Rusty Ryal

Rusty Allen Ryal

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 195 lb.
• School Cowley County Community College, Oklahoma State University
• High School Perry (OK) High School
• Debut August 10, 2009
• Final Game October 3, 2010
• Born March 16, 1983 in Ponca City, OK USA

BR page

Biographical Information

The son of Mark Ryal, Rusty Ryal made his major league debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009.

Ryal hit .315/.385/.395 for Oklahoma State University in 2004 after transferring from Cowley County Community College; he was the starting second baseman for the Cowboys. In 2005, the senior batted .300/.407/.457. The Arizona Diamondbacks took him in the 14th round of the 2005 amateur draft. He debuted with a bang, hitting .333/.391/.497 for the Missoula Osprey with 59 runs and 46 RBI in 72 games. He led the Pioneer League in games (72), runs, total bases (146) and times hit by pitch (15). He was second in hits (98, 9 behind Corey Wimberly), third in doubles (22) and 6th in average. He led Pioneer League third basemen in fielding percentage (.953) and double plays (13). He was left off the league All-Star team as Russ Mitchell was picked at third base instead.

In 2006, Rusty hit .277/.342/.454 for the Lancaster JetHawks but only fielded .894 at third base. The next season, Ryal hit .301/.354/.496 in 70 games for the Visalia Oaks and .238/.291/.405 in 47 for the Mobile BayBears, splitting time between second base and third base.

With Mobile in 2008, Ryal improved to .274/.334/.443 with 16 home runs. He fielded .984 at second base (97 games) and .965 at third (28 games), showing improved glovework. He made the midseason Southern League All-Star game. In the fall, he hit .125/.167/.278 with 23 K in 72 AB for the Phoenix Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League.

Ryal began 2009 with the Reno Aces and batted .290/.347/.527 with 33 doubles and 17 homers in 103 games. He was then called up to replace the struggling Chris Young in the outfield. In his MLB debut, he pinch-hit for Jon Rauch and singled off Elmer Dessens.

After spending all of 2010 as a utility player in Arizona, hitting .261, he was sold to the Yomiuri Giants on December 23. His father Mark had also spent time in Japan, playing for the Chunichi Dragons in the early 1990s. Rusty made his Nippon Pro Baseball debut on Opening Day, April 12. He hit 7th and played third base for Yomiuri, going 1 for 5.

Related Sites

• Rusty Ryal on mlb.com
• BR Minors page