Ryan Theriot
Encyclopedia
Ryan Stewart Theriot is a Major League Baseball
infielder
for the St. Louis Cardinals
.
Theriot is the son of Randy and Mary Theriot, and has an older brother Wes and younger brother Austin. Both his father and older brother played baseball at Broadmoor High School
.
Theriot graduated from Broadmoor High School
in Baton Rouge, La in 1998. While there he played 3 seasons on the basketball team point guard
and 4 season on the baseball team shortstop
. He was a highly decorated baseball player, so he opted to not play basketball during his senior year of high school to focus on his baseball skills. While at Broadmoor he played along side with childhood friends, Mike Woods and Trae Duncan and together they set Louisiana High School Athletic Association
history with becoming All American infielders from the same high school. They all later became 1st team All State for class 4A at third base, short stop, and second base, becoming the first ever trio to earn such awards. A shortstop
in college, Theriot was converted to second base for his major league debut, but played shortstop throughout the 2007–2009 seasons. Theriot then was switched back to second base to make room for the rookie sensation Starlin Castro
, who took his spot at shortstop on May 7, 2010. Theriot has also played third base
, right field, and left field.
, and was named to the College World Series
all-tournament team in 2000. On June 12, 2000, Theriot broke up a no-hitter that was being thrown by his future teammate, Mark Prior
, then pitching for Southern Cal.
Theriot scored the game winning run in the 2000 national championship game following a Brad Cresse single. The CWS title was the fifth for LSU in nine seasons.Ryan Theriot was named The Most Stylish Athlete.
Ryan followed up the 2000 season with a very good 2001 campaign that resulted in a 2nd Team All-SEC selection, the first and only All-conference honor of his college career. Prior to the 2001 season, Theriot was voted team captain by his teammates.
Theriot began his career as LSU's starting second baseman in 1999. He moved to shortstop in 2000 to make way for future Cubs teammate Mike Fontenot
, now with the San Francisco Giants
.
Theriot made his Major League Baseball debut on September 13, 2005, as a pinch hitter against the Cincinnati Reds
, and gained his first hit the following day against Brian Shackelford
. In 2006 he split time between the Iowa Cubs
and the major league team, hitting .328 in 53 games with the Chicago team.
In 2007, Theriot made the opening day roster as a utility player. However, the early season struggles of Cesar Izturis
lead to Theriot getting more starts and quickly became the starter. Izturis was traded in July. Also in 2007, Theriot was reunited with his former collegiate teammate Mike Fontenot
. Theriot and Fontenot made up the double play combination for the 2000 National Champion LSU Tigers.
Theriot was very versatile throughout the 2007 season; playing multiple positions defensively, and hitting all over the batting order. Despite impressive numbers from Theriot in the lead-off spot, albeit a small sample size, the return of Alfonso Soriano
resulted in Theriot returning to the two hole.
While not expected to hit for power, Theriot was asked to try to drive in more runs early in 2009 as the Cubs succumbed to injuries and poor performance to their big boppers including Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano, Geovany Soto, and Milton Bradley. He quickly went on a relative tear and smacked 7 home runs, including his first two ever outside Wrigley Field, as the other players regained their health.
On May 1, 2009
, Theriot hit his first career grand slam
, against the Florida Marlins
.
The Cubs were down 5–2 when he hit it, and it gave them the lead. The Cubs won, 8–6.
On February 19, 2010, the Cubs went to salary arbitration with Theriot, the first time they had gone to arbitration with a player since 1993. Theriot's figure was one year, $3.4M. The Cubs' figure was also one year, $2.6M. The Cubs won the case. He appeared in 96 games with the Cubs in 2010, hitting .284.
were traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers
for Blake DeWitt
. He hit .242 in 54 games with the Dodgers.
for RHP Blake Hawksworth
.
On July 17, 2011, Theriot was ejected from the game between the Cardinals and the Reds for arguing and making contact with an umpire with his hat after a call that Theriot's foot was dragged off the bag during a catch at second base. He was suspended for two games and fined, but the suspension was later reduced to only one game.
with son Houston, 4, and an infant daughter Macey Marie. A second daughter, Georgia Grace, was born on July 14, 2008.
He was sometimes referred to by Cubs fans and broadcasters as "The Riot" as a play on the spelling of his last name.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
.
Theriot is the son of Randy and Mary Theriot, and has an older brother Wes and younger brother Austin. Both his father and older brother played baseball at Broadmoor High School
Broadmoor High School
Broadmoor Senior High School is an accredited public high school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.-About the school:Broadmoor High School was founded in 1960 and resides in the center of the historic Broadmoor Neighborhood of South Baton Rouge...
.
Theriot graduated from Broadmoor High School
Broadmoor High School
Broadmoor Senior High School is an accredited public high school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.-About the school:Broadmoor High School was founded in 1960 and resides in the center of the historic Broadmoor Neighborhood of South Baton Rouge...
in Baton Rouge, La in 1998. While there he played 3 seasons on the basketball team point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
and 4 season on the baseball team shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
. He was a highly decorated baseball player, so he opted to not play basketball during his senior year of high school to focus on his baseball skills. While at Broadmoor he played along side with childhood friends, Mike Woods and Trae Duncan and together they set Louisiana High School Athletic Association
Louisiana High School Athletic Association
The Louisiana High School Athletic Association is the agency which regulates and promotes the interscholastic athletic competitions of all high schools in the state of Louisiana.- Organization :...
history with becoming All American infielders from the same high school. They all later became 1st team All State for class 4A at third base, short stop, and second base, becoming the first ever trio to earn such awards. A shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
in college, Theriot was converted to second base for his major league debut, but played shortstop throughout the 2007–2009 seasons. Theriot then was switched back to second base to make room for the rookie sensation Starlin Castro
Starlin Castro
Starlin Dejesus Castro is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Chicago Cubs.-Minor Leagues:...
, who took his spot at shortstop on May 7, 2010. Theriot has also played third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
, right field, and left field.
College career
He played college baseball at Louisiana State UniversityLouisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
, and was named to the College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
all-tournament team in 2000. On June 12, 2000, Theriot broke up a no-hitter that was being thrown by his future teammate, Mark Prior
Mark Prior
Mark William Prior is an American professional baseball pitcher in the New York Yankees organization. He pitched for the Chicago Cubs from 2002-2006. His repertoire of pitches includes a low to mid 90s fastball, a curveball, a slurve, and a changeup.-Amateur career:Prior graduated from the...
, then pitching for Southern Cal.
Theriot scored the game winning run in the 2000 national championship game following a Brad Cresse single. The CWS title was the fifth for LSU in nine seasons.Ryan Theriot was named The Most Stylish Athlete.
Ryan followed up the 2000 season with a very good 2001 campaign that resulted in a 2nd Team All-SEC selection, the first and only All-conference honor of his college career. Prior to the 2001 season, Theriot was voted team captain by his teammates.
Theriot began his career as LSU's starting second baseman in 1999. He moved to shortstop in 2000 to make way for future Cubs teammate Mike Fontenot
Mike Fontenot
Michael Eugene "Mike" Fontenot is a Major League Baseball infielder for the San Francisco Giants.-High school career:Mike Fontenot was a standout for Salmen High School in Slidell, Louisiana...
, now with the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
.
Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, and gained his first hit the following day against Brian Shackelford
Brian Shackelford
Brian Wesley Shackelford is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He batted and threwn left-handed.-Career:...
. In 2006 he split time between the Iowa Cubs
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park.-Franchise history:...
and the major league team, hitting .328 in 53 games with the Chicago team.
In 2007, Theriot made the opening day roster as a utility player. However, the early season struggles of Cesar Izturis
César Izturis
César David Izturis is a Major League Baseball shortstop who is currently a free agent. He is the half-brother of shortstop Maicer Izturis, who plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Julio Izturis, who plays in the minor leagues in the San Francisco Giants organization.Izturis' greatest...
lead to Theriot getting more starts and quickly became the starter. Izturis was traded in July. Also in 2007, Theriot was reunited with his former collegiate teammate Mike Fontenot
Mike Fontenot
Michael Eugene "Mike" Fontenot is a Major League Baseball infielder for the San Francisco Giants.-High school career:Mike Fontenot was a standout for Salmen High School in Slidell, Louisiana...
. Theriot and Fontenot made up the double play combination for the 2000 National Champion LSU Tigers.
Theriot was very versatile throughout the 2007 season; playing multiple positions defensively, and hitting all over the batting order. Despite impressive numbers from Theriot in the lead-off spot, albeit a small sample size, the return of Alfonso Soriano
Alfonso Soriano
Alfonso Guilleard Soriano is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Chicago Cubs....
resulted in Theriot returning to the two hole.
While not expected to hit for power, Theriot was asked to try to drive in more runs early in 2009 as the Cubs succumbed to injuries and poor performance to their big boppers including Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano, Geovany Soto, and Milton Bradley. He quickly went on a relative tear and smacked 7 home runs, including his first two ever outside Wrigley Field, as the other players regained their health.
On May 1, 2009
2009 Major League Baseball season
The 2009 Major League Baseball season began on Sunday, April 5, 2009 with the Atlanta Braves defeating the 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies 4–1. The regular season ended on October 6, extended two days for a one-game playoff between the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins to...
, Theriot 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...
, against the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
.
The Cubs were down 5–2 when he hit it, and it gave them the lead. The Cubs won, 8–6.
On February 19, 2010, the Cubs went to salary arbitration with Theriot, the first time they had gone to arbitration with a player since 1993. Theriot's figure was one year, $3.4M. The Cubs' figure was also one year, $2.6M. The Cubs won the case. He appeared in 96 games with the Cubs in 2010, hitting .284.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On July 31, 2010, Theriot and Ted LillyTed Lilly
Theodore Roosevelt "Ted" Lilly III , is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He bats and throws left-handed...
were traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
for Blake DeWitt
Blake DeWitt
Blake Robert DeWitt is an American professional baseball utility player with the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball.-High school:...
. He hit .242 in 54 games with the Dodgers.
St. Louis Cardinals
On November 30, 2010, Theriot was traded to the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
for RHP Blake Hawksworth
Blake Hawksworth
Blake Edward Hawksworth is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is 6' 3" and weighs 195 pounds.-Career:...
.
On July 17, 2011, Theriot was ejected from the game between the Cardinals and the Reds for arguing and making contact with an umpire with his hat after a call that Theriot's foot was dragged off the bag during a catch at second base. He was suspended for two games and fined, but the suspension was later reduced to only one game.
Personal
Theriot and his wife, Johnnah Haik, live in Baton Rouge, LouisianaBaton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
with son Houston, 4, and an infant daughter Macey Marie. A second daughter, Georgia Grace, was born on July 14, 2008.
He was sometimes referred to by Cubs fans and broadcasters as "The Riot" as a play on the spelling of his last name.