Ryan Westmoreland

Ryan Westmoreland
Outfielder
Born: (1990-04-27) April 27, 1990
Newport, Rhode Island
Bats: Left Throws: Right

Ryan Michael Westmoreland (born April 27, 1990) is a former American professional baseball player. An outfielder, he played in minor league baseball in the Boston Red Sox organization. Westmoreland was considered one of the best prospects in baseball. However, his career was limited by a medical condition that has required two brain surgeries.

A star baseball player in high school, Westmoreland was twice named to the Rhode Island All-State team and was named the Rhode Island player of the year as a senior. The Red Sox selected Westmoreland in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft and signed him with a $2 million signing bonus. Baseball America ranked Westmoreland among the best prospects in baseball in 2010. However, he began to experience symptoms of a cavernous malformation that year, which required two surgeries and years of rehabilitation. Westmoreland announced his retirement in 2013.

Career

Westmoreland attended Portsmouth High School in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.[1] He was named to the All-State team in 2007 and 2008,[2] and was named Gatorade Rhode Island Player of the Year in both years.[3]

Westmoreland committed to attend Vanderbilt University on a baseball scholarship, allowing him to play college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores. Eligible in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft at the end of his high school career, Baseball America rated Westmoreland the 113th-best prospect available in the draft.[4] However, it was rumored that he would only consider signing a professional contract with the Boston Red Sox, his hometown team.[5]

The Red Sox drafted Westmoreland in the fifth round of the draft, with the 172nd overall selection.[2] Westmoreland signed with the Red Sox, receiving a $2 million signing bonus.[1] Assigned to the Lowell Spinners of the Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League, Westmoreland batted .296 with seven home runs, 35 runs batted in (RBIs), and a .401 on-base percentage in 60 games during the 2009 season.[5]

Baseball America rated Westmoreland the 21st-best prospect in baseball prior to the 2010 season.[6] Before the season began, Westmoreland began to experience weakness, and magnetic resonance imaging diagnosed a cavernous malformation at his brainstem.[1] In March 2010, Westmoreland had brain surgery to repair the malformation.[7][8][9] He continued to rehabilitate in an attempt to return to professional baseball in the 2011–12 offseason.[10] Following a setback in his rehabilitation, Westmoreland underwent a second surgery in July 2012.[11]

Westmoreland announced his retirement from baseball on March 6, 2013.[12]

Personal

Westmoreland's father, Ron, played baseball and coached for Eckerd College, and two of his uncles played professional baseball.[1] Ron Westmoreland is treasurer and long-time co-owner of the Newport Gulls summer collegiate baseball team in the NECBL.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Boston Red Sox – Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland's long road back from brain surgery – The Boston Globe". Boston.com. March 20, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Area players taken in draft". Nashville City Paper. June 6, 2008. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Westmoreland wins Gatorade honor again". The Providence Journal. May 29, 2008. p. C.6. Retrieved August 27, 2012. (subscription required)
  4. ↑ "Locals don't figure as impact players in draft – Extra Bases – Red Sox blog". Boston.com. June 4, 2008. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Ryan Westmoreland Will Be Worth the Wait Once He Arrives at Fenway – Boston Red Sox". NESN.com. November 28, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  6. ↑ "All-Time Top 100 Prospects". Baseball America. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Ten sweet moments to a sour Boston Red Sox season – ESPN Boston". Sports.espn.go.com. September 30, 2010. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Boston Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland leaves rehabilitation hospital – ESPN Boston". Sports.espn.go.com. April 27, 2010. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Prospect Ryan Westmoreland making progress following brain surgery | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. January 19, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Boston Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland ups progress, sees live at-bat – ESPN Boston". Espn.go.com. December 8, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Westmoreland checks in via Twitter – Extra Bases – Red Sox blog". Boston.com. August 3, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  12. ↑ MacPherson, Brian (March 6, 2013). "Ryan Westmoreland announces retirement from baseball". The Providence Journal. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
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