Ryan Raburn
Encyclopedia
Ryan Neil Raburn is an American professional baseball
outfielder
with the Detroit Tigers
. Though primarily an outfielder, Raburn can also play third base
, second base
, first base
, and catcher
.
Raburn attended Durant High School in Plant City, Florida
. Following his prep career, he was selected in the 18th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft
by his hometown Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Raburn, however, chose not to sign, opting instead to play for the Florida Gators
and then transferred to South Florida Community College
. He is also the brother of Milwaukee Brewers
utility player
Johnny Raburn.
. Raburn signed and began playing in the minor leagues at third base, his natural position. In 2004, the Tigers, lacking depth in the middle infield, moved Raburn to second base.
Following the 2006 season, the Tigers chose to not add Raburn to the 40-man roster. This left him unprotected in the Rule 5 draft
, allowing any team to add him for a cost of $50,000; provided he spent the entire season on a major league roster. Raburn was not selected and returned to the Tigers and their Triple-A affiliate Toledo Mud Hens
.
2007 season
Raburn was a September call up during the 2004 season for the Tigers, playing in 12 games. He would not have a chance to play in the major leagues again until 2007, when Tigers utility infielder Neifi Pérez
was suspended 25 games after testing positive for amphetamine
usage. Raburn had a 2-out RBI single in his first at bat of that season. On July 25 against the Chicago White Sox
, Raburn went 4–5 with 2 home runs, a double and a single and had a total of 7 RBI.
Raburn earned the 2007 Tigers Rookie of the Year award from the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association.
2008 season
Raburn entered the 2008 season at Toledo, but was called up for a reserve role with the Tigers. During the 2008 season, Raburn has made sporadic starts at third base, second base, and all three outfield positions. Manager Jim Leyland
has often employed Raburn as a late-innings defensive replacement in the outfield or as a pinch runner
.
Raburn hit his first career grand slam
on June 28, 2008 against Colorado Rockies
pitcher Jeff Francis
.
2009 season
During spring training, Raburn spent time learning the catcher position, as well as first base, in an effort to provide more versatility to his resume. He did not make the Tigers 25-man roster and began the 2009 season playing for the Toledo Mud Hens
. He was called up to Detroit in April when Marcus Thames
was placed on the disabled list
.
On June 8, 2009, Raburn made his first career start at first base. It was the sixth different position he had started at in the major leagues.
On June 23, 2009, Raburn hit his first career walk-off home run
to lift the Tigers over the Chicago Cubs 5-4. According to Raburn, it was the first walk-off home run he had ever hit, including the minors leagues, college, high school, and Little League
.
2010 season
Raburn made the Tigers opening day roster for the first time in his career. He entered the 2010 season as a key bench player expecting to see time at every defensive position except catcher and shortstop. As of mid-June, Raburn was regularly filling in for injured right fielder Magglio Ordóñez
, but was hitting poorly. During the second half of the season, when he became an everyday starter primarily playing in the outfield, his bat heated up. By the end of 2010, he had played in 113 games, and sported a .280 batting average with 15 home runs and 61 RBIs.
2011 season
Raburn signed a two-year contract extension after the 2010 season, and was a regular starter in left field at the beginning of the 2011 season. Near the end of May, Raburn took over at second base after Scott Sizemore
was traded to the Oakland Athletics
. (In addition, another Tiger second baseman, Carlos Guillen
, was on the disabled list through the entire first half.) Raburn's batting average slumped in the first half (.213 at the All-Star break), but he showed flashes of power with 8 home runs. Andy Dirks
and new acquisition Delmon Young
played Raburn's left field position for much of the second half while he saw more time at second base. After another strong second half, Raburn finished the 2011 regular season at .256 with 14 home runs and 49 RBI in 387 at-bats.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. Though primarily an outfielder, Raburn can also play third base
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
, second base
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
, first base
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
, and catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
.
Raburn attended Durant High School in Plant City, Florida
Plant City, Florida
Plant City is a city in Hillsborough County, Florida, in the United States, approximately midway between Brandon and Lakeland along Interstate 4. The population was 34,721 at the 2010 census....
. Following his prep career, he was selected in the 18th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft
1999 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1999...
by his hometown Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Raburn, however, chose not to sign, opting instead to play for the Florida Gators
Florida Gators
The Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
and then transferred to South Florida Community College
South Florida Community College
South Florida Community College , serving more than 19,000 area residents annually, has campuses and centers in Highlands, DeSoto and Hardee counties, Fla. The Highlands Campus, on , is located two miles south of Avon Park, Florida. It is bounded on the north by Lake Lelia, to the south by Lake...
. He is also the brother of Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
utility player
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
Johnny Raburn.
Professional career
After two seasons of college baseball, the Detroit Tigers selected Raburn in the 5th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft2001 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Background:The Minnesota Twins selected St. Paul, MN native Joe Mauer with the number one pick in the 2001 draft. The 18-year-old Mauer, a catcher from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, became the seventh Minnesotan to be...
. Raburn signed and began playing in the minor leagues at third base, his natural position. In 2004, the Tigers, lacking depth in the middle infield, moved Raburn to second base.
Following the 2006 season, the Tigers chose to not add Raburn to the 40-man roster. This left him unprotected in the Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
, allowing any team to add him for a cost of $50,000; provided he spent the entire season on a major league roster. Raburn was not selected and returned to the Tigers and their Triple-A affiliate Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
.
2007 season
Raburn was a September call up during the 2004 season for the Tigers, playing in 12 games. He would not have a chance to play in the major leagues again until 2007, when Tigers utility infielder Neifi Pérez
Neifi Pérez
Neifi Neftali Pérez is a Major League baseball player who most recently played for the Detroit Tigers. He played with the Colorado Rockies , Kansas City Royals , San Francisco Giants , and the Chicago Cubs...
was suspended 25 games after testing positive for amphetamine
Amphetamine
Amphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,...
usage. Raburn had a 2-out RBI single in his first at bat of that season. On July 25 against the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, Raburn went 4–5 with 2 home runs, a double and a single and had a total of 7 RBI.
Raburn earned the 2007 Tigers Rookie of the Year award from the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association.
2008 season
Raburn entered the 2008 season at Toledo, but was called up for a reserve role with the Tigers. During the 2008 season, Raburn has made sporadic starts at third base, second base, and all three outfield positions. Manager Jim Leyland
Jim Leyland
James Richard "Jim" Leyland is a Major League Baseball manager, currently with the Detroit Tigers.He led the Florida Marlins to a World Series championship in 1997, and previously won three straight division titles with the Pittsburgh Pirates...
has often employed Raburn as a late-innings defensive replacement in the outfield or as a pinch runner
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
.
Raburn hit his first career grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
on June 28, 2008 against Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
pitcher Jeff Francis
Jeff Francis
Jeffrey William Francis is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Early life:...
.
2009 season
During spring training, Raburn spent time learning the catcher position, as well as first base, in an effort to provide more versatility to his resume. He did not make the Tigers 25-man roster and began the 2009 season playing for the Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
. He was called up to Detroit in April when Marcus Thames
Marcus Thames
Marcus Markley Thames is an American professional baseball outfielder. He has previously played for the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers....
was placed on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
.
On June 8, 2009, Raburn made his first career start at first base. It was the sixth different position he had started at in the major leagues.
On June 23, 2009, Raburn hit his first career walk-off home run
Walk-off home run
In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives the home team the lead in the bottom of the final inning of the game—either the ninth inning, or any extra inning, or any other regularly scheduled final inning...
to lift the Tigers over the Chicago Cubs 5-4. According to Raburn, it was the first walk-off home run he had ever hit, including the minors leagues, college, high school, and Little League
Little League
Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...
.
2010 season
Raburn made the Tigers opening day roster for the first time in his career. He entered the 2010 season as a key bench player expecting to see time at every defensive position except catcher and shortstop. As of mid-June, Raburn was regularly filling in for injured right fielder Magglio Ordóñez
Magglio Ordóñez
Magglio José Ordóñez Delgado is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball right fielder. He has played for the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers . Ordóñez is six feet, one inch tall and weighs .-Professional career:...
, but was hitting poorly. During the second half of the season, when he became an everyday starter primarily playing in the outfield, his bat heated up. By the end of 2010, he had played in 113 games, and sported a .280 batting average with 15 home runs and 61 RBIs.
2011 season
Raburn signed a two-year contract extension after the 2010 season, and was a regular starter in left field at the beginning of the 2011 season. Near the end of May, Raburn took over at second base after Scott Sizemore
Scott Sizemore
Scott Daniel Sizemore is a Major League Baseball second baseman/third baseman for the Oakland Athletics.-Minor leagues:...
was traded to the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. (In addition, another Tiger second baseman, Carlos Guillen
Carlos Guillén
Carlos Alfonso Guillén is a Major League Baseball second baseman and switch-hitter....
, was on the disabled list through the entire first half.) Raburn's batting average slumped in the first half (.213 at the All-Star break), but he showed flashes of power with 8 home runs. Andy Dirks
Andy Dirks
Andrew Lee Dirks is an American professional baseball outfielder with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He attended Haven High School in Haven, Kansas.-Career:...
and new acquisition Delmon Young
Delmon Young
Delmon Damarcus Young is an American professional baseball outfielder with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He is the younger brother of former major league outfielder and first baseman Dmitri Young. He was born in Montgomery, Alabama.Young is known for having a strong and accurate...
played Raburn's left field position for much of the second half while he saw more time at second base. After another strong second half, Raburn finished the 2011 regular season at .256 with 14 home runs and 49 RBI in 387 at-bats.
Honors
- 2001 Single-A All Star, New York-Penn League
- 2006 Triple-A All Star, International LeagueInternational LeagueThe International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
- 2007 Triple-A All Star, International League
- 2007 Detroit Tigers Rookie of the Year
- International League Player of the Month, June, 2007.