Ryan Ludwick

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**Ryan Ludwick**

St. Louis Cardinals — No. 47
Right fielder
Born: July 13, 1978 (1978-07-13) (age 29)
Bats: Right	Throws: Left
Major League Baseball debut
June 5, 2002 for the Texas Rangers
Selected MLB statistics (through May 12, 2008)
Batting Average	.264
Home Runs	36
Runs Batted In	120
Teams
Texas Rangers (2002-2003) Cleveland Indians (2003-2005) St. Louis Cardinals (2007-present)

Ryan Andrew Ludwick (born July 13, 1978 in Satellite Beach, Florida) is a baseball player on the St. Louis Cardinals.

[edit] Early Career

Ludwick was originally a second round draft choice of the Oakland Athletics in 1999. Ludwick was traded to the Texas Rangers before the 2002 season, along with Gerald Laird, Jason Hart, and Mario Ramos, for first baseman Carlos Peña and pitcher Mike Venafro.

Ludwick made his major league debut with the Rangers in 2002, but his season was cut short when he fractured his hip in 2002, an injury which significantly hampered his career. In 2003, Ludwick was traded by the Rangers to the Cleveland Indians for pitcher Ricardo Rodríguez and outfielder Shane Spencer. Ludwick spent the 2006 season playing for the Toledo Mud Hens, the Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, and was named to the International League team for the 2006 Triple-A All-Star Game.

[edit] St. Louis Cardinals

In 2007, Ludwick was invited to Spring training by the St. Louis Cardinals and started in Triple-A Memphis. On May 6, 2007, Ludwick was promoted to the St. Louis Cardinals after Preston Wilson went on the DL. Ludwick had been hitting well for Memphis.

Ryan Ludwick is mainly a right-fielder, but occasionally gets playing time in other outfield positions.

His fast start in 2008 has earned him an everyday player role and leads his team in average, and home runs, RBIs, and slugging %. The only player in years to lead his team in those stats.(Pujols has lead his team in them since 2002)