BJ Ryan named 2006 Graduate of the Year
⋅ NBC
When B.J. Ryan was playing for the Hays (KS) Larks in the 1996 NBC World Series, he wasn’t thinking about what pitch to throw, or how many strikeouts he would amass. B.J. Ryan was focused on hitting.
Ryan, a dominant closer today, didn’t throw a single pitch in the 1996 NBC World Series. He played in 5 of the Larks 6 games as a 1B/DH. Batting left, the Louisiana-Lafayette Junior went 5-19, with 1 home run, 1 walk and 6 runs to help Hays tie for 4th place with a 4-2 record. Ryan also stole a base in his only attempt.
Ryan was selected in the 17th round (500th Overall) of the 1998 amateur draft by the Cincinnati Reds. During his Major and Minor League career, Ryan has two at-bats and zero hits.
B.J. Ryan is now the All-Star closer for the Toronto Blue Jays. Ryan pitched for the Baltimore Orioles in 2005 where he saved 36 games in 41 chances, struck out 100 batters in 70.1 innings and compiled a 2.43 ERA. Ryan’s breakout season with the Orioles helped him earn a 5-year, $47 million contract from the Toronto Blue Jays this past off-season.
Ryan is paying back the Blue Jays for their investment, putting up even better numbers than he did in 2005. At the 2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Break, Ryan had appeared in 39 games and pitched 42.2 innings. In his 39 appearances, Ryan has struck out 54 batters, saved 24 games and posted an eye-popping 0.84 ERA. By giving up only 4 earned runs at the All-Star break, Ryan received his second straight All-Star Game invitation, where he was the winning pitcher in the American League’s 3-2 victory.
The National Baseball Congress World Series is proud to select and congratulate Toronto Blue Jays Left-Handed Pitcher B.J. Ryan as the 2006 Graduate of the Year.
