| Ryan Sweeney | |
|---|---|
| Boston Red Sox | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: February 20, 1985 Cedar Rapids, Iowa |
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| Bats: Left | Throws: Left |
| MLB debut | |
| September 1, 2006 for the Chicago White Sox | |
| Career statistics (through 2011 Season) |
|
| Batting average | .283 |
| Home runs | 14 |
| Runs batted in | 169 |
| Teams | |
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Ryan Joseph Sweeney (born February 20, 1985, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.
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Sweeney originally attended Jefferson High School, however, conflict between winter showcase games and high school basketball obligations led him to transfer to cross-town Xavier High School. Sweeney graduated from Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids in 2003.
At the beginning of the 2007 season, Ryan was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 1 Prospect in the Chicago White Sox organization. He had originally signed to play collegiately for Tony Gwynn at San Diego State. However, he signed with the White Sox as he was taken in the 2nd round of the 2003 MLB Draft.
On January 3, 2008, the White Sox traded Sweeney along with fellow prospects Fautino De Los Santos and Gio Gonzalez to Oakland for outfielder Nick Swisher. Since the beginning of the 2008 season, Sweeney has played all three outfield positions, with most starts in right-field, proving to be a near .300 hitter with low home-run power.
On December 28, 2011, Sweeney and Andrew Bailey were traded to the Boston Red Sox for Josh Reddick and two minor leaguers.[1]
Ryan is an avid collector of late-70's/early 80's Pontiac automobiles, in particular the Trans Am. This obsession earned him the nickname "Firebird" from his Oakland teammates.