| Ryan Buchter | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Buchter with the Athletics in 2019 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1987-02-13)February 13, 1987 (age 38) Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 20, 2014, for the Atlanta Braves | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 1, 2021, for the Arizona Diamondbacks | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 17–6 |
| Earned run average | 3.16 |
| Strikeouts | 259 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Ryan James Buchter (born February 13, 1987) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher and the currentpitching coach for thePhiladelphia Phillies' High-A affiliate, theJersey Shore Blue Claws. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theAtlanta Braves,San Diego Padres,Kansas City Royals,Oakland Athletics,Los Angeles Angels, andArizona Diamondbacks.
Buchter was drafted by theWashington Nationals in the 33rd round of the2005 Major League Baseball draft out ofHighland Regional High School inBlackwood, New Jersey. He went on to playcollege baseball in the 2006 season atGloucester County College inSewell, New Jersey before ultimately signing with the Nationals.[1] He began his professional career with theGulf Coast Nationals in 2006 where he was 7.24 ERA in 11 games and made one start. In 2007 with theVermont Lake Monsters of theNew York–Penn League, he had a 6.82 ERA in 20 games. Buchter was promoted to theHagerstown Suns of theSouth Atlantic League in 2008 and appeared in 13 games with a 3.26 ERA.[2]
Buchter was traded from the Nationals to theChicago Cubs for fellow minor leaguer Matt Avery on November 3, 2008.[3] He played for thePeoria Chiefs in the Single–AMidwest League in 2009 and had a 1.33 ERA in 38 games with five saves.[2] The following season, 2010, he had a 7–2 record and a 4.65 ERA in 47 games for the Double-ATennessee Smokies,[2] which earned him a spot on theSouthern League mid-season All-Star team.[4] In 2011, he made 10 appearances for the Smokies and another six for theDaytona Cubs of theFlorida State League.[2]
On May 26, 2011, Buchter was then traded from the Cubs to theAtlanta Braves forRodrigo López.[5][6] He was promptly assigned to theLynchburg Hillcats of theCarolina League, where he was 2–5 with a 3.59 ERA in 34 games with 15 saves.[2] In 2012, he began the season with the Double-AMississippi Braves, where he was 3–1 with a 1.31 ERA in 35 games and also had four saves.[2] He was again selected to the mid-season Southern League All-Star team.[4] Afterwards, he was promoted to the Triple-AGwinnett Braves where he pitched eight innings in nine games with a high 10.12 ERA.[2] He played for thePhoenix Desert Dogs in theArizona Fall League after the conclusion of the regular season.[2]
The Braves added him to their 40-man roster on November 1, 2013[7] and he was named to the Braves'Opening Day roster for the2014 season.[8] He was sent back down to Gwinnett a few days later without appearing in a game. Buchter was called back up to Atlanta on June 20, 2014. He made his major league debut that night against the team that drafted him, theWashington Nationals, recording a strikeout and earning the win in an inning of extra inning work.[9] That was his only appearance in the Majors and he spent the rest of the season with Gwinnett, where he pitched in 49 games with a 3.29 ERA.[2] Buchter was outrighted off the Braves roster on September 26, 2014, and became a free agent on November 3.[10]
On January 9, 2015, Buchter signed a minor league contract with theLos Angeles Dodgers with an invitation to spring training.[11] He was assigned to the AAAOklahoma City Dodgers[12] and was selected to the mid-seasonPacific Coast League all-star team.[13] In 27 games he had a 1.65 ERA and exercised his opt out clause on July 20 to become a free agent.[14]
On July 27, 2015, Buchter signed a minor league contract with theChicago Cubs.[15] He finished the year with the Triple-AIowa Cubs, recording a 2.00 ERA in 16 appearances. He became a free agent after the season on November 6.
On December 8, 2015, Buchter signed a minor league contract with theSan Diego Padres.[16] On January 8, 2016, Buchter's contract was selected. In his two seasons with the Padres, Buchter owned an ERA of 2.93 with 125 strikeouts in over 100 innings.
On July 24, 2017, the Padres traded Buchter,Trevor Cahill, andBrandon Maurer to theKansas City Royals forMatt Strahm,Travis Wood, andEsteury Ruiz.[17]
On January 29, 2018, the Royals traded Buchter,Brandon Moss, and cash considerations to theOakland Athletics forJesse Hahn andHeath Fillmyer.[18] In his first season with Oakland, Buchter posted an ERA of 2.75 in 60 appearances. He struck out 41 batters in39+1⁄3 innings. Buchter was non-tendered by Oakland on December 2, 2019, and became a free agent.[19]
On February 23, 2020, Buchter signed a minor league contract with theLos Angeles Angels, and received an invitation to spring training. Buchter had his contract selected on March 22. In 10 games for the Angels, he logged a 4.50 ERA with 8 strikeouts over 6 innings of work. Buchter was designated for assignment by the Angels on September 2. He was outrighted on September 5, but rejected his assignment and elected free agency the next day.
On September 8, 2020, Buchter signed a minor league contract with theNew York Yankees. He did not play in a game for the Yankees organization due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[20] Buchter became a free agent on November 2.[21]
On January 19, 2021, Buchter signed a minor league contract with theArizona Diamondbacks organization.[22] On May 27, 2021, Buchter was selected to the active roster.[23] After posting a 5.52 ERA across 16 appearances, Buchter was designated for assignment on July 5.[24] He was outrighted to the Triple-AReno Aces on July 7.[25] On July 30, his contract was selected by Arizona. On August 6, Buchter was returned to Reno. On August 20, Buchter was released by the Diamondbacks.[26]
On March 20, 2022, theSeattle Mariners signed Buchter to a minor league deal.[27] On March 31, Buchter was released by the Mariners organization.[28]
On January 31, 2023, it was announced that Buchter had been hired as theassistant pitching coach for theLehigh Valley IronPigs, the Triple-A affiliate of thePhiladelphia Phillies.[29] On February 7, 2025, Buchter was named a pitching coach for Philadelphia's High-A affiliate, theJersey Shore BlueClaws.[30]
In 2021, Buchter began advocating for bettermental health resources for professional baseball players, stating that the game had caused him to become a "depressed alcoholic" in 2016 and 2017 and that he felt he was a better player when drinking.[31]