University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Former Standout B.J. Ryan Selected for 2005 MLB All-Star Game
7/3/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Former Standout
B.J. Ryan Selected for 2005 MLB All-Star Game
Ryan
was a member of the 1997 and 1998 Louisiana-Lafayette
squads; first former Cajun named to an All-Star Game since
Ron Guidry in 1983
LAFAYETTE
–
The Fourth of July weekend
was special for one former Louisiana-Lafayette baseball
player.
On Sunday, July 3, former Ragin' Cajuns standout pitcher and current Baltimore Orioles closer B.J. Ryan was named to the 2005 American League All-Star Team – the first All-Star selection of his major league career.
Ryan, who played two seasons at Louisiana-Lafayette as a member of the 1997 and 1998 squads, is the first former Ragin' Cajuns player to make the Mid-Summer Classic since Ron Guidry did so in 1983.
Ryan, who has 18 saves and a run
of nine straight scoreless appearances is the first Orioles
pitcher selected to play in the game since Mike Mussina in
1999 and the first Baltimore reliever since Lee Smith in
1994.
The left-hander was honored to be selected by his peers; he
got 160 votes compared to 115 for runner-up Mariano Rivera
of the New York Yankees.
Ryan has a 1-2 record with a 2.58 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 37 appearances, while his 18 saves are tied for sixth best in the AL and tied for 11th best in the majors. He is one of four Orioles to make the All-Star squad; Ryan is the only pitcher on the team to do so.
Ryan, who joined the Cajuns in 1997 after transferring from Centenary College, posted a 7-2 record with 103 strikeouts in 34 appearances on the pitching mound. Ryan was equally effective with his bat as he hit 16 home runs and posted 65 RBI.
His best season with Louisiana-Lafayette was 1998 when he led the pitching staff with a 3.16 ERA and struck out 72 while walking on 19 in 57 innings pitched. That same season, Ryan ranked second on the team with 12 home runs.
The 2005 MLB All-Star Game will be held on Tuesday, July 12 at Detroit's Comerica Park. Cajuns fans interested in following the game can tune into KADN-Fox 15 (cable channel 8) beginning at 7 p.m. (CDT).
-Ragin' Cajuns-
