Born in St. Louis, Mo., and raised in Kansas City, Kan., Ryne was born into a family of St. Louis Cardinals fans...despite this, Ryne was named after Hall of Famer 2B Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs...upon his MLB debut, he became just the third player named Ryne in MLB history, following Sandberg and All-Star pitcher Ryne Duren...Graduated from Blue Valley HS (KS) in 2010...as a senior, he was named the KC Star’s All-Metro Baseball Player of the Year after leading Blue Valley to a Kansas Class 6A State Championship...selected by Seattle in the third round of the 2010 draft, but did not sign...Elected to attend the University of Arkansas, where he starred for three years, compiling a 22-8 record with a 2.55 ERA and one save...was one of the best collegiate starting pitchers in 2013, his junior season, posting a 10-2 record and a 1.39 ERA (15ER/97.1IP) in 16 starts • Selected by the Rays in the first round of the 2013 Draft with the 29th overall selection...signed by Rays scout Rickey Drexler...Was the face of the Rays opener strategy in 2018, becoming the first rookie in MLB history with 25 starts and 25 relief apps. in a single season...since joining the Astros, has not made a start in his 131 appearances...Split his first four MLB seasons between the Tampa Bay and Miami organizations...non-tendered by the Marlins after the 2020 season and signed an MLB contract with Houston on Jan. 8, 2021...although the deal was for one year, the Astros retained control of Stanek through the arbitration process through the 2023 season...is eligible for free agency after 2023...Was the hardest-throwing pitcher on the Astros last season, averaging 98.4 mph on his fastball, which was the hardest he’s thrown in his Major League career... allowed just a .168 opponent average on his fourseamer in 2022...also threw a splitter (23%) and slider (18.5%) last season...Standing at 6’4” with flowing blonde hair and an eclectic personality, Stanek is one of the Astros most quotable interviews...he can always be found at his locker talking a variety of topics, from baseball strategy to parenthood to fashion, with a particular interest in sneakers and graphic tees.
2022
Went 2-1 with a 1.15 ERA, which set the new Astros all-time record for lowest ERA by a reliever for a season...also finished with the best reliever ERA in the AL and second-best in the Majors...struck out 62 batters in 54.2 innings and held hitters to a .181 average...gave up just two homers on the year...Reached career-bests in ERA (1.15), FIP (2.96) opp. SLG (.257), opponent OPS (.556), home run percentage (0.89%), hits per 9 innings allowed (5.93) and in home runs per 9 innings allowed (0.33)...Averaged 98.3 mph on his fastball this season, his highest average fastball velocity of his MLB career and highest by an Astros pitcher this season...Topped out at 101 mph this year on June 26 at NYY, the highest velocity of his career...Did most of his damage at home, posting a 0.64 ERA at Minute Maid Park while allowing a .165 opponent batting average...did not give up a single run in May and June...Made his fourth career OPENING DAY roster and second straight with the Astros...Posted a 27.1 scoreless inning streak, which was the fifth-longest in MLB this season, from April 29-July 22...streak spanned 31 appearances and is the second-longest by an Astros reliever in a single year in club history, trailing only RHP Dave Smith (27.2-inning streak, April 6-June 18, 1987)...Went 1.2 innings on July 6 vs. KC, a season-high... had four 1.1 inning outings...In his last 14 appearances to close out the regular season, allowed just one earned run and struck out 17 in 13.1 IP...posted a 0.68 ERA during span and held opposing batters to a .152 average...Appeared in four Postseason games in 2022, totaling 3.0 innings...did not allow a single hit or run in his outings and struck out six...pitched once in ALDS and ALCS while making appearances in World Series Games 1 and 3...closed out WS G1. 2017...Made 21 appearances over three stints with the Rays, his first career Major League action...made his MLB debut on May 14 at Boston (0ER/0.1IP)...Spent most of year with Triple A Durham and went 3-0 with a 1.21 ERA (6ER/44.2IP) and 60 strikeouts in 37 games.
2021
Notched one of his best seasons of his career in his first season with the Astros...recorded a 3.42 ERA (26ER/68.1IP) with 83 strikeouts and a career-high two saves...was used mainly in high leverage spots in the 7th and 8th innings for Houston...Led the club in relief appearances with 72, which ranked tied for fourth in the AL...72 apps. are a career-high, besting his 63 apps. in 2019...Allowed a .186 (46x247) average this season with 83 strikeouts in 68.1 innings pitched...RHH were 22x149 (.148) off him with 53 K’s...LHH were 24x98 (.245)...Made his third career and third consecutive OPENING DAY roster...pitched a scoreless 9th inning on Opening Day, April 1 at OAK, in the Astros 8-1 win...Recorded a 1.15 ERA (2ER/15.2IP) in his last 16 apps., allowing just nine hits in 15.2 IP in that span with 17 strikeouts...Recorded a 2.45 ERA (3ER/11IP) with two walks, 11 strikeouts and a 0.64 WHIP in 13 games in the POSTSEASON...his 13 appearances in a single postseason is a franchise record...it also ranked tied as the third most in MLB postseason history behind only Brandon Morrow for LAD in 2017 (14g) and Paul Assenmacher for CLE in 1997 (14g).
2020
Made just nine regular-season appearances for the Marlins, posting a 7.20 ERA (8ER/10IP) with 11 strikeouts in 10.0 innings...held right-handed hitters to a .194 (6x31) opponent batting average...Made the club's OPENING DAY roster and pitched in one game before being sidelined with COVID-19 from Aug. 4-Sept. 4...returned to make nine appearances in September, tossing 9.0 innings...Did not pitch in the Marlins Wild Card Series win over the Cubs...made two appearances in the NLDS vs. ATL, his first career POSTSEASON action... tossed 2.0 scoreless frames, working around three walks with three strikeouts...Non-tendered by the Marlins on Dec. 2.
2019
Opened 2019 with the Tampa Bay Rays, making 41 appearances, including 27 as the team's "opener." Finished the season with 22 appearances out of the bullpen for Miami...With Tampa Bay, went 0-2 with a 3.40 ERA (55.2 ip/21 er) and held opponents to a .214 average, with 61 strikeouts (9.9 per 9.0 innings). He posted a 2.09 ERA (43.0/10), limiting opposing hitters to a .190 and 10.26 strikeout per nine rate (49/43.0) in the 27 starts...Went 0-1 with 7.82 (12.2/11) ERA in 14 relief outings for Tampa, then went 0-2 with a 5.48 ERA out of the 'pen for Miami.
2018
Made 30 relief apps and 29 starts as an opener, a combination unmatched in major league history…became the first pitcher with 25 starts and 25 relief apps in a season since PHI Hugh Mulcahy (26 starts, 30 relief apps) in 1937 and the first AL pitcher since PHA Eddie Rommel (31 starts, 25 relief apps) in 1923…was the first rookie in major league history with 25 starts and 25 relief apps in a single season...His 29 starts were 2nd on the team behind Blake Snell (31)…all 29 starts came from May 26 through the end of the season, five more than any other pitcher in the majors over that span...His 59 apps tied for 4th among AL rookies and were the most by a Rays rookie since Steve Geltz (70) in 2015…his 29 starts tied SF Andrew Suarez for the most among major league rookies and were the most by a Rays rookie since Jake Odorizzi (31) in 2014...Min. 50 IP, ranked 2nd among AL rookies with a .191 opp avg. behind teammate Diego Castillo (.178) and ranked 3rd with a 10.99 SO/9 IP ratio...His avg. fastball velocity was 97.9 mph, according to StatCast, and his max velocity was 100.5 mph in his start on May 26 vs. BAL...Crafted a 1.86 ERA (38.2-IP, 8-ER) in 32 apps (14 starts) through July 25…after that, recorded a 4.55 ERA (27.2-IP, 14-ER) in 27 apps (15 starts)...From June 7-July 10, made nine consecutive scoreless starts to set a major league record- though he totaled only 13.2 IP over this span- passed LAD Zack Greinke (6, 43.2 IP), LAD Orel Hershiser (6, 55 IP) and LAD Don Drysdale (6, 54 IP)...Made 8 starts without allowing a hit, the most for any pitcher in a season since Baseball Reference data is available (1908)...Was winless in all 29 starts, the longest streak in the majors since Baseball Reference data is available (1908)…went 2 IP or fewer in all of these starts and never qualified for a win…his 29 starts of 2 IP or fewer and 14 starts of 1 IP or fewer were both the most for a pitcher within a single season...Five times he started on 0 days' rest, the first pitcher to do so that often in one season since STL/DET Grover Lowdermilk (5) and DET Harry Coveleski (5) in 1915…from Sep 3-4 at TOR, became the first rookie to start back-toback days since STL George Munger from July 28-29, 1943 vs. PHI, according to the Elias Sports Bureau…Munger went 0.1 IP in the first of those games and threw a complete game the next day…was the second pitcher in club history to start consecutive days, joining Sergio Romo on May 19-20 at LAA...Made two stints with the Rays (May 5-12 and May 19 through the end of the season)...On May 26 vs. BAL, made his first career start in the majors, and first start at any level since June 4, 2016 (with Double-A Montgomery)…retired all 5 BF, including strikeouts of Adam Jones, Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop...On May 28 at OAK, pitched around a 2-out double and intentional walk in the 12th inning and left with 1-on, 2-out in the 13th for his first career win, coming in his 29th career app...on May 31 at OAK, made the second start of his career and took his first career loss...Did not allow a run in 12 apps (7 starts) spanning 15.2 IP in June and became the first pitcher in the majors with at least 12 apps and 7 starts within a calendar month since PHI Karl Drews (12 apps, 7 starts) in June 1953, and the first AL pitcher to do this since Jim Walkup (14 apps, 7 starts) of the St. Louis Browns in August 1935…was the first pitcher to ever make 12 apps and 7 starts within a single calendar month and not allow a run...On Aug 3 vs. CWS, struck out all 5 BF in his 17th start, becoming the first starter since Baseball Reference data is available (1908) to go longer than 1 IP and strike out every batter faced… previous long was 1 IP by Sergio Romo on May 19 at LAA and BOS Ernie Shore on Oct 6, 1915 at NYY (G1).
2017
Made 21 apps over three stints with the Rays, his first career major league action…was on the active roster from May 14-June 10, Aug 1-8 and Sep 1 through the end of the season... Recorded a 3.52 ERA (7.2-IP, 3-ER) through the first 10 apps of his career, but a 7.30 ERA (12.1- IP, 10-ER) over his final 11 apps of the season. Allowed 6 HR in 20 IP, including 5 HR in his first 11.2 IP…his first 7 runs allowed all scored via the home run (three solo, two 2-run)... Averaged 98.1 mph on his fastball, according to StatCast…made 14 pitches of 100 mph or more, most by a Ray since Fernando Rodney (23) in 2013... Made his major league debut on May 14 at BOS… threw 9 pitches, all fastballs, averaging 99.3 mph according to StatCast, including a maximum velocity of 99.9 mph... On June 10 vs. OAK (G2), his 4 hits, 3 runs and 5 SO all remain career highs…became the first Rays reliever with 5 SO (or more) in an app of 2 IP or fewer since Steve Geltz on April 29, 2015 at NYY (1.2-IP, 5-SO)... On Sep 2 at CWS, allowed a solo homer to Avisaíl García on a 100.7 mph pitch, according to StatCast…it was the fastest pitch thrown by a Ray since data is available (2008) that was hit over the fence... Allowed at least 1 run in 7 consecutive apps spanning three stints, from June 8-Sep 8…it was the longest streak by a Rays reliever since Jason Hammel (7) in 2008... Was 3-0 with a 1.21 ERA (44.2-IP, 6-ER) and 60 SO in 37 apps with Durham…twenty of his last 21 apps spanning two stints there were scoreless, from June 20-Aug 30... Ranked by Baseball America as having the Best Fastball in the organization for a second consecutive year following the season.
2016
Split the season between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham…his last 23 apps of the season came out of the bullpen...Between the two levels, posted a 4.30 ERA (102.2-IP, 49-ER) in 34 apps (11 starts)…had a 3.83 ERA (42.1-IP, 18-ER) as a reliever...Had 113 SO in 102.2 IP, compared to 79 SO the season prior in 112.1 IP...Earned Minor League Pitcher of the Month honors for June…had a 1.25 ERA (21.2-IP, 3-ER) and 25 SO in 7 apps (1 start)...His last start came on June 4…promoted to Durham on July 4 following a 1.00 ERA (18-IP, 2-ER) in 7 relief apps-all of at least 2 IP-with Montgomery...Had a 2.70 ERA (13.1-IP, 4-ER) over his first 8 apps with Durham, but ended the season with a 9.82 ERA (11-IP, 12-ER) over his last 8 apps...Pitched for the U.S. team in the Futures Game in July at Petco Park...Listed by Baseball America as one of three Rays farmhands to touch 100 mph according to scouts, front office officials or PITCHf/x data, along with José Alvarado and Diego Castillo...Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 13 prospect in the Rays organization following the season…also tabbed by the publication as having the Best Fastball in the system.
