Ryan Budde

Infobox MLB player


width=150
name=Ryan Budde
position=Catcher
team=Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
number=28
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1979|9|15
birthplace=city-state|Midwest City|Oklahoma
debutdate=July 31
debutyear=2007
debutteam=Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
statyear=September 11, 2008
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.150
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=0
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=1
teams=
*Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (by|2007-present)

Ryan Dean Budde (born August 15, 1979 in city-state|Midwest City|Oklahoma) is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Budde graduated from Midwest City High School in Oklahoma and entered the Major League Baseball draft in by|1998. He was selected by the New York Mets in the 12th round (364th overall). Budde did not sign with the Mets and instead opted to attended college. Budde attended Oklahoma State University and there he played baseball. Following his career there, Budde entered the by|2001 draft. He was selected by the Anaheim Angels in the 12th round (359th overall).

Budde officially signed with the Angels on July 10, 2001, but did not play in 2001 due to an injury. Budde began his professional career in by|2002, playing for the High Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and the Double-A Arkansas Travelers. He played in a total of 90 games and batted .237 with 6 home runs. Budde played for the Quakes and the Travelers again in by|2003. Budde played in a total of 110 games and batted .217 with 11 home runs.

In by|2004, Budde mainly played for the Quakes, but also played 5 games for the Triple-A Salt Lake Stingers. In 99 games with the Quakes, he batted .251 with 13 home runs.

Budde spent the by|2005 and by|2006 seasons with Salt Lake, mainly serving as Jeff Mathis' backup in both seasons. He batted .230 with 6 home runs in 2005 and didn't do much better in 2006 when he batted .233 with 8 home runs.

On December 7, 2006, Budde was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft. Budde was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique on March 30, by|2007. In the Phillies organization, Budde played 3 games, all of which were rehab assignment games. On April 23, 2007, Budde was activated from the disabled list, but with Rod Barajas and Carlos Ruiz on the active roster, Budde was offered back to the Angels. Upon receiving him back, the Angels assigned Budde to Triple-A to play with the Salt Lake Bees. He ended up playing in 47 games for the Bees in 2007 and batted .295 with 4 home runs.

On July 28, mlby|2007, Budde's contract was purchased to give the Angels a second catcher after Mike Napoli was placed on the disabled list. Budde made his major league debut on July 31, 2007. Facing the Seattle Mariners that day, he came into the game as a pinch hitter. For the next month, Budde was the backup catcher to Jeff Mathis until Napoli came back on September 1 and Budde became the third catcher and after that he only played one more game in the season. On August 20, 2007, Budde recorded his first major league hit, which was against the New York Yankees. He had come into the game as a defensive replacement and in the 10th inning, he ended the game when he hit the game winning double off Sean Henn. Budde finished the 2007 season with a .167 batting average with no home runs and 1 RBI in 12 games.

References