Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Ryne Stanek

Discover the career path of Ryne Stanek, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Ryne Stanek is an American professional baseball pitcher currently playing for the St. Louis Cardinals in MLB. Before joining the Cardinals, he played for several other MLB teams including the Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners, and New York Mets. He is known for his role as a pitcher in professional baseball.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2010: Drafted by Seattle Mariners

In 2010, Baseball America ranked Ryne Stanek as the 42nd-best available player in the Major League Baseball draft. The Seattle Mariners selected Stanek in the third round (99th overall), but he did not sign with them.

2011: Played Collegiate Summer Baseball

In 2011, Ryne Stanek played collegiate summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

2012: College Baseball at Arkansas

In 2012, as a sophomore, Ryne Stanek achieved an 8–4 record with a 2.82 ERA and 83 strikeouts while playing baseball at the University of Arkansas. He was also named to the All-Tournament Team in the 2012 Houston College Classic.

2013: Drafted by Tampa Bay Rays

In 2013, Ryne Stanek was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays with the 29th pick in the first round of the MLB draft. He signed with the Rays for a $1,758,300 signing bonus.

May 8, 2014: Professional Debut

On May 8, 2014, Ryne Stanek made his professional debut with the Bowling Green Hot Rods of the Single-A Midwest League.

2015: Promotion to Montgomery Biscuits

In 2015, Ryne Stanek began the season with Charlotte and was later promoted to the Montgomery Biscuits of the Double-A Southern League. He finished the year with a combined 8–5 record and a 3.04 ERA between the two clubs.

2016: All-Star Futures Game Appearance

In 2016, Ryne Stanek returned to Montgomery, later joining the Durham Bulls. He was named to appear in the 2016 All-Star Futures Game. After the season, the Rays added him to their 40-man roster.

May 13, 2017: Major League Debut

On May 13, 2017, the Rays promoted Ryne Stanek to the major leagues, and he made his major league debut the next day. He concluded the 2017 season with a 5.85 ERA in 21 appearances.

2018: Pioneering "The Opener" Role

In 2018, Ryne Stanek found success as "the opener" for the Rays, leveraging his fastball and splitter. He achieved seven consecutive scoreless starts, albeit with limited innings, and set a major league record with 17 straight starts allowing one run or fewer. On September 5, Stanek became the first rookie in 75 years to start in back-to-back games. He made 59 total appearances (29 starts) and recorded a 2.98 ERA.

July 31, 2019: Traded to Miami Marlins

On July 31, 2019, the Tampa Bay Rays traded Ryne Stanek and Jesús Sánchez to the Miami Marlins in exchange for pitchers Nick Anderson and Trevor Richards.

December 2, 2020: Non-Tendered by Marlins

On December 2, 2020, Ryne Stanek was non-tendered by the Miami Marlins, making him a free agent.

January 7, 2021: Signed with Houston Astros

On January 7, 2021, Ryne Stanek signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Houston Astros.

March 22, 2022: Avoided Arbitration with Astros

On March 22, 2022, Ryne Stanek avoided arbitration with the Astros, agreeing to a $2.1 million contract for the season.

2022: World Series Champion

In 2022, Ryne Stanek contributed to the Houston Astros' World Series victory over the Phillies, earning his first World Series title. During the season, he had a 2–1 record with one save in 54+2⁄3 innings over 59 relief appearances.