Ryan Searle (baseball)

Ryan Searle (born 22 June 1989, Brisbane, Australia) is an Australian professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.[1]

Ryan Searle
Ryan Searle pitching in 2013
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1989-06-22) 22 June 1989 (age 35)
Brisbane, Queensland
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
CPBL debut
19 March, 2016, for the Lamigo Monkeys
CPBL statistics
(through 2016 season)
Win–loss record4–5
Earned run average6.38
Strikeouts55
Teams

He is a regular on the Australia national baseball team, the "Southern Thunder". He has been both a starter and a relief pitcher throughout his career which reached its highest level at AAA Iowa Cubs in 2012. Most notably recently, Searle broke the saves (17) and ERA (0.40) record in the newly formed ABL while pitching as the closer for the eventual 2015/2016 ABL Champion Brisbane Bandits.

Early life

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Born in Brisbane, he started playing baseball at the age of 5. Continuing to play throughout his schooling years, he graduated from Northpine Christian College at the end of 2006 while playing for the Narangba Demons baseball team.[2] When he grew older he joined Windsor Royals baseball club.

Professional career

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Chicago Cubs

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He was signed to a professional baseball contract at the age of 17 with the Chicago Cubs in 2007.[3]

In 2007 Searle spent the first three months of his pro career in spring training and extended spring in Mesa Arizona, then going back to the Australian Academy on the Gold Coast in Australia.

In 2008 Searle went to spring training and extended spring to return to the Australian Academy (MLBAAP) again. There he led the starting pitchers in ERA, WHIP, strike outs, wins and innings pitched. He then returned to Mesa, Arizona after the MLBAAP to pitch two games before being promoted to the Boise Hawks an "A" ball affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. There he was 2–2 with a 1.05 ERA in 35+ innings, holding batters to a minuscule .171 against.

In 2009 for the Chicago Cubs he pitched the entire season with the Daytona Cubs, and was selected as a 2009 Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star at the young age of 19. After a hot start he had a slow second half and his lack of experience started to show.

In 2010 Searle started in the FSL but was soon after demoted to Single A Peoria Chiefs, he was 7–8 with a 4.38 ERA fanning 101 in 12423 Innings.

In 2011 Searle started out the 2011 season with the Daytona Cubs Bullpen. After posting a 1.59 ERA in 16 games, he was promoted to the Cubs AA Affiliate Tennessee Smokies. For the Smokies, he had a 5–3 record with a 3.51 ERA in 23 games with 66 strikeouts. He finished with a combined 3.03 ERA which lead all Chicago Cubs qualified pitchers.

In 2012 Searle again spent time in the FSL at the Daytona Cubs, but also split time between the AA Tennessee Smokies and also reaching his career high AAA mark for the first time when he was promoted to the Iowa Cubs. He recorded his first and only AAA win on 19 August. He finished the season with career best mark of 8 wins, 5 losses and a 3.87 ERA over 90+ innings.

2013 was an injury plagued season for Searle, missing almost four months after a forearm sprain. He recovered and went on to make rehabilitation games in the AZL before being sent to the Daytona Cubs in the Florida State League to finish out the season. There, alongside Cubs 1st round draft pick Kris Bryant, Searle and CJ Edwards combined for two 2 hit shutouts in the Semi Final clinching game against Dunedin Blue Jays and then in the Championship clinching game against the Port Charlotte Stone Crabs where they were crowned the FSL champions for the 2nd time in 3 years.[4]

In the off season of 2013, Searle was offered a free agent contract to sign back with the Chicago Cubs for the 2014 season.

In May 2014, Searle was released from the Cubs organisation following a poor 6.63 ERA season in 19 innings at Double-A class affiliate Tennessee Smokies.[5]

Grand Prairie AirHogs

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Searle signed with the Grand Prairie AirHogs following his release from the Cubs and went 5-9 with a 4.39 ERA.

Ishikawa Million Stars

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On 11 March 2015, Searle signed with the Ishikawa Million Stars of Baseball Challenge League. His manager was the age defying player coach, Julio Franco.[6] He was the league's strikeout leader with 113 in 135 innings pitched ending his time with the team with an 8-7 record and a 1.99 ERA.

Lamigo Monkeys

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On 5 February 2016, he signed with the Lamigo Monkeys of Chinese Professional Baseball League.[7] Despite early success [8] Searle, after sustaining a bad knee injury he never regained form and was released from the team on 10 June.[9] After a series of switches between starting and relief roles to become the 3rd foreign player released by the team that year.[10]

Unipol Bologna

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In June 2016, it was announced that Searle would be replacing outgoing Scott Patterson on the Unipol Bologna team playing in the Italian Baseball League.[11] Searle went on to pitch 33 2/3 innings with a 0.53 ERA over the course of the regular season and playoffs, leading his new team to the Italian Baseball League championship.[12]

Québec Capitales

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On 13 March 2018, Searle signed with the Québec Capitales of the Can-Am League.[13] He was released on 26 July 2018.

Winter League

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Brisbane Bandits

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In 2010 the newly formed Australian Baseball League kick started its campaign to win over the Australian public. Searle was named to the Brisbane Bandits inaugural roster under head coach MLB All-Star Dave Nilsson. Searle has played an important role for the Brisbane Bandits, pitching in all 6 seasons to date. Leading the team in all time pitching statistical categories such as innings, strike outs, wins.

In the 2015/2016 season, Searle had the most successful campaign of any ABL pitcher to date. Searle led the Bandits to the Claxton Shield, breaking several records along the way. He compiled a career best 5-2 win–loss ratio with an ABL saves record of 17 and ERA record of 0.40 winning the MVP honors for the Brisbane Bandits.[14][15]

Tiburones de La Guaira

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After the conclusion of his successful finish to his 2016 summer campaign, Searle was offered a contract to play winterball in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League for the Tiburones de La Guaira club under manager World Series winning manager Ozzie Guillén.[16]

Australian National Team

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Searle was first named to the WBC provisional roster in 2009.

In 2011, His efforts were rewarded with selection in the Australian national baseball team for the 2011 Baseball World Cup where he got his first start against Nicaragua, throwing five innings for one earned run and being the pitcher of record in a 4–3 win. In his second start, Searle dominated Canada with an impressive 7+13 innings of work for only 3 hits in a 7–0 win for Australia, bringing his record in the cup to 2–0 with a 0.74 ERA.[17]

In 2013, Searle was named to the WBC roster making only 1 start in an eventual loss to Korea. Searle gave up 3 runs in 3 innings.

In 2014, Searle was brought back from Spring Training with the Chicago Cubs to play in an Exhibition game as a precursor to the MLB Opening Series in Sydney. Searle was tabbed as the game 1 starter against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Searle pitched 3 innings only giving up 1 hit 0 runs while striking out 5. Australia went on to lose the game after a Yasiel Puig home run. Australia then won the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks where fellow Australian Ryan Rowland-Smith was playing.[18]

In 2016, Searle was again named to the WBC roster for the Qualifying event based in Sydney. Australia were the eventual winners of the tournament, securing their place in the 2017 WBC. Searle was used as the Closer for team Australia during this tournament.[19]

Searle has also been named to several of the ABL All-Star sides, representing team Australia. He has started the All-Star game but most recently got the win in a walk off thriller against the World All-Stars after pitching a scoreless 9th inning.

In 2018, he was selected exhibition series against Japan.[20]

On 8 October 2019, he was selected at the 2019 WBSC Premier12.[21]

Awards and highlights

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  • All time ABL saves leader (40)
  • FSL Mid Season All-Star
  • FSL Pitcher of the week
  • FSL 2011 and 2013 Champion
  • 2012-2016 ABL All-Star
  • Starting Pitcher against LA Dodgers (3IP, 1H, 5K)
  • ABL Strike Out Leader 2014/2015
  • BCL Strike Out Leader 2015 (111 with a 1.99 ERA)
  • Single Season ABL Saves record holder ABL (17)
  • Single Season ABL ERA record holder ABL (0.40)
  • Single Season ABL WHIP record holder ABL (0.78)
  • Single Season ABL Strike out record by a relief pitcher (54)
  • Single Season ABL Games pitched record (31)
  • Single Season ABL games finished record (30)
  • Brisbane Bandits all-time leader in games, innings, wins, strike outs
  • 3rd all time in ABL innings (34113)
  • 2nd all time in ABL Strike outs (375)
  • 4th all time ABL wins (Tied with 24)
  • 4x Australian Baseball league Champion (2015/2019 Brisbane Bandits)
  • Brisbane Bandits MVP 2015/2016
  • Italian Baseball League Champion (2016)

References

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  1. ^ ""Ryan Searle" – statistics". Archived from the original on 13 May 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2008.
  2. ^ Holley, Steve. "Ryan Searle Interview". Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 23 August 2008.
  3. ^ Muskat, Carrie. "Minors report: Wilson spanning globe". Archived 20 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 23 August 2008.
  4. ^ "Edwards hurls Daytona to FSL crown". Archived from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  5. ^ Todd, Jeff (8 May 2014). "Minor Moves: Raul Valdes, Nik Turley, Ryan Searle". MLB Trade Rumours. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  6. ^ 新入団選手のお知らせ [New Player Announcement] (in Japanese). Ishikawa Million Stars. 11 March 2015. Archived from the original on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  7. ^ 新球季外援第一投 索爾加盟 (in Traditional Chinese). Lamigo Monkeys. 5 February 2016. Archived from the original on 6 December 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  8. ^ Kingsley Collins (22 April 2016). "Lamigo fans go bananas over Searly". Australian Baseball Alumni. Archived from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  9. ^ 補強洋投 泰霸重返Lamigo桃猿 (in Traditional Chinese). Lamigo Monkeys. 10 June 2016. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  10. ^ DuBreuil, Brandon (10 June 2016). "Lamigo Monkeys Release Ryan Searle". CPBL English. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  11. ^ "Ryan Searle replaces Scott Patterson with Unipol Bologna". Mister Baseball. 17 June 2016. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  12. ^ "ITALIAN SERIES: UNIPOL BOLOGNA WINS SCUDETTO WITH RAINY GAME 6 WIN". Mosae Sports. 22 August 2016. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  13. ^ "Un Australien Aux Allures de Vétéran!" (in French). Quebec Capitales. Archived from the original on 14 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  14. ^ "Record man Ryan Searle picks up new contract in Taiwan". The Daily Mercury. 6 February 2016. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  15. ^ "Pitcher Ryan Searle the star for surging Brisbane Bandits". News.com.au. 25 December 2015. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  16. ^ "RYAN SEARLE, DESDE AUSTRALIA A VENEZUELA". LVBP.com. 4 October 2016. Archived from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  17. ^ "Ryan Searle plays starring role as Australia beats Canada 7-0 at Baseball World Cup | Courier Mail". Archived from the original on 2 December 2011.
  18. ^ "Searle's impressive outing | MLB.com". M.mlb.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  19. ^ "Las Grandes Ligas: Multimedia: 2017 World Baseball Classic | RSA@AUS: Searle fans the side in the 9th for 4-1 win - Video". Mlb.mlb.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  20. ^ Baseball Australia Media (20 February 2018). "Team Australia Roster Announced". Baseball Australia Southern Thunder. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  21. ^ DAVID PENROSE (8 October 2019). "BORAL TEAM AUSTRALIA'S PREMIER12 ROSTER ANNOUNCED". baseball.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 October 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
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