B. J. Ryan
| B.J. Ryan | |||
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Ryan with the Toronto Blue Jays
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| Pitcher | |||
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Born: December 28, 1975 Bossier City, Louisiana |
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| MLB debut | |||
| July 29, 1999, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| July 5, 2009, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 21–28 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.37 | ||
| Strikeouts | 625 | ||
| Saves | 117 | ||
| Teams | |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
Robert Victor "B.J." Ryan, Jr. (born December 28, 1975) is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Though he never officially retired, Ryan has not played since 2009.
Ryan started his career as a left-handed specialist. His inability to command his pitches, combined with a history of difficulty facing right-handed batters, prevented him from acquiring a larger role in the bullpen. However, his eccentric, three-quarter, slingshot-like delivery has made him a dominant force against left-handed batters.
On May 1, 2003, Ryan logged an unusual accomplishment: he won a game without throwing a pitch. Ryan's first throw was to first base where he picked off Detroit Tigers' Omar Infante to end the inning. The Orioles took the lead in the next half-inning and Ryan was relieved to begin the half-inning after that.
During his prime, Ryan was able to not only control his pitches, but also add tailing movement to his low-90s fastball. This movement, combined with his devastating slider, helped his success rate against right-handed batters. During his years with Baltimore, he translated this success into a larger role in the Orioles' bullpen. By the middle of 2004, he secured the primary setup role. By the end of the year, he took Jorge Julio's job as the closer.
In 2005, Ryan had a spectacular season as closer for Baltimore, converting 36 of 41 save opportunities and compiling a 2.43 ERA and appearing in the All-Star Game.
Ryan became one of the most coveted free agents in Major League Baseball during the 2005 off-season. After considering an offer to rejoin the Orioles, as well as visiting with other potential suitors such as the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees, Ryan signed a 5-year, $47-million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on November 28, 2005. At the time, that was the largest contract for a reliever in Major League Baseball history, surpassing Mariano Rivera's 4-year, $40-million deal with the Yankees from 2001–2004.
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