| Ryan Theriot | |
|---|---|
| Second Baseman / Shortstop | |
| Born: December 7, 1979 Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
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| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| September 13, 2005 for the Chicago Cubs | |
| Career statistics (through 2011 Season) |
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| Batting average | .282 |
| Home runs | 17 |
| Runs batted in | 229 |
| Stolen bases | 108 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Ryan Stewart Theriot ( /ˈtɛri.oʊ/; born December 7, 1979 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana)[1] is a Major League Baseball infielder free agent.[1]
Theriot is the son of Randy and Mary Theriot, and has an older brother Wes and younger brother Austin. Both his father and older brother played baseball at Broadmoor High School.
Theriot graduated from Broadmoor High School in Baton Rouge, La in 1998. While there he played 3 seasons on the basketball team point guard and 4 season on the baseball team shortstop. He was a highly decorated baseball player, so he opted to not play basketball during his senior year of high school to focus on his baseball skills. While at Broadmoor he played along side with childhood friends, Mike Woods and Trae Duncan and together they set Louisiana High School Athletic Association history with becoming All American infielders from the same high school. They all later became 1st team All State for class 4A at third base, short stop, and second base, becoming the first ever trio to earn such awards. A shortstop in college,[2] Theriot was converted to second base for his major league debut, but played shortstop throughout the 2007–2009 seasons.[3] Theriot then was switched back to second base to make room for the rookie sensation Starlin Castro, who took his spot at shortstop on May 7, 2010. Theriot has also played third base, right field, and left field.[3]
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He played college baseball at Louisiana State University, and was named to the College World Series all-tournament team in 2000.[1] On June 12, 2000, Theriot broke up a no-hitter that was being thrown by his future teammate, Mark Prior, then pitching for Southern Cal.
Theriot scored the game winning run in the 2000 national championship game following a Brad Cresse single. The CWS title was the fifth for LSU in nine seasons.Ryan Theriot was named The Most Stylish Athlete.
Ryan followed up the 2000 season with a very good 2001 campaign that resulted in a 2nd Team All-SEC selection, the first and only All-conference honor of his college career. Prior to the 2001 season, Theriot was voted team captain by his teammates.
Theriot began his career as LSU's starting second baseman in 1999. He moved to shortstop in 2000 to make way for future Cubs teammate Mike Fontenot, now with the San Francisco Giants.
Theriot made his Major League Baseball debut on September 13, 2005, as a pinch hitter against the Cincinnati Reds, and gained his first hit the following day against Brian Shackelford.[4] In 2006 he split time between the Iowa Cubs and the major league team, hitting .328 in 53 games with the Chicago team.[4]
In 2007, Theriot made the opening day roster as a utility player. However, the early season struggles of Cesar Izturis lead to Theriot getting more starts and quickly became the starter. Izturis was traded in July. Also in 2007, Theriot was reunited with his former collegiate teammate Mike Fontenot.[5] Theriot and Fontenot made up the double play combination for the 2000 National Champion LSU Tigers.
Theriot was very versatile throughout the 2007 season; playing multiple positions defensively, and hitting all over the batting order. Despite impressive numbers from Theriot in the lead-off spot, albeit a small sample size, the return of Alfonso Soriano resulted in Theriot returning to the two hole.
While not expected to hit for power, Theriot was asked to try to drive in more runs early in 2009 as the Cubs succumbed to injuries and poor performance to their big boppers including Aramis Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano, Geovany Soto, and Milton Bradley. He quickly went on a relative tear and smacked 7 home runs, including his first two ever outside Wrigley Field, as the other players regained their health.
On May 1, 2009, Theriot hit his first career grand slam, against the Florida Marlins. The Cubs were down 5–2 when he hit it, and it gave them the lead. The Cubs won, 8–6.
On February 19, 2010, the Cubs went to salary arbitration with Theriot, the first time they had gone to arbitration with a player since 1993. Theriot's figure was one year, $3.4M. The Cubs' figure was also one year, $2.6M. The Cubs won the case. He appeared in 96 games with the Cubs in 2010, hitting .284.
On July 31, 2010, Theriot and Ted Lilly were traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Blake DeWitt.[6] He hit .242 in 54 games with the Dodgers.
On November 30, 2010, Theriot was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for RHP Blake Hawksworth.[7]
On July 17, 2011, Theriot was ejected from the game between the Cardinals and the Reds for arguing and making contact with an umpire with his hat after a call that Theriot's foot was dragged off the bag during a catch at second base. He was suspended for two games and fined, but the suspension was later reduced to only one game.
He became a non-tendered free agent on December 12, after the Cardinals refused to offer him a contract.[8] On January 3, 2012 it was reported that the New York Mets signed Theriot to a 5 year deal pending on physical.
Theriot and his wife, Johnnah Haik, live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with son Houston, 4, and an infant daughter Macey Marie. A second daughter, Georgia Grace, was born on July 14, 2008. He was sometimes referred to by Cubs fans and broadcasters as "The Riot" as a play on the spelling of his last name.[9]
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