Ryan Franklin is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for several teams during his career. He was born on March 5, 1973, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and attended Spiro High School in Oklahoma. After high school, he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 23rd round of the 1992 MLB draft.
Franklin made his MLB debut with the Mariners in 1999 and spent the next six seasons with the team. He was primarily used as a relief pitcher during his time with the Mariners, but he also made some starts. In 2003, he had his best season with the team, posting a 3.57 ERA in 70 appearances.
After the 2004 season, Franklin became a free agent and signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. He spent one season with the Phillies, pitching in 31 games and posting a 4.88 ERA.
In 2006, Franklin signed with the Cincinnati Reds but was released after just one month with the team. He then signed with the St. Louis Cardinals and spent the next six seasons with the team. During his time with the Cardinals, he was primarily used as a starting pitcher and had some success. In 2009, he had his best season with the team, posting a 3.55 ERA in 33 starts.
Franklin retired from baseball after the 2011 season. Over the course of his career, he pitched in 557 games, starting 215 of them. He had a career record of 62-76 with a 4.14 ERA and 1,015 strikeouts.
Off the field, Franklin was known for his charitable work. He and his wife started the Ryan and Jenny Franklin Foundation, which supports children's charities in the St. Louis area. He was also involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Ronald McDonald House.
In 2015, Franklin made headlines when he admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs during his career. He said that he used amphetamines and human growth hormone to help him recover from injuries and stay on the field. He apologized for his actions and said that he regretted using the drugs.
Overall, Ryan Franklin had a solid career as a Major League Baseball pitcher. He was never a star player, but he was a reliable arm for several teams over the course of his career. He will be remembered not only for his on-field accomplishments but also for his charitable work and his honesty about his past drug use.
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