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 on May 3, 1977, is a former professional baseball pitcher from Canada. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams, including the Florida Marlins, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, and Boston Red Sox. Ryan was a right-handed player, meaning he batted and threw with his right hand. During his career, he played as both a starter and a reliever.
Contents
Ryan's Baseball Journey
Starting in the Minor Leagues
Ryan Dempster began his professional baseball journey when the Texas Rangers picked him in the 3rd round of the 1995 MLB draft. He started playing for their minor league teams, like the Gulf Coast Rangers, Hudson Valley Renegades, Kane County Cougars, and Charleston RiverDogs.
Playing for the Florida Marlins (1998–2002)
In 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 start as a pitcher was on June 1, 1998. He got his first Major League win on June 28 against the Boston Red Sox. In 1999, Ryan started 25 games and had a record of 7 wins and 8 losses.
The next year, in 2000, he had a great season. He won 13 games and lost 10, with a good ERA of 3.66. He even pitched a one-hitter game on May 7, 2000. Because of his excellent performance, he was chosen to play in the 2000 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
Time with the Cincinnati Reds (2002–2003)
In July 2002, the Marlins traded Ryan to the Cincinnati Reds. He played for the Reds for the rest of 2002 and part of 2003. In August 2003, he had surgery on his right elbow, which meant he missed the rest of that season.
Becoming a Chicago Cub (2004–2012)
After leaving the Reds, Ryan signed with the Chicago Cubs in January 2004. After recovering from his surgery, he joined the Cubs in August. He played in 23 games that year, all as a reliever. He earned his first career save on September 15, 2004.
In 2005, Ryan became the main closer for the Cubs. A closer is a pitcher who finishes the game and tries to protect a lead. He had 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.
In 2008, Ryan became a starting pitcher again for the Cubs. On May 15, 2008, he had a career-high 12 strikeouts in one game. He finished the 2008 season with 17 wins and 6 losses, a 2.96 ERA, and 183 strikeouts. After this successful season, he signed a new four-year contract with the Cubs.
In 2009, Ryan finished the season with a 3.65 ERA and 11 wins. He continued to pitch for the Cubs in 2010 and 2011.
Short Stop with the Texas Rangers (2012)
On July 31, 2012, Ryan was traded to the Texas Rangers. He played 12 games for them, winning 7 and losing 3.
Winning a World Series with the Boston Red Sox (2013)
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 hit Yankees player Alex Rodriguez with a pitch. The umpire warned both teams, and Ryan was allowed to stay in the game. Later, Major League Baseball gave Ryan a five-game suspension for hitting Rodriguez. Ryan later said that hitting him was intentional.
Ryan finished the 2013 season with 8 wins and 9 losses. He was part of the Red Sox team that won the 2013 World Series, which was his first championship title!
Retirement from Baseball
On February 16, 2014, Ryan announced he would not play baseball for the entire 2014 season to spend time with his family. On October 8, 2014, Ryan officially announced his retirement from playing.
After retiring, he joined the Chicago Cubs' front office. In 2017, he pitched for Team Canada in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
Broadcasting Career
After his playing career, Ryan Dempster became a baseball analyst. In 2014, he was hired by MLB Network as a studio analyst. In 2020, he joined the Marquee Sports Network to work on Cubs baseball telecasts.
Pitching Style
Ryan Dempster used five main pitches:
- A four-seam fastball and two-seam fastball (around 90 mph)
- A cut fastball (in the high 80s)
- A slider (in the mid 80s)
- A splitter (in the low 80s)
He often wiggled his glove during his windup. He said this helped him hide what pitch he was going to throw from the batters.
Personal Life
Ryan Dempster is known for his fun and easy-going personality. He often joked with fans and teammates, making him a positive person to have on a team.
In June 2009, Ryan shared that his daughter, Riley Dempster, has DiGeorge Syndrome. This is a genetic condition that can affect swallowing, breathing, and speech. Ryan wanted to help raise awareness about this condition. He said that while there can be challenges, his daughter was doing well.
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 in 2002.
- Inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame on May 31, 2018.
Images for kids
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Dempster with the Boston Red Sox in 2013
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Dempster pitching for the Chicago Cubs in April 2007
