Ryan Ritter (minors02)

Ryan Michael Ritter

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 200 lbs.
• School John A. Logan College, University of Kentucky
• High School Lincoln-Way East High School

• Born November 10, 2000 in Evergreen Park, IL USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Middle infielder Ryan Ritter was originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 33rd round of the 2019 Amateur Draft. He chose not to sign and instead attended John A. Logan College, where he hit .342/.429/.481 as a freshman in 2020. After the collegiate season had concluded, he played 29 games in the Northwoods League for the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders, hitting .259/.385/.318. He transferred to the University of Kentucky for his sophomore season, and hit .275/.323/.365 against stiffer competition than he had been facing in the junior college ranks. However, he did pretty well in his second summer of summer collegiate ball, hitting .330/.431/.429 in 31 games for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod League. He returned to Kentucky for his junior season in 2022, and hit .283/.369/.469 with 14 doubles and 8 home runs - much greater power output than his sophomore year. He returned to the Kettleers that summer, but his batting average and on base percentage both fell, however his slugging average rose (.262/.368/.492). In the 2022 Amateur Draft, he was taken by the Colorado Rockies organization in the fourth round.

The defensive standout got his professional career underway with eight games in the Arizona Complex League. He put up an impressive .320/.414/.680 slash line, and 6 of his 8 hits went for extra bases. Still, it was an eight-game stint in a complex league. However, his offensive remained strong into 2023, even having been moved up to low-A ball. He hit .303/.401/.602 against California League pitching for the Fresno Grizzlies, including 15 doubles, 18 home runs, and 58 RBI. On the downside, his strikeout rate was somewhat on the high side - 73 K's in 251 at-bats. Three times he was the Cal League Player of the Week (for the weeks ending April 23, May 21, and July 2) and was the Player of the Month in June. He was called up to the advanced-A Spokane Indians a day after receiving his third Player of the Month honor on July 3 (an off day in the Northwest League) and started as the Indians' shortstop and leadoff hitter the next day at Avista Stadium. The game wound up being an 11-9 victory over the Everett AquaSox - which was almost given away by the Spokane bullpen - where every Indians hitter except Ronaiker Palma got a hit (Palma did walk twice and scored). Ritter went 1-5 with a run and a strikeout. In 46 games in the Lilac City, he hit .265/.367/.411 with 10 doubles, 6 home runs, 26 RBI, 12 stolen bases, and 22 bases on balls (but also with 69 strikeouts in 170 at-bats). He was promoted again on September 6 to AA ball and the Hartford Yard Goats. He appeared in eight games, hitting .160/.276/.200; he struck out 11 times in 25 at-bats and had only 1 extra-base hit (a double).

Related Sites

• Kentucky bio
• John A. Logan bio