Ryan Dempster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ryan Dempster |
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Dempster with the Boston Red Sox in 2013
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: May 3, 1977 Gibsons, British Columbia, Canada |
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| debut | |||
| May 23, 1998, for the Florida Marlins | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 29, 2013, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 132–133 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.35 | ||
| Strikeouts | 2,075 | ||
| Saves | 87 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2019 | ||
Ryan Scott Dempster (born May 3, 1977) is a Canadian former professional baseball player. He was a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). Ryan played for the Florida Marlins, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, and Boston Red Sox. He could both start games and come in as a reliever to finish them. Ryan batted and threw with his right hand.
Contents
Ryan's Baseball Journey
Starting in Baseball
The Texas Rangers picked Ryan in the third round of the 1995 MLB draft. This was how he started his baseball career. He first played for a team called the Gulf Coast Rangers. After that, he played for a few other minor league teams. These included the Hudson Valley Renegades, the Kane County Cougars, and the Charleston RiverDogs.
Playing for the Florida Marlins
On August 8, 1996, Ryan was traded to the Florida Marlins. He made his first MLB appearance for the Marlins on May 23, 1998. He pitched for two innings in that game. His first time starting a game was on June 1 against the Chicago Cubs.
In 1999, Ryan started 25 games. He finished the season with 7 wins and 8 losses. The next year, in 2000, he had a great season. He won 13 games and lost 10 in 33 starts. He even pitched two complete games, which means he pitched the whole game himself. One of those was a one-hitter, where the other team only got one hit! He was chosen to play in the 2000 Major League Baseball All-Star Game that year.
Time with the Cincinnati Reds
On July 11, 2002, the Marlins traded Ryan to the Cincinnati Reds. For the rest of that season, he started 15 games.
In 2003, he started 20 games. In August 2003, he had a special surgery on his right elbow called Tommy John surgery. This surgery helps fix arm injuries that pitchers often get. Because of this, he missed the rest of the season.
Becoming a Chicago Cub
After leaving the Reds, Ryan joined the Chicago Cubs on January 21, 2004. After recovering from his surgery, he started playing for the Cubs on August 1. He played in 23 games, all as a reliever coming out of the bullpen. He got his first career save on September 15, 2004. A save is when a pitcher finishes a game and helps their team win.
In 2005, Ryan became the main closer for the Cubs. A closer is a special pitcher who comes in at the end of a game to try and secure the win. He got 33 saves out of 35 chances, which was one of the best rates in the league. He was the only Cubs player to both start a game and get 30 saves in the same season. The Cubs signed him to a new contract to keep him until 2008.
In 2007, Ryan was one of the Cubs' most reliable relievers. At one point, his manager thought about making him a starting pitcher again. But the team's group of relievers, called the bullpen, needed him to stay as the closer. He got 16 saves before he had to miss two weeks because of a muscle injury.
During spring training in 2008, Ryan's good performance led to him becoming a starting pitcher again. He was the third pitcher in the team's starting group. On April 3, 2008, he won his first home game as a starter since 2002. On May 15, 2008, Ryan got a career-high 12 strikeouts in one game. He pitched for most of the game and only gave up 6 hits. On July 8, 2008, he became the first Cubs pitcher in 31 years to start a season with 10 wins and 0 losses at home. Ryan finished the 2008 season with 17 wins and 6 losses. He also had 183 strikeouts.
After the 2008 season, Ryan signed a new four-year contract with the Cubs. In 2009, he finished the season with 11 wins and 9 losses. In 2010, he had 15 wins and 12 losses, and in 2011, he had 10 wins and 14 losses.
Joining the Texas Rangers
On July 31, 2012, Ryan was traded to the Texas Rangers. This happened during the baseball trade deadline. He played his first game for the Rangers on August 2, 2012. With the Rangers, Ryan had 7 wins and 3 losses in 12 games. He pitched 69 innings and got 70 strikeouts.
Winning with the Boston Red Sox
After the 2012 season, Ryan signed a two-year contract with the Boston Red Sox.
On August 18, 2013, during a game against the New York Yankees, Ryan was part of a big moment. The main office that runs baseball, MLB, gave Ryan a five-game suspension and a fine for his actions in the game.
Ryan finished the 2013 season with 8 wins and 9 losses. He was part of the team that played in the World Series playoffs. He made three appearances as a reliever in the playoffs. Ryan won his first championship title when the Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2013 World Series.
Life After Playing Baseball
On February 16, 2014, Ryan announced that he would not play baseball for the whole 2014 year. He said he wanted to spend time with his family. The Red Sox put him on a special list for retired players.
On October 8, 2014, Ryan officially announced he was retiring from playing. On December 5, it was announced that Ryan would start working for the Chicago Cubs in their main office. He became an assistant to the general manager and president of baseball operations.
In January 2017, Ryan said he would pitch for Team Canada in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He started two games for Canada in this big international tournament.
Talking About Baseball
On April 22, 2014, Ryan was hired by MLB Network. He became a studio analyst, which means he talks about baseball on TV.
In 2020, Ryan joined the new Marquee Sports Network. He works as a studio and game analyst for Cubs baseball games on TV.
How Ryan Pitched
Ryan used five main pitches when he played. He threw a four-seam fastball and a two-seam fastball, which are fast pitches. He also threw a cut fastball, a slider, and a splitter. When he pitched, he often wiggled his glove. He said this helped him keep the other team from guessing what pitch he was going to throw.
Personal Life
Ryan is known for his relaxed and fun personality. He often jokes with fans and his teammates. People say he brings a good energy to the team's clubhouse. He once joked that if his pitching career didn't work out, he would try to become a ninja!
In June 2009, Ryan shared that his daughter, Riley Dempster, has DiGeorge Syndrome. This is a genetic condition that can affect how a baby swallows, breathes, and speaks. Ryan wanted to help people learn more about this condition. He said that while there can be challenges, his daughter was doing well. After about two months in the hospital, Riley was able to go home.
Awards and Honors
- National League All-Star (2000, 2008)
- Named one of the 99 "Good Guys" in professional sports by The Sporting News.
- Tip O'Neill Award (2000)
- Played in the NHL All-Star Celebrity Challenge on January 30, 2002.
- Was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame on May 31, 2018.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders
- List of Major League Baseball single-inning strikeout leaders
