- Ryan Raburn
Infobox MLB player
name = Ryan Raburn
width = 300
position = Utility player
team = Detroit Tigers
number = 25
bats = Right
throws = Right
birthdate = birth date and age|1981|4|17
birthplace = city-state|Tampa|Florida
debutdate = September 12
debutyear = 2004
debutteam = Detroit Tigers
statyear = August 21, 2008
stat1label =Batting average
stat1value = .266
stat2label =Home run s
stat2value = 8
stat3label = Runs batted in
stat3value = 43
teams =
*Detroit Tigers (by|2004, by|2007–present)Ryan Neil Raburn (born
April 17 ,1981 inTampa, Florida ) is aMajor League Baseball player for theDetroit Tigers . Primarily anoutfielder , Raburn can also play third base and second base.Raburn attended Durant High School in
Plant City, Florida . Following his prep career, he was selected in the 18th round of the 1999 amateur entry draft by his hometown Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Raburn, however, chose not to sign, opting instead to play atSouth Florida Community College .Professional career
After two seasons of college baseball, the Detroit Tigers selected Raburn in the 5th round of the by|2001 amateur entry draft. Raburn signed and began playing in the minor leagues at third base, his natural position. In 2004, the Tigers, lacking depth at the position, moved Raburn to second base.
Following the by|2006 season, the Tigers chose to not add Raburn to the 40 man roster. This left him unprotected in the
Rule 5 draft , allowing any team to add him for a cost of $50,000; provided he spent the entire season on a major league roster. Raburn was not selected and returned to the Tigers and their AAA affiliateToledo Mud Hens .Raburn was a September call up during the 2004 season for the Tigers, playing in 12 games. He would not have a chance to play in the major leagues again until 2007, when Tigers utility infielder
Neifi Pérez was suspended 25 games after testing positive foramphetamine usage. Raburn had a 2-out RBI single in his first at bat of that season. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET200707060.shtml July 6, 2007 Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers Box Score and Play by Play - Baseball-Reference.com ] ] OnJuly 25 against theChicago White Sox , Raburn went 4–5 with 2 home runs, a double and a single and had a total of 7 RBIs. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA200707250.shtml July 25, 2007 Detroit Tigers at Chicago White Sox Box Score and Play by Play - Baseball-Reference.com ] ]Raburn entered the by|2008 season at Toledo, but was called up for a reserve role with the Tigers. During the 2008 season, Raburn has made sporadic starts at third base, second base, and all three outfield positions. Manager
Jim Leyland has often employed Raburn as a late-innings defensive replacement in the outfield or as apinch runner .Raburn hit his first career
grand slam on June 28, 2008 againstColorado Rockies pitcherJeff Francis .Facts
* 2001 Single-A All Star,
New York-Penn League
* 2006 Triple-A All Star,International League
* 2007 Triple-A All Star, International League
* International League Player of the Month, June,2007 .External links
References
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