| Ryan Westmoreland | |
|---|---|
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (1990-04-27)April 27, 1990 (age 35) Newport, Rhode Island, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Right | |
Ryan Michael Westmoreland (born April 27, 1990) is a former American professionalbaseball player. Anoutfielder, he played inminor league baseball in theBoston 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 the2008 Major League Baseball Draft and signed him with a $2 millionsigning bonus.Baseball America ranked Westmoreland among the best prospects in baseball in 2010. However, he began to experience symptoms of acavernous malformation that year, which required two surgeries and years of rehabilitation. Westmoreland announced his retirement in 2013.
Westmoreland attendedPortsmouth High School inPortsmouth, Rhode Island.[1] He was named to the All-State team in 2007 and 2008,[2] and was namedGatorade Rhode Island Player of the Year in both years.[3]
Westmoreland committed to attendVanderbilt University on a baseball scholarship, allowing him to playcollege baseball for theVanderbilt Commodores. Eligible in the2008 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 theBoston 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 millionsigning bonus.[1] Assigned to theLowell Spinners of theClass A Short SeasonNew York–Penn League, Westmorelandbatted .296 with sevenhome runs, 35runs batted in (RBIs), and a .401on-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, andmagnetic resonance imaging diagnosed acavernous malformation at hisbrainstem.[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] In June 2014, the Lowell Spinners retired Westmoreland's uniform number, 25, the first such honor by the Spinners for a player.[13] ANESN biography,Red Sox Prospects: The Ryan Westmoreland Story, debuted on August 16, 2018.[14]
Westmoreland's father, Ron, played baseball andcoached forEckerd College, and two of his uncles played professional baseball.[1] Ron Westmoreland is treasurer and long-time co-owner of theNewport Gulls summer collegiate baseball team in theNECBL. Westmoreland married his long time girlfriend, Libby (née Pinkham) on June 26, 2020. They have a daughter, born in 2021.[15]
