Ryan Bliss
| Ryan Bliss | |
|---|---|
| Seattle Mariners – No. 1 | |
| Shortstop | |
| Born: December 13, 1999 Burbank, California | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right |
Ryan Isiah Bliss (born December 13, 1999) is an American professional baseball shortstop for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Auburn Tigers.
Amateur career[edit]
Bliss grew up in LaGrange, Georgia, and attended Troup County High School. He hit eight home runs and was named an All-American by Rawlings-Perfect Game as a senior.[1] Bliss was selected in the 30th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft by the Boston Red Sox, but did not sign with the team.[2]
Bliss attended Auburn University and played college baseball for the Auburn Tigers for three seasons. He became the team's starting shortstop as a freshman and was named to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) All-Freshman team after batting .281 with 50 runs scored.[3] In 2019, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[4] As a sophomore, he batted for a .377 average with a team-high 21 runs scored in 18 games before the season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.[5] Bliss was named a First team All-American by the NCBWA and second team All-SEC after batting .365 with 15 home runs, 14 doubles, and 45 RBIs in his junior season.[6]
Professional career[edit]
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Bliss in the second round, with the 42nd overall pick, in the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.[7] He signed with the team on July 18, 2021, and received a $1.25 million bonus.[8] He made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Diamondbacks and was promoted to the Visalia Rawhide of the Low-A West after two games.[9] Over 39 games for the 2021 season, he batted .267 with six home runs, 24 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases.
On July 31, 2023, Bliss, Dominic Canzone, and Josh Rojas were traded to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Paul Sewald.[10]
Bliss began the 2024 season with the Triple–A Tacoma Rainiers, hitting .247/.382/.445 with seven home runs, 35 RBI, and 28 stolen bases. On May 27, 2024, Bliss was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[11]
References[edit]
- ^ Nunnelley, George (September 17, 2018). "Auburn baseball 2018 recruiting class ranked among the best". Opelika-Auburn News. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
- ^ "Bliss drafted by Red Sox". LaGrange Daily News. June 7, 2018. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- ^ Caldwell, Jason (October 7, 2019). "Bliss taking on leadership role for Auburn baseball team". 247Sports.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
- ^ "Ryan Bliss – Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
- ^ "Season cut short for Ryan Bliss". Valley Times-News. March 21, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- ^ "Bliss shines at Auburn, could be high pick". LaGrange Daily News. June 5, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
- ^ "Arizona Diamondbacks pick Ryan Bliss of Auburn baseball in Round 2 of 2021 MLB draft". Montgomery Advertiser. July 13, 2021. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
- ^ Gilbert, Steve (July 18, 2021). "D-backs agree to terms with Bliss, 4 others". MLB.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
- ^ "D-backs prospect Bliss notches first cycle". MLB.com.
- ^ Anderson, R. J. (July 31, 2023). "Paul Sewald trade: Diamondbacks acquire Mariners closer in four-player deal". CBSSports.com.
- ^ "Mariners Select Ryan Bliss". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
External links[edit]
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Auburn Tigers bio
- 1999 births
- Living people
- African-American baseball players
- Amarillo Sod Poodles players
- Arizona Complex League Diamondbacks players
- Auburn Tigers baseball players
- Brewster Whitecaps players
- Hillsboro Hops players
- Minor league baseball players
- People from LaGrange, Georgia
- Peoria Javelinas players
- Reno Aces players
- Tacoma Rainiers players
- Visalia Rawhide players
- 21st-century African-American sportspeople