B.J. Ryan was a left-handed pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 11 seasons. He was born on December 28, 1975, in Bossier City, Louisiana, and attended Louisiana State University (LSU) before being drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 17th round of the 1998 MLB draft.
Ryan made his MLB debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 1999 and spent the first six seasons of his career with the team. He was primarily used as a relief pitcher and became the team's closer in 2004. Ryan had a breakout season in 2005, recording 36 saves and a 2.43 earned run average (ERA) while earning his first All-Star selection.
After the 2005 season, Ryan became a free agent and signed a five-year, $47 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. He continued to excel as a closer, recording 38 saves in 2006 and 32 saves in 2007. Ryan was named to the All-Star team again in 2006 and 2008.
However, Ryan's career was derailed by injuries in 2007 and 2008. He underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2007 and missed the rest of the season. He returned in 2008 but struggled with his command and was eventually shut down for the season in August due to a shoulder injury.
Ryan attempted a comeback with the Blue Jays in 2009 but was released in July after posting a 6.53 ERA in 25 appearances. He signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs but did not appear in any games for the team.
In total, Ryan appeared in 562 MLB games, recording 117 saves and a 3.37 ERA. He was known for his deceptive delivery and ability to generate swings and misses with his fastball and slider.
After his playing career, Ryan worked as a scout for the Houston Astros and as a pitching coach for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.
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