Ryan Speier

Ryan Andrew Speier (born July 24, 1979) is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. He played with the Colorado Rockies for his entire Major League career, from 2005 when he was called up to July 24, 2009 when he was designated for assignment.

High school

Speier was a standout pitcher at West Springfield High School in Springfield, Virginia along with Joe Saunders.

College

Speier attended Radford University in Virginia, where he was a standout pitcher for the Highlanders baseball team prior to being signed by the Rockies in 2001 as an undrafted free agent.

Professional career

Speier currently holds the single season saves record in the Cape Cod Baseball League with which he set in 2001 while playing for the Bourne Braves and not giving up an earned run in the process. Speier is a former Minor League Rolaids Relief Award winner (2004) and also currently holds the single season saves record for the Texas League (AA) with 37. He was drafted and remained in the Colorado Rockies organization until the 2010 season which explains why his numbers on the road are significantly better than at home during that time period. Speier sports a 3.22 ERA and 1.212 WHIP away from Coors Field and is praised for his ability to keep the ball in the ball park by only allowing four home runs in 99 1⁄₃ innings. He is also a significantly more productive second half pitcher with a 2.38 ERA and 1.28 WHIP during his career with the Colorado Rockies.

On December 11, 2009, Speier signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals.

He played at Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of Atlantic League in 2010.

On February 16, 2011, he signed with Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan.

On November 16, 2013, he was inducted into the Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame.