Ryan Lavarnway is a professional baseball player who has played for several teams in the Major League Baseball (MLB) since his debut in 2011. He was born on August 7, 1987, in Burbank, California, and attended Yale University, where he played college baseball.
Lavarnway was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the sixth round of the 2008 MLB draft. He quickly rose through the ranks of the Red Sox minor league system, earning a reputation as a power hitter with a strong arm behind the plate. He made his MLB debut on August 18, 2011, and played in 17 games for the Red Sox that season, hitting .231 with two home runs and eight RBIs.
Over the next few years, Lavarnway bounced between the Red Sox and their minor league affiliates, struggling to establish himself as a regular player at the MLB level. He was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 2014, where he played in just 10 games before being released.
Lavarnway then signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he spent most of the 2015 season in the minor leagues. He was called up to the Dodgers in September and played in nine games, hitting .143 with one home run and two RBIs.
In 2016, Lavarnway signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics and spent the entire season in the minors. He signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2017 and played in 13 games for the team, hitting .130 with one RBI.
Lavarnway then played for several teams in the minor leagues before signing with the Cincinnati Reds in 2018. He played in 12 games for the Reds that season, hitting .205 with one home run and four RBIs.
In 2019, Lavarnway signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees but did not play in any MLB games for the team. He then signed with the Miami Marlins in 2020 and played in six games for the team, hitting .143 with one RBI.
Lavarnway's MLB career has been marked by inconsistency and a lack of playing time at the highest level. However, he has been a productive hitter in the minor leagues, hitting .269 with 123 home runs and 518 RBIs over 1,008 games.
Despite his struggles in the majors, Lavarnway has remained a respected player in the baseball community, known for his work ethic and leadership skills. He has also been active in charitable work, supporting organizations such as the Israel Baseball League and the Miracle League of Miami-Dade.
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