Tag: Ryan Bliss

Ryan Bliss involved in trade to Seattle Mariners

The former Tiger was involved in a trade that sent RHP Paul Seward to Arizona.

As the Major League Baseball trade deadline comes to a close, one former Tiger is on the move.

[autotag]Ryan Bliss[/autotag], who played shortstop for Auburn from 2019-21, is involved in a late trade between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners. Bliss, along with Dominic Canzone and Josh Rojas, are heading to Seattle in exchange for RHP Paul Sewald. The move was made Monday.

Bliss recently advanced to Triple-A with the Diamondbacks organization following a stellar season with Double-A Amarillo. Rotowire breaks down what Bliss brings to the Mariners organization.

Bliss used good fortune (.408 BABIP) and a very favorable home park to slash .358/.414/.594 with 12 home runs and 30 steals for Double-A Amarillo, but he has struggled in 13 games since getting promoted to Triple-A. Given that Bliss is already 23 and was a below league average hitter at Single-A (99 wRC+) and High-A (82 wRC+), his run at Double-A looks like a clear outlier, but he has a chance to be a good defensive second baseman or a passable defensive shortstop, so he should at least have a big-league career as a bench infielder.

In his minor league career, Bliss has hit .267 with 29 home runs and 112 RBI.

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Moving on up: Ryan Bliss gets the call to join Triple-A Reno

The former Tiger shortstop hit .358 with 12 home runs in 68 games with the Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles this season.

One of Auburn’s best infielders in recent history is continuing to climb up the minor league ranks.

Thursday, former Auburn shortstop [autotag]Ryan Bliss[/autotag] learned that he will be moving up in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization by advancing to Triple-A Reno after a successful campaign at Double-A Amarillo.

Bliss has been on a tear this season with the Amarillo Sod Poodles in the Texas League. In 68 games, Bliss hit .358 with 105 hits, 25 doubles, four triples, and 12 home runs. He sent home 47 runs and stole 30 bases.

With Bliss now being one step away from the show, Sports Illustrated sheds light on Bliss’ path to Arizona.

FanGraphs rates his total offensive output to be 62% better than the average Texas League hitter, with a 162 wRC+. The strong season has improved the likelihood his bat could play in the major leagues. Defensively he profiles best to play second due to a below-average arm, although he is blocked by Ketel Marte. Marte is signed through the 2026 season, so Bliss will need to be an above-average bat to take over at second long term.

Bliss spent three seasons on the Plains from 2019-21. He started all 134 games of his collegiate career, and posted a .328 average, with 176 hits, 20 home runs, 99 RBI, and 22 stolen bases. His junior season was his most productive, where he hit .365 with 14 doubles, 15 home runs, 45 RBI, and six stolen bases.

Bliss now joins a long list of former Tigers that currently compete in Triple-A, which includes [autotag]Keegan Thompson[/autotag], [autotag]Steven Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Ben Braymer[/autotag], and [autotag]Daniel Robert[/autotag].

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Former Auburn SS Ryan Bliss to play in MLB’s 2023 Futures Game

Ryan Bliss is getting a chance to show he is among the top prospects in baseball.

[autotag]Ryan Bliss[/autotag] has had a tremendous 2023 season and will be representing the Arizona Diamondbacks in MLB’s 2023 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.

The former Auburn shortstop is hitting .350 with 11 home runs, 19 doubles and a .977 OPS in 60 games for the Diamondback’s Double-A affiliate the Amarillo Sod Poodles. He has also stolen 21 bases and driven in 43 runs.

Bliss has started to split time at both shortstop and second base, a position that he may wind up at due to his 5-foot-6 and 165 pound frame.

He started 134 games for Auburn from 2019-21, batting .328, with 20 home runs and 99 RBI. He is just the fourth two-time All-America in program history.

Bliss is the Diamondback’s No. 29 prospect according to MLB.com and is expected to make his MLB debut during the 2024 season.

The game will take place Saturday, July 8, at 7 p.m. ET at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park. It will be seven innings and can be seen exclusively on Peacock and SiriusXM.

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Former Auburn infielder Ryan Bliss earns Player of the Month honors in Texas League

He had a batting average of .410, hit eight doubles and stole eight bases throughout April.

Former Auburn Tigers infielder [autotag]Ryan Bliss[/autotag] was named Player of the Month for the month of April in the Texas League.

The 5-foot-6, 165-pounder had a batting average of .410, scored 17 runs, hit eight doubles and two home runs, drove in 14 runs and stole eight bases throughout April.

Bliss plays shortstop for the Amarillo Sod Poodles, the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks selected Bliss in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft with the 42nd overall pick.

The native of Burbank, California is the No. 30 ranked prospect and the No. 6 ranked middle infielder in the Diamondbacks organization and has an MLB eta of 2024 per MLB.com.

During his three seasons with the Tigers, Bliss had a batting average of .328, hit 56 extra-base hits including 20 home runs, drove in 45 runs, a slugging percentage of .514 and a fielding percentage of .972. Bliss started 134 games during his college career.

Aside from Bliss, Auburn had three players selected in the 2021 MLB Draft: [autotag]Richard Fitts[/autotag], [autotag]Tyler Miller[/autotag] and [autotag]Steven Williams[/autotag].

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Where every Auburn player went in the 2021 MLB draft

See where every Auburn player was drafted in the 2021 MLB Draft.

Auburn baseball did not have the season that many were hoping for, but several players still heard their names called during the 2021 MLB draft.

Here is a look at where every Auburn player and signee was drafted.

WATCH: Auburn shortstop Ryan Bliss makes incredible snag, throw for out

Auburn shortstop Ryan Bliss makes an incredible play to get Texas A&M hitter Jordan Thompson out at first.

This ball wasn’t getting by Ryan Bliss.

The Auburn shortstop snagged this grounder from a Texas A&M hitter Jordan Thompson rose up and unleashed a throw across the diamond to get the Aggie out in the top of the sixth inning.

Auburn currently leads A&M 7-4 in the 7th inning.

Ryan Bliss, Richard Fitts named preseason All-America by Baseball America

The preseason accolades keep coming in for Ryan Bliss and Ruchard Fitts ahead of the 2021 season.

Auburn shortstop Ryan Bliss and right-handed pitcher Richard Fitts were named Preseason third team All-America by Baseball America.

It is the third honor for Bliss, who has also been named Preseason third team All-America by Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game/Rawlings.

It was the second for Fitts, who earned Preseason second team All-America honors from D1 Baseball.

A native of LaGrange, Georgia, Bliss ranked second in the SEC and sixth in the country in hits (29) in 2020. He also appeared in the top 10 in the league in runs (21), doubles (seven), triples (two) and total bases (46).

Making the move from second base to shortstop prior to the 2020 season, Bliss started in all 18 games and didn’t commit an error in 58 chances en route to earning third team All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball at the position. He enters the 2021 season regarded by Baseball America as the No. 76 overall prospect for the 2021 MLB Draft.

Fitts has also emerged as one of the top prospects ahead of the 2021 season. He has been ranked the No. 8 and No. 9 college prospect by Perfect Game and D1 Baseball, respectively, and has been tabbed the No. 13 overall prospect by Perfect Game, the No. 15 overall prospect by Baseball America and the No. 17 overall prospect by MLB.com.

Fitts has posted a 6-3 record with a 4.88 ERA in 27 appearances. He went 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in six appearances as a sophomore.

Ryan Bliss, Rankin Woley named preseason All-Americans

Auburn infielders Ryan Bliss and Rankin Woley were named 2021 Preseason Third Team All-America by Collegiate Baseball Tuesday.

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Auburn infielders Ryan Bliss and Rankin Woley were named 2021 Preseason Third Team All-America by Collegiate Baseball Tuesday.

The duo were two of Auburn’s top performers in the shortened 2020 season. Bliss ranked second in the SEC and sixth in the country in hits (29) in 2020. He also appeared in the top 10 in the league in runs (21), doubles (seven), triples (two) and total bases (46). He was named to Collegiate Baseball Third Team All-America honors at shortstop.

Woley was named Third Team All-America by Collegiate Baseball, CoSIDA Academic All-America and the SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Woley tied for the team lead and ranked tied for eighth in the SEC with a .412 average. He also ranked in the top 10 in the league in hits (28), doubles (eight), RBI (22) and total bases (42) and was the lone player in the NCAA to rank in the top 20 in hits, doubles and RBI.