these stories are awesome. i love seeing this side of the game we hardly get to see. honestly i’d never heard of him, but i enjoyed reading his story. this is why i visit MLBTR above all others. great info and awesome stuff from players perspectives.
davealden53
Great story well told. Thanks for sharing.
TheMichigan
Ryan, very well thought and written article, I love the guests that MLBTR gets. It’s simply amazing to have a free view into the minds of actual former/current major leaguers.
Getting called up to the Majors is just a dream for some people, and some people will sacrifice family time, education, jobs etc etc to achieve that dream they have held in their hearts since they were old enough to play baseball. Every ballplayer wants/dreams of that “meeting with skip” that could send them on their course for the future. This article truly encapsulates the passion and sacrifice that is required to earn a roster spot on a team in the highest level of baseball in the world.
We all have wanted to add one to 18,910 and you have done what many have dreamed.
schellis 2
Even if he never makes it to the majors again, he will always be able to call himself a major league player.
TJECK109
Awesome read. Gave me goosebumps trying to imagine that feeling you had when your dream became reality. Welcome aboard and keep up the good work.
PS: you only get one MLB trade rumors debut too and it was a good one
brewpackbuckbadg
I see that Ryan was part of the rule five draft. Is there a way to find out what level it was? Did he ever get returned to Kansas City?
Steve Adams
He was drafted in the Triple-A phase of the 2012 Rule 5 Draft and stayed in the Reds org from 2013-15. The Dodgers claimed him off waivers in April 2015, and he spent most of that year with them.
brewpackbuckbadg
Thanks Steve. May I ask where you got this info?
Dookie Howser, MD
June 9, 2009: Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 22nd round of the 2009 amateur draft. Player signed June 14, 2009.
December 6, 2012: Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds from the Kansas City Royals in the 2012 rule 5 draft.
April 15, 2015: Selected off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers from the Cincinnati Reds.
November 6, 2015: Granted Free Agency.
Monkey’s Uncle
2016: Pitched for the Lancaster (PA) Barnstormers of the independent Atlantic League. As many former big-league prospects play in the Indy leagues or overseas hoping to earn another big league contract, I’d be curious to know if he’s still planning on playing at age 30.
Great article.
bbgods
Love this! Welcome to the team, Ryan. Looking forward to more of your writing.
jimoore67
Excellent story, with 18,910 players I’m curious who is considered the first MLB player?
Abner Doubleday?
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
I’m gonna guess it’s much like the first HOFer… You can probably narrow it down to the guys who were on the first teams in the first official professional league, but distilling it much beyond that might be tough.
schellis 2
It would seem to be Deacon White or anyone else that played in that first game
Great write-up. Good voice, pace, perspective, etc.
I look forward to future articles .
sddew
I love reading these behind the scenes stories from a player’s perspective. Thanks to Ryan for adding a positive and good read after a day of such horrible bad news in the game. Well done…
BlueSkyLA
You have excellent “stuff” Ryan!
Deke
This is a great story, loved reading it. I’d like to hear “Part 2” what happened next? We don’t see what happens. Do they go and pack up their whole house? Send someone else to do it? Where do they live? All that stuff is HARD to do when you have to walk into an MLB clubhouse the next day.
TheMichigan
He pitched to a 11 ERA with 3 Ks
Still it’s amazing to live your dream
Kirby34
Fantastic, Ryan. Thank you for giving us a sense of what that’s like.
Just John
Ryan, thanks for the great story. Perspectives like these are part of the one facet of baseball that I wish I could understand more. “Moneyball’ was a great read, but paints a much more gruesome picture. I love your bright side.
You also reminded me of a question I’ve had for some time now. I noticed you were up long enough to give up a couple long balls 🙂 A friend of a friend of another retired pitcher told me he said “a guy never forgets who takes him yard’.. Is that true? Just curious who gotcha.
Thanks again for sharing.
Monkey’s Uncle
I looked that up but I’m guessing by the phrasing of your question that you hope that Ryan answers it himself, so I’ll refrain from giving the correct response unless asked. If you want to know yourself and know where to look for that specific info in the site, click the link on Ryan Dennick’s name in the first sentence in this article, it takes you straight to his page at baseball reference.com…
Just John
@connfyoozed Thanks for the courtesy in not wanting to spoil a reply!. I’ve spent a great deal of time on Baseball-Reference looking over season-specific stat lines on main player pages but never had a reason to dig deeper into game-by-game or play-by-play sequences until now. I had no idea every single out was available there to sift through. Thanks for the illumination (I now have exponentially more material to procrastinate with)..
However, I also couldn’t help myself to know either….
Alas, Ryan, I imagine your meeting with Curtis Granderson is quite memorable. Perhaps even more so because of the intense and angry smirk he always wears at the plate. I’ve always thought he was as ‘smirky’ as anyone While I’m sure it’s only his ‘focused face’, I’m still intimidated as a mere spectator.
So your secrets out, Ryan, but any further insight you have on the pitcher-batter mental games with regards to homers and K’s would be awesome. Either way, awesome read.
jd396
Cool story!
MatthewBaltimore23
That’s awesome! Thanks for telling this story!
jagonza
Great read thank you for sharing it with us. You may not have had the longest career but You should know that I would trade my best day at my job for the worst day at yours.
deadmanonleave
Just brilliant. Thanks Ryan!
seillihp
Nice piece. Very well done Ryan.
pjmcnu
Great story! Congrats on reaching the mountaintop! Nobody can take it away from you.
IloveMACfootball
Well written. Most of the former player stuff is kinda lame, they just aren’t good storytellers, but this was great.
stratcrowder
Thanks Ryan! And thanks again from our great city of Louisville for giving us a tremendous season that year!
porcelena
Thank you for sharing this story. This is exactly why I LOVE BASEBALL!
CONGRATS TO YOU SIR! (my favorite team too)
Don
oldskool10to6
Great read Ryan, thanks for sharing. Being a lifelong fan, and in better days a player, I always wanted to hear stories like this. Such sacrifice one must give to make it to their dream for the proverbial cup of coffee. I would love for someone to compile stories like this from hall of famers to the guy who gets that one at bat or one third of an inning and are never heard from again. The stories of how a player had to negotiate to get his first home run ball back. That first K of an All Star. There are some great stories out there and glad that you shared yours Ryan.
HayesWilson
I love these and I think the guys at MLBTR would be very wise to continue them with more players and ex-players because I’m guessing there are many more interesting stories to be told
Comments for this post have been closed by the site administrator.
partyatnapolis
these stories are awesome. i love seeing this side of the game we hardly get to see. honestly i’d never heard of him, but i enjoyed reading his story. this is why i visit MLBTR above all others. great info and awesome stuff from players perspectives.
davealden53
Great story well told. Thanks for sharing.
TheMichigan
Ryan, very well thought and written article, I love the guests that MLBTR gets. It’s simply amazing to have a free view into the minds of actual former/current major leaguers.
Getting called up to the Majors is just a dream for some people, and some people will sacrifice family time, education, jobs etc etc to achieve that dream they have held in their hearts since they were old enough to play baseball. Every ballplayer wants/dreams of that “meeting with skip” that could send them on their course for the future. This article truly encapsulates the passion and sacrifice that is required to earn a roster spot on a team in the highest level of baseball in the world.
We all have wanted to add one to 18,910 and you have done what many have dreamed.
schellis 2
Even if he never makes it to the majors again, he will always be able to call himself a major league player.
TJECK109
Awesome read. Gave me goosebumps trying to imagine that feeling you had when your dream became reality. Welcome aboard and keep up the good work.
PS: you only get one MLB trade rumors debut too and it was a good one
brewpackbuckbadg
I see that Ryan was part of the rule five draft. Is there a way to find out what level it was? Did he ever get returned to Kansas City?
Steve Adams
He was drafted in the Triple-A phase of the 2012 Rule 5 Draft and stayed in the Reds org from 2013-15. The Dodgers claimed him off waivers in April 2015, and he spent most of that year with them.
brewpackbuckbadg
Thanks Steve. May I ask where you got this info?
Dookie Howser, MD
June 9, 2009: Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 22nd round of the 2009 amateur draft. Player signed June 14, 2009.
December 6, 2012: Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds from the Kansas City Royals in the 2012 rule 5 draft.
April 15, 2015: Selected off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers from the Cincinnati Reds.
November 6, 2015: Granted Free Agency.
Monkey’s Uncle
2016: Pitched for the Lancaster (PA) Barnstormers of the independent Atlantic League. As many former big-league prospects play in the Indy leagues or overseas hoping to earn another big league contract, I’d be curious to know if he’s still planning on playing at age 30.
Great article.
bbgods
Love this! Welcome to the team, Ryan. Looking forward to more of your writing.
jimoore67
Excellent story, with 18,910 players I’m curious who is considered the first MLB player?
Abner Doubleday?
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
I’m gonna guess it’s much like the first HOFer… You can probably narrow it down to the guys who were on the first teams in the first official professional league, but distilling it much beyond that might be tough.
schellis 2
It would seem to be Deacon White or anyone else that played in that first game
baseball-reference.com/players/w/whitede01.shtml
babyk79
Awesome read!
hojostache
Great write-up. Good voice, pace, perspective, etc.
I look forward to future articles .
sddew
I love reading these behind the scenes stories from a player’s perspective. Thanks to Ryan for adding a positive and good read after a day of such horrible bad news in the game. Well done…
BlueSkyLA
You have excellent “stuff” Ryan!
Deke
This is a great story, loved reading it. I’d like to hear “Part 2” what happened next? We don’t see what happens. Do they go and pack up their whole house? Send someone else to do it? Where do they live? All that stuff is HARD to do when you have to walk into an MLB clubhouse the next day.
TheMichigan
He pitched to a 11 ERA with 3 Ks
Still it’s amazing to live your dream
Kirby34
Fantastic, Ryan. Thank you for giving us a sense of what that’s like.
Just John
Ryan, thanks for the great story. Perspectives like these are part of the one facet of baseball that I wish I could understand more. “Moneyball’ was a great read, but paints a much more gruesome picture. I love your bright side.
You also reminded me of a question I’ve had for some time now. I noticed you were up long enough to give up a couple long balls 🙂 A friend of a friend of another retired pitcher told me he said “a guy never forgets who takes him yard’.. Is that true? Just curious who gotcha.
Thanks again for sharing.
Monkey’s Uncle
I looked that up but I’m guessing by the phrasing of your question that you hope that Ryan answers it himself, so I’ll refrain from giving the correct response unless asked. If you want to know yourself and know where to look for that specific info in the site, click the link on Ryan Dennick’s name in the first sentence in this article, it takes you straight to his page at baseball reference.com…
Just John
@connfyoozed Thanks for the courtesy in not wanting to spoil a reply!. I’ve spent a great deal of time on Baseball-Reference looking over season-specific stat lines on main player pages but never had a reason to dig deeper into game-by-game or play-by-play sequences until now. I had no idea every single out was available there to sift through. Thanks for the illumination (I now have exponentially more material to procrastinate with)..
However, I also couldn’t help myself to know either….
Alas, Ryan, I imagine your meeting with Curtis Granderson is quite memorable. Perhaps even more so because of the intense and angry smirk he always wears at the plate. I’ve always thought he was as ‘smirky’ as anyone While I’m sure it’s only his ‘focused face’, I’m still intimidated as a mere spectator.
So your secrets out, Ryan, but any further insight you have on the pitcher-batter mental games with regards to homers and K’s would be awesome. Either way, awesome read.
jd396
Cool story!
MatthewBaltimore23
That’s awesome! Thanks for telling this story!
jagonza
Great read thank you for sharing it with us. You may not have had the longest career but You should know that I would trade my best day at my job for the worst day at yours.
deadmanonleave
Just brilliant. Thanks Ryan!
seillihp
Nice piece. Very well done Ryan.
pjmcnu
Great story! Congrats on reaching the mountaintop! Nobody can take it away from you.
IloveMACfootball
Well written. Most of the former player stuff is kinda lame, they just aren’t good storytellers, but this was great.
stratcrowder
Thanks Ryan! And thanks again from our great city of Louisville for giving us a tremendous season that year!
porcelena
Thank you for sharing this story. This is exactly why I LOVE BASEBALL!
CONGRATS TO YOU SIR! (my favorite team too)
Don
oldskool10to6
Great read Ryan, thanks for sharing. Being a lifelong fan, and in better days a player, I always wanted to hear stories like this. Such sacrifice one must give to make it to their dream for the proverbial cup of coffee. I would love for someone to compile stories like this from hall of famers to the guy who gets that one at bat or one third of an inning and are never heard from again. The stories of how a player had to negotiate to get his first home run ball back. That first K of an All Star. There are some great stories out there and glad that you shared yours Ryan.
HayesWilson
I love these and I think the guys at MLBTR would be very wise to continue them with more players and ex-players because I’m guessing there are many more interesting stories to be told