Ryan Sweeney

From BR Bullpen

Ryan Joseph Sweeney

Bats Left, Throws Left
Height 6' 4", Weight 200 lb.

High School Xavier High School

Debut September 1, 2006
Born February 20, 1985 in Cedar Rapids, IA USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Ryan Sweeney was drafted in the second round of the 2003 amateur draft by the Chicago White Sox. He began his professional career with the Bristol Sox (.313/.387/.448) and Great Falls White Sox (.353/.389/.412). In 2004, he hit .283/.342/.379 for the Winston-Salem Warthogs, pretty good for a 19-year-old in high A ball. He was named to the Carolina League All-Star team as a utility outfielder.

The big left-handed outfielder only homered once in 429 AB for the 2005 Birmingham Barons, while batting .298/.357/.371 and battling a wrist injury. He had a .294/.346/.452 line with the 2006 Charlotte Knights before getting a call-up to Chicago. He was rated the International League's #5 prospect by Baseball America. He was just 8 for 35 with no walks or extra-base hits for the 2006 White Sox.

Sweeney slumped in 2007, hitting .270/.348/.398 for Charlotte and .200/.265/.333 for Chicago. That winter, he was traded with Fautino De Los Santos and Gio Gonzalez to the Oakland Athletics for Nick Swisher.

Sources include 2004-2007 Baseball Almanacs