Ryan Raburn

Ryan Raburn plays professional baseball and was drafted by the Detroit Tigers organization. During the off-season, Ryan and his wife Suzanne reside in Balm, Florida.

He was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 18th round of the June 1999 draft out of Durant High School in Dover, Florida, but did not sign. Two years later he was recommended/drafted and signed in the June 2001 draft by Steve Nichols of the Tigers after playing two years at South Florida Community College.

He made his debut on September 12, 2004 and is a right-handed thrower and hitter.

Raburn actively participates with Tigers Dreams Come True and the Detroit Tigers Autographed Memorabilia Donation Program, supports Gloves for Kids, attended "Keeping Kids in the Game" and participated in the Tigers Winter Caravan.

He is capable of playing all infield and outfield positions as well as catching behind the plate. Ryan is a right handed thrower and hitter. http://tigers.mlb.com/components/team/player/bio_iframe.html?is_mug_shot=true&roster_cid=det&cid=det&player_id=430605 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Raburn#Professional_career

Ryan broke Spring Training camp as pat of the Detroit Tigers 25 man Active Roster. Unlike other years where he had to fight to make the team, he could spend this spring refining his skills, assured of a roster spot.

He is slotted as a utility player for the Tigers and can expect to see between 200 and 300 at bats while playing both the outfield and infield.

Ryan has gotten off to a bad start for the Tigers both at bat and in the field with mutiple miscues in the outfield. On May 12, he was sent to Triple A Toledo and replaced by pitcher Afredo Figaro.

During spring training, Raburn spent time learning the catcher position, as well as first base, in an effort to provide more versatility to his resume. He was originally left off the Tigers 25 man active roster and assigned to Toledo of the International League.

He was recalled from Toledo on April 22 to replace the injured Marcus Thames. At the time he was leading the International League with 5 homers.

He finished the season with a .291 average, 16 home runs and 45 RBIs in only 261 at bats.

On June 8, 2009, Raburn made his first career start at first base. It was the sixth different position he had started at in the major leagues.

On June 23, 2009, Raburn hit his first career walk-off home run to lift the Tigers over the Chicago Cubs 5-4. According to Raburn, it was the first walk-off home run he had ever hit, at any level of play.

By the end of the season he had endeared himself as one of manager Jim Leylands' favorite players.

2008

• Made the Tigers Opening Day roster out of Spring Training
• Optioned to Triple A Toledo on April 5
• Recalled by the Tigers for the remainder of the season on April 13
• First career pinch-hit home run on June 17 at San Francisco
• First career grand slam on June 28 versus Colorado

2007

• Opened the season with Triple A Toledo
• Selected to the International League's mid-season all star squad
• Rated as possessing the best outfield arm in the International League by Baseball America
• Recalled by the Tigers before the IL All Star game

2006

• International League all-star honors
• Named the 27th-best prospect in the Tigers organization following the season by Baseball America.

2005

• Played at Triple-A Toledo, where he hit .253 with 19 home runs and 64 RBIs in 130 games

2004

• First Major League action with Detroit in the September call-up
• had a run-scoring double, his first major league hit, in the fifth inning off C.C. Sabathia on September 16 at Cleveland

2001

• Single-A All Star, New York-Penn Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Raburn#Professional_career