Ryan Raburn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ryan Raburn |
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Raburn with the Colorado Rockies in 2016
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: April 17, 1981 Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 12, 2004, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 22, 2017, for the Washington Nationals | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .253 | ||
| Home runs | 93 | ||
| Runs batted in | 358 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Ryan Neil Raburn (born April 17, 1981) is a former American professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Ryan played for the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, and Washington Nationals. He was a very flexible player, playing almost every position on the field except for catcher and shortstop.
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Starting His Baseball Journey
Ryan Raburn went to Durant High School in Plant City, Florida. After high school, his hometown team, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, picked him in the 1999 baseball draft. But Ryan decided not to sign with them. Instead, he chose to play college baseball at the University of Florida. Later, he moved to South Florida Community College.
From College to the Pros
After two years of college baseball, the Detroit Tigers chose Ryan in the 2001 MLB draft. Ryan signed with the Tigers and started playing in the minor leagues. His main position was third base. He quickly moved up through different minor league teams. In 2001, he was even named to a special "all-star" team for short-season players. He hit eight triples, which was the most in his league that year.
In 2002, Ryan had a hip injury that kept him from playing for a while. But he came back strong in July. He had an eight-game hitting streak, hitting very well and bringing in runs. By the end of 2002, he had played in 40 games. He hit six home runs and had 28 RBI.
In 2003, Ryan continued to play in the minor leagues. He hit 12 home runs and had 56 RBI for the Lakeland Tigers.
Playing in the Major Leagues
In 2004, the Detroit Tigers needed players in the middle of the infield. So, they asked Ryan to switch to second base. That year, Ryan was called up to the major leagues in September. He made his first big league game on September 12. A few days later, on September 16, he got his first major league hit. It was an RBI double against Cleveland Indians pitcher CC Sabathia.
Ryan spent all of 2005 playing for the Toledo Mud Hens, a minor league team. He hit 19 home runs that season. After the 2006 season, the Tigers decided not to add Ryan to their main roster. This meant other teams could pick him in a special draft called the Rule 5 draft. But no team picked him, so he stayed with the Tigers.
Return to the Detroit Tigers
Ryan Raburn came back to the major leagues in 2007. This happened when another Tigers player was suspended. In his first game back, Ryan got an RBI single. On July 25, he had an amazing game against the Chicago White Sox. He got four hits, including two home runs and a double, and brought in seven runs! Because of his great performance, Ryan won the 2007 Tigers Rookie of the Year award.
Becoming a Versatile Player
In 2008, Ryan started the season on the Tigers' main roster for the first time. He played many different positions, including third base, second base, and all three outfield spots. His manager, Jim Leyland, often used him to replace players in the outfield late in games or as a pinch runner. On June 28, 2008, Ryan hit his first career grand slam home run. A grand slam happens when a player hits a home run with all three bases loaded, bringing in four runs.
In 2009, Ryan worked on learning even more positions, like catcher and first base. This made him even more useful to the team. On June 8, 2009, he started his first game at first base. This was the sixth different position he had started at in the major leagues! On June 23, 2009, Ryan hit his first career walk-off home run. A walk-off home run is a home run that wins the game in the final inning. He said it was the first walk-off home run he had ever hit, even going back to Little League!
By 2010, Ryan was a very important player for the Tigers. He played in 113 games and had a batting average of .280. He hit 15 home runs and had 61 RBI. In 2011, Ryan signed a new two-year contract. He started as a regular player in left field. Later in the season, he played a lot at second base. He finished the 2011 season with 14 home runs and 49 RBI.
Facing Challenges
The 2012 season was tough for Ryan. He struggled with his hitting, and at one point, his batting average was very low. He was sent back to the minor leagues for a short time but was called back up. He finished the season with a .171 batting average. Ryan later shared that his struggles that year made him think about leaving baseball. On November 20, the Tigers released him.
Joining the Cleveland Indians
On January 19, 2013, Ryan signed a contract with the Cleveland Indians. After playing well in spring training, he made the Indians' main roster. Ryan had an amazing week from April 29 to May 5, 2013. He hit incredibly well, with 4 home runs and 9 RBI. Because of this, he won the American League Player of the Week award.
On August 7, 2013, Ryan signed a new two-year contract with the Indians. The next day, after a very long game, Ryan, who was usually an outfielder, was asked to pitch for the first time in a major league game! He pitched a perfect inning, getting three outs without anyone reaching base. He even struck out a batter. Ryan finished the 2013 season hitting .272 with 16 home runs and 55 RBI. He was part of a group of bench players called the 'Goon Squad' who helped the team a lot.
Playing for Other Teams
On March 4, 2016, Ryan signed a contract with the Colorado Rockies. He played in 113 games for them, hitting 9 home runs and getting 30 RBI.
In 2017, Ryan signed with the Cincinnati Reds but was released before the season started. He then signed with the Chicago White Sox. Later that year, the White Sox traded him to the Washington Nationals. He joined the Nationals in June. On July 3, Ryan hit a walk-off single that won the game for the Nationals against the Mets. He signed another contract with the Nationals in November 2017 but was released in March 2018.
Awards and Achievements
- 2001 Single-A All Star, New York–Penn League
- 2006 Triple-A All Star, International League
- 2007 Triple-A All Star, International League
- 2007 Detroit Tigers Rookie of the Year
- International League Player of the Month, June 2007
- American League Player of the Week, April 29 – May 5, 2013
Life Outside Baseball
Ryan Raburn is married to his wife Suzanne. They live in Balm, Florida. Ryan's brother, Johnny Raburn, also played baseball in the minor leagues.
