Ryan Ludwick, Retired


Date of Birth: 7/13/1978
Birthplace: Satellite Beach, Florida
College: University of Nevada-Las Vegas

Ryan Ludwick was first drafted by the Oakland Athletics in 1999. After two years in the Athletics' minor league system, he was traded in 2002 to the Rangers.

Ludwick had a fractured hip in 2002 and he played in just 23 games with the Rangers. After 8 games in 2003, the Rangers traded him to the Cleveland Indians. He spent most of the next four seasons in the minor leagues, playing with the Indians in just 73 games from 2003 through 2006.

In 2007, Ludwick joined the St. Louis Cardinals, playing in 120 games with them. He batted .267 with 81 hits and 22 doubles. He had his best season the following year when he batted .299 and won a Silver Slugger award. In 2008, he had career highs in hits (161), doubles (40), home runs (37), and RBIs (113).

After 77 games and a .281 batting average in 2010, the Cardinals traded Ludwick to the San Diego Padres. Exactly one year later, the Padres traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Ludwick signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds in January, 2012. In his first year with the Reds, he batted .275 with 116 hits, 28 doubles, 26 home runs, and 80 RBIs in 125 games. In December, 2012, the Reds gave Ludwick a two-year, $15 million contract that includes a mutual option for 2015. He had shoulder surgery at the start of the 2013 season that limited his playing time to 38 games. He finished the 2014 season with 87 hits, 20 doubles, 45 RBIs, and a .244 batting average in 112 games.

Ludwick signed a minor league contract with the Rangers on February 4, 2015. He was released on March 29, 2015. He didn't play professional baseball in 2015. He retired as a major league player on January 21, 2016.

Career batting statistics for Ludwick through 2015 include:

  • 1,065 games played
  • 923 hits
  • 201 doubles
  • 154 home runs
  • 587 RBIs
  • 888 strikeouts to 339 walks
  • .260 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Ludwick as a left fielder through 2015 include:

  • 457 games played
  • 737 putouts
  • 3 errors
  • .996 fielding percentage

Career fielding statistics for Ludwick as a right fielder through 2015 include:

  • 484 games played
  • 866 putouts
  • 8 errors
  • .991 fielding percentage

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Ryan Ludwick
ESPN - Ryan Ludwick