Ryan Sweeney, Center Field

Date of Birth: 2/20/1985
Birthplace: Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Ryan Sweeney, center fielder, was first drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 2003. He played in the minor leagues from 2003 through 2007, playing in just 18 games with the White Sox in 2006 and in 15 games in 2007. The White Sox traded him to the Oakland Athletics in January, 2008.

In 2008, his first full season with the Athletics, Sweeney batted .286 with 110 hits in 115 games. The following season was his best one, with career highs in hits (142), doubles (31), and RBIs (53).

The Athletics traded Sweeney to the Boston Red Sox in December, 2011. He played in only 63 games with the Red Sox in 2012. The following April, he signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs. In 2013, a fractured rib limited Sweeney's playing time to just 70 games.

In October, 2013, Sweeney signed a new two-year, $3.5 million contract with the Cubs. He finished the 2014 season with 52 hits and a .251 batting average in 77 games. The Cubs released him on April 7, 2015, and he didn't play baseball in 2015.

Sweeney signed with the Minnesota Twins on December 17, 2015. He was released on March 25, 2016. He hasn't played professional baseball since 2014.

Career batting statistics for Sweeney through 2014 include:

• 682 games played
• 584 hits
• 124 doubles
• 224 RBIs
• 342 strikeouts to 183 walks
• .276 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Sweeney as an outfielder through 2014 include:

• 344 games played in right field, 241 games played in center field, 100 games played in left field
• 1,254 putouts
• 8 errors

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Ryan Sweeney
ESPN - Ryan Sweeney