| Ryan Bliss | |
|---|---|
 Bliss with theTacoma Rainiers in 2023 | |
| Seattle Mariners – No. 1 | |
| Second baseman | |
| Born: (1999-12-13)December 13, 1999 (age 26) Burbank, California, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 27, 2024, for the Seattle Mariners | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Batting average | .214 |
| Home runs | 3 |
| Runs batted in | 12 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
Ryan Isiah Bliss (born December 13, 1999) is an American professionalbaseballsecond baseman for theSeattle Mariners ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He playedcollege baseball for theAuburn Tigers. He made his MLB debut in 2024.
Bliss grew up inLaGrange, Georgia, and attendedTroup County High School. He hit eighthome runs and was named an All-American by Rawlings-Perfect Game as a senior.[1] Bliss was selected in the 30th round of the2018 Major League Baseball draft by theBoston Red Sox but did not sign with the team.[2]
Bliss attendedAuburn University and playedcollege baseball for theAuburn Tigers for three seasons. He became the team's startingshortstop as a freshman and was named to theSoutheastern Conference (SEC) All-Freshman team after batting .281 with 50 runs scored.[3] In 2019, he playedcollegiate summer baseball with theBrewster Whitecaps of theCape Cod Baseball League.[4] As a sophomore, he batted for a .377 average with a team-high 21 runs scored in 18 games before the season was cut short due to thecoronavirus pandemic.[5] In his junior season, Bliss was named an All-American by theNational Collegiate Baseball Writers Association[6] after batting .365 with 15 home runs, 14 doubles, and 45 RBIs.[7][8]
TheArizona Diamondbacks selected Bliss in the second round, with the 42nd overall pick, in the2021 Major League Baseball draft.[9] He signed on July 18, receiving a $1.25 million bonus.[10] He made his professional debut with theRookie-levelArizona Complex League Diamondbacks and was promoted to theVisalia Rawhide of theLow-A West after two games. Hehit for the cycle with Visalia on September 17.[11] Over 39 games in the minors in 2021, he batted .267 with six home runs, 24 RBI, and 13 stolen bases.[12]
Bliss spent the 2022 campaign with the High-AHillsboro Hops, playing in 110 games andbatting .214/.298/.343 with 10 home runs, 37 RBI, and 31 stolen bases.[13] He began the 2023 season with the Double-AAmarillo Sod Poodles, hitting .358/.414/.594 with 12 home runs, 47 RBI, and 30 stolen bases in 68 games.[14] Bliss was promoted to the Triple-AReno Aces in July, where he slashed .196/.274/.357 with one home run, four RBI, and five stolen bases in 13 games.[15]
On July 31, 2023, the Diamondbacks traded Bliss,Dominic Canzone, andJosh Rojas to theSeattle Mariners for relieverPaul Sewald.[16] Bliss finished 2023 with the Triple-ATacoma Rainiers, batting .251 with 10 home runs in 47 games. He stole 58 bases in the minors in 2023.[12] He played for thePeoria Javelinas in theArizona Fall League, batting .239 with 14 walks in 21 games.
Bliss began the 2024 season in Tacoma, hitting .247/.382/.445 with seven home runs, 35 RBI, and 28 stolen bases. On May 27, Bliss was selected to the Mariners'40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[17] Bliss made his MLB debut the same day.[18] He earned his first hit on June 1, a single offCarson Fulmer of theLos Angeles Angels.[19] He hit his first home run on June 7, offDaniel Lynch of theKansas City Royals.[20] Bliss was optioned back to Tacoma on July 22[21] and briefly returned to the Mariners from August 7 to August 11. He ended his first MLB season with a .222 batting average, 2 home runs, and five stolen bases in 33 games. He played 93 games for Tacoma, swiping 50 bases and hitting .269 with 12 home runs.[12]
Bliss was theMariners' 2025Opening Day second baseman. On April 8, he injured his arm swinging at aFramber Valdez pitch.[22] While Bliss stayed in the game, later hitting a double, the next day the Mariners placed him on the 10-dayinjured list with a left biceps tear.[23] The team disclosed that he would miss four to five months due to the injury.[24][25] He was moved to the 60-day injured list on April 13.[26] On September 8, it was announced that Bliss had undergone season-ending surgery to repair ameniscus tear in his right knee.[27] In 11 games with the Mariners, Bliss batted .200/.282/.314 with 1 home run. He stole two bases and was caught stealing twice.[12]