Ryan Bukvich

Ryan Adrien Bukvich

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 250 lb.
• School Delta State University, University of Mississippi
• High School Northwest Rankin High School
• Debut July 12, 2002
• Final Game July 4, 2008
• Born May 13, 1978 in Naperville, IL USA

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Biographical Information

Pitcher Ryan Bukvich was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 11th round of the 2000 draft. He was signed by scout Mark Willoughby and made his debut that summer with the Spokane Indians, later being promoted to the Charleston AlleyCats and the Wilmington Blue Rocks. He split the next season between Wilmington and the Wichita Wranglers and notched 13 saves between the two clubs. In 2002, he began the year with Wichita, where he saved eight games, and then was promoted to the AAA Omaha Royals, where he had an ERA of 0.00 and recorded another 8 saves. On July 12, he made his big league debut with the Royals. He did not allow an earned run in his first four games and recorded his first big league win on August 16th. Despite these highlights, overall he struggled in the bigs, giving up 16 earned runs in his last 19 appearances and posting a 6.12 ERA overall with 20 walks in 25 innings.

Despite his struggles in 2002, Bukvich made the Royals' 2003 Opening Day roster. Once again, he did well in his first outing, pitching two shutout innings and getting a win against the Chicago White Sox. He once again struggled overall, posting a 9.58 ERA in 9 games, and spent most of the year at Omaha, with whom he went 1-2 with a 4.91 ERA and 5 saves. The following year, 2004, he once again saw the majority of his action with Omaha, where he went 3-4 with a 4.37 ERA and seven saves. He spent a month in the bigs, appearing in 9 games, and earned his first major league save on July 15th against the Minnesota Twins. Following the season, Bukvich was traded to the San Diego Padres, but he was selected off waivers by the Texas Rangers before the 2005 campaign began. He made the team's Opening Day roster but, after just 4 appearances, he went on the disabled list and missed the remainder of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. After beginning 2006 on the DL, he spent most of the year with the Oklahoma RedHawks, with whom he posted a 6.11 ERA in 31 games.

Bukvich became a free agent after the 2006 season and signed with the Chicago White Sox. He started 2007 with the Charlotte Knights and went 1-3 with a 2.89 ERA and 9 saves before being recalled by Chicago in June. He spent the rest of the year as a member of the Sox bullpen, going 1-0 with a 5.05 ERA in 45 appearances. The Sox sent him down to Charlotte after the season, but he refused the assignment and became a free agent. He signed on with the Baltimore Orioles, was called up in mid-year in 2008 and made his last four major league appearances with them, posting a 6.75 ERA. Overall, Bukvich pitched in 6 seasons with a record of 3-0, 6.16 and a save. All 97 of his appearances were out of the bullpen.

Related Sites

• Mississippi Stars