Rangers outfielder and Amherst alum Ryan Rua makes 1st career MLB pitching appearance

ARLINGTON, Texas– Amherst Steele alumnus Ryan Rua, an outfielder for the Texas Rangers, made his Major League pitching debut on Monday night.

The Rangers lost the game 15-3 to the Oakland A’s, and Rua was the second position player along with Carlos Tocci to take the mound for the Rangers in relief.

.@Rua_Numba_2 gets the job done for his team ??#TexasRangers pic.twitter.com/D3FxYPCqVl

— FOX Sports Southwest (@FOXSportsSW) July 24, 2018

“I wasn’t drafted as a pitcher so I didn’t expect to ever have to pitch,” Rua said postgame, “but if it’s to do it for the team and to give guys a break, then you gotta do it.”

Rua came in for the ninth inning, throwing eight total pitches in the 1-2-3 frame. Seven of the eight pitches were strikes. He threw four four-seam fastballs topping out at 91 mph, three changeups and one curveball in what was his first pitching appearance since he played at Lake Erie College.

“I played shortstop and closed games out,” Rua said. “But I was just trying to work fast, get outs and get guys off the field.”

Rua was drafted in the 17th round by the Rangers in 2011. He graduated from Amherst Steele High School in 2008 and played three seasons at Lake Erie College. He made his Major League debut for Texas back in 2014.

Coming into Monday’s game, Rua was batting .195 with six homers and 12 RBI. On Sunday against the Cleveland Indians, he hit a two-run homer to help give the Rangers their 5-0 win.

Watch Rua’s postgame interview from Monday night’s contest via Fox Sports Southwest below.

"Honestly I don't even remember being out there…"

Hear from Ryan Rua on coming in to pitch in the 9th.#TexasRangers pic.twitter.com/vNu7hyXE9o

— FOX Sports Southwest (@FOXSportsSW) July 24, 2018