, and one walk over one inning. He was optioned back to Tacoma on August 17 and spent the remainder of the season there. Following the 2023 season, Ryan became a free agent and signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates on December 11, 2023.

Pittsburgh Pirates

On December 11, 2023, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Ryan to a minor league contract following his brief major league debut with the Seattle Mariners the previous year. He earned a spot on the Pirates' Opening Day roster as a reliever and made his first appearance of the season on March 29, 2024, against the Miami Marlins, where he pitched 1⅔ scoreless innings in relief of starter Martín Pérez, allowing one hit and striking out two batters—including Jazz Chisholm Jr.—to secure his first major league win in the Pirates' 7-2 victory. Ryan appeared in 15 games for the Pirates in 2024, all in relief, posting a 1-0 record with a 5.66 ERA over 20⅔ innings, during which he recorded 17 strikeouts and nine walks. These outings represented the bulk of his major league experience to that point, contributing to his overall career MLB statistics through 2024 of a 1-0 record, 5.40 ERA, 19 strikeouts, and a 1.43 WHIP across 21⅔ innings in 16 appearances. His role emphasized middle relief, with occasional high-leverage situations that highlighted his potential as a right-handed bullpen option, though he struggled with command at times, evidenced by a .269 opponents' batting average. The Pirates re-signed Ryan to a minor league contract on January 20, 2025, with an invitation to major league spring training. He spent the entire 2025 season with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, making 42 appearances—including three starts—and compiling an 8-1 record with a 4.73 ERA over 72⅓ innings, striking out 61 batters while issuing 38 walks for a 1.33 WHIP. Despite strong minor league production that suggested continued viability in relief, Ryan did not receive a major league call-up during the year and was optioned or assigned to Indianapolis multiple times as part of roster management. On November 6, 2025, he elected free agency after the season concluded.

International career

Team USA selection

Ryder Ryan's eligibility for the United States national baseball team stemmed from his involvement in USA Baseball's professional national team program, which scouts and develops top minor league players for international events like the Olympics. In 2021, while with the Texas Rangers' organization, Ryan's performance as a relief pitcher in Double-A and Triple-A affiliates positioned him as a candidate, highlighted by his Triple-A debut with the Round Rock Express earlier that summer. His ability to handle high-pressure situations from the bullpen was a key factor in his selection. On July 2, 2021, USA Baseball officially named Ryan to the 24-man roster for the Tokyo Olympics, joining a mix of MLB veterans and prospects under manager Mike Scioscia. The team convened for training camp at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina, starting July 16, where players participated in intrasquad scrimmages, conditioning drills, and three exhibition games against local opponents from July 18-20 to build chemistry and refine strategies ahead of departure to Japan on July 26. Ryan's selection was influenced by his family's deep baseball roots, including his father Sean Ryan's professional career reaching Triple-A and uncle Jason Ryan's MLB appearances with the Minnesota Twins, which instilled a lifelong passion for the sport and supported his development.

2021 Summer Olympics

Ryan participated in the baseball tournament at the 2020 Summer Olympics, delayed to 2021 in Tokyo, as a relief pitcher for Team USA. He made four relief appearances, pitching a total of 5.0 scoreless innings while allowing no earned runs, striking out three batters, and contributing to the team's advancement to the final. In the tournament opener against Israel on July 30, Ryan entered in the ninth inning and struck out two batters over one scoreless frame to secure the victory. Later, in the pool play game against Japan on August 2, he delivered 1.1 hitless innings with two strikeouts in a 6-7 extra-innings loss. His most critical outing came in the semifinals against South Korea on August 5, where he pitched 1.2 perfect innings, inducing a key double play with a runner in scoring position in the fifth inning before pitching the sixth; this effort earned him the win in the 7-2 victory that propelled Team USA to the gold medal game. Ryan closed out his Olympic stint in the gold medal game against Japan on August 7, tossing one scoreless inning with one strikeout, though Team USA fell 2-0 to earn the silver medal. His reliable relief work, particularly in high-stakes situations, underscored his value to the squad and marked a pivotal international achievement. The silver medal from Tokyo served as a career highlight for Ryan, enhancing his profile as a dependable bullpen arm and contributing to his subsequent opportunities in professional baseball, including transitions across multiple organizations.

Personal life

Family background

Ryder Ryan was born on May 11, 1995, in Huntersville, North Carolina. He is the son of Sean Ryan, a former professional baseball player who reached Triple-A in the minors, and Nina Ryan. Ryan has a younger brother, River Ryan, who is also a professional pitcher currently in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. His uncle, Jason Ryan, pitched in Major League Baseball for the Minnesota Twins over parts of two seasons in 1999 and 2000. Growing up in a family with deep baseball roots, Ryan was immersed in the sport from an early age, with his father serving as his high school coach at North Mecklenburg High School in Huntersville, fostering his development and passion for pitching. This heritage, spanning multiple generations of professional players, significantly shaped Ryan's early interest and commitment to baseball, providing both inspiration and hands-on guidance.

Marriage and children

Ryder Ryan is married to Brynn Ryan. The couple wed in late 2019. They have two children: a son named Ronan, born in 2021, and a daughter named Aurora, born in 2024. Ryan's family provides essential support for his professional baseball career, accompanying him through team relocations from the Cleveland Indians organization to the New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, and Pittsburgh Pirates. Despite the demands of frequent moves and his demanding schedule, including international commitments like the 2021 Summer Olympics, his wife and children remain a key source of motivation. The Ryan family maintains a relatively personal life, with details beyond marital and parental rarely shared publicly. This discretion allows Ryan to his high-profile athletic pursuits with responsibilities, occasionally referencing his brother's MLB path as part of their shared familial encouragement in .

References

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