Ryan Church is the perfect example of a baseball player who was never destined for stardom, but worked hard and got the best out of his abilities in making a solid major league career. A lefty throwing and hitting outfielder, Church was taken in the 14th round of the 2000 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Indians, after completing his collegiate career with the University of Nevada at Reno.
Church put up solid numbers in each of his first seasons in the minors, but was unable to crack the Cleveland lineup. Finally, in 2004, he was traded with Maicer Izturis to the Montreal Expos for reliever Scott Stewart. Church ended up playing 30 games with the Expos, mainly off the bench.
The Expos became the Washington Nationals in time for the 2005 season and brought Church along. The one season Church had with Washington as an undisputed starter was in 2007, and he responded by hitting .272 with 15 home runs and 70 RBI in 144 games. He was also considered a good defender who played all three positions in the outfield.
Church was traded to the New York Mets in November, 2007 and spent the remainder of his career bouncing around between the Mets, Braves, Pirates, and Diamondbacks. Although he typically received significant playing time, he never returned to his status as a full time starter over the course of a full season.
While with the Mets in 2008, Church suffered a series of concussions that kept him out for a lengthy amount of time. He did get into 90 games that year, and played well with a .276 batting average and 12 home runs. He also made the last ever out at Shea Stadium when he flied out deep to center field on September 28th in a loss against Matt Lindstrom and the Florida Marlins.
Church last played in the major leagues in 2010. He has not officially retired, but has not caught on with another team as of the writing of this piece. In 7 big league season, he has hit .264 over 654 games with 56 home runs and 267 RBI. More information about his career statistics is available at
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/churcry01.shtml .
Ryan Church Questionnaire:
If you could do anything about your playing career differently, what that be?: I wouldn't change a thing! I gave everything I had every game.
What was the strangest play you ever saw on the baseball diamond?: A triple play, and being part of a no-hitter in the minors.
Who was your favorite coach or manager?: Bobby Cox, by far!
What was the best prank you ever saw in baseball?: Not much of a prank, but dressing all the rookies up at the end of the year never got old!
Church put up solid numbers in each of his first seasons in the minors, but was unable to crack the Cleveland lineup. Finally, in 2004, he was traded with Maicer Izturis to the Montreal Expos for reliever Scott Stewart. Church ended up playing 30 games with the Expos, mainly off the bench.
The Expos became the Washington Nationals in time for the 2005 season and brought Church along. The one season Church had with Washington as an undisputed starter was in 2007, and he responded by hitting .272 with 15 home runs and 70 RBI in 144 games. He was also considered a good defender who played all three positions in the outfield.
Church was traded to the New York Mets in November, 2007 and spent the remainder of his career bouncing around between the Mets, Braves, Pirates, and Diamondbacks. Although he typically received significant playing time, he never returned to his status as a full time starter over the course of a full season.
While with the Mets in 2008, Church suffered a series of concussions that kept him out for a lengthy amount of time. He did get into 90 games that year, and played well with a .276 batting average and 12 home runs. He also made the last ever out at Shea Stadium when he flied out deep to center field on September 28th in a loss against Matt Lindstrom and the Florida Marlins.
Church last played in the major leagues in 2010. He has not officially retired, but has not caught on with another team as of the writing of this piece. In 7 big league season, he has hit .264 over 654 games with 56 home runs and 267 RBI. More information about his career statistics is available at
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/churcry01.shtml .
Ryan Church Questionnaire:
If you could do anything about your playing career differently, what that be?: I wouldn't change a thing! I gave everything I had every game.
What was the strangest play you ever saw on the baseball diamond?: A triple play, and being part of a no-hitter in the minors.
Who was your favorite coach or manager?: Bobby Cox, by far!
What was the best prank you ever saw in baseball?: Not much of a prank, but dressing all the rookies up at the end of the year never got old!
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