| Ryan Spilborghs | |
|---|---|
 Spilborghs with the Colorado Rockies | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (1979-09-05)September 5, 1979 (age 45) Santa Barbara, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: July 16, 2005, for the Colorado Rockies | |
| NPB: April 11, 2013, for the Saitama Seibu Lions | |
| Last appearance | |
| MLB: September 5, 2011, for the Colorado Rockies | |
| NPB: August 25, 2013, for the Saitama Seibu Lions | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .272 |
| Home runs | 42 |
| Runs batted in | 218 |
| NPB statistics | |
| Batting average | .234 |
| Home runs | 3 |
| Runs batted in | 25 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Ryan Adam Rene Jean Spilborghs (born September 5, 1979) is an American baseball broadcaster for ROCKIES.TV &SiriusXM'sMLB Network Radio, and a former professionalbaseballoutfielder. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theColorado Rockies and inNippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for theSaitama Seibu Lions.
Spilborghs played college ball at theUniversity of California, Santa Barbara, where he was all Big West Conference in 2001. He also played for theMadison Mallards during the summer of 2001.
Spilborghs was drafted by theColorado Rockies in the 7th round of the2002 MLB Draft. Between 2002 and 2005, he played for theTri-City Dust Devils,Asheville Tourists,Visalia Oaks, andTulsa Drillers.
He made his Major League debut for the Rockies on July 16, 2005 against theCincinnati Reds and recorded his first hit in that game, a single to right field off ofTodd Coffey.[1] That was the only game he played in for the Rockies that year, spending the rest of the year in AAA with theColorado Springs Sky Sox, where he hit .338 in 68 games. He rejoined the Rockies in 2006 and hit his first home run on May 29 off ofJim Brower of theSan Diego Padres.[2]
He began the 2007 season at Triple-A with the Sky Sox, after being beaten out for a roster spot by veteranSteve Finley. After Finley was released by the Rockies, Spilborghs returned to the team. In 2008, he made the team fromspring training, serving as the fourth outfielder.
On August 24, 2009, in the 14th inning against theSan Francisco Giants with the Rockies down 4–2, Spilborghs homered off pitcherMerkin Valdéz for the first walk-off grand slam in Rockies history. This solo Rockies record was held for over 11 years untilCharlie Blackmon, also wearing jersey number 19, hit a walk-off grand slam against theLos Angeles Angels on September 11, 2020.[3]
On December 12, 2011, Spilborghs was non-tendered by the Rockies and became a free agent.[4]
Spilborghs signed a minor league contract with theCleveland Indians on January 20, 2012. He also received an invitation to spring training.[5] He failed to make the team and was assigned to the AAAColumbus Clippers,[6] where he hit .250 in 21 games.
On May 4, 2012, Spilborghs was traded to theTexas Rangers organization for cash considerations and played for the Triple-ARound Rock Express.[7] In 103 games with Round Rock, he hit .295.
On December 6, 2012 he agreed to a one-year contract with theSaitama Seibu Lions of theJapanese Pacific League.[8]
On February 6, 2014, it was announced that Spilborghs had joined the Root Sports Rocky Mountain broadcasting team, where his primary role is sideline reporting during games; however he occasionally provides in booth color commentary. He is an analyst for Rockies pregame and postgame shows, as well as for other programs on the network.[9] Spilborghs currently co-hosts (withCJ Nitkowski) the "Loud Outs" program that airs Saturdays onSiriusXM'sMLB Network Radio. Spilborghs announced he was joining Apple TV for Friday night baseball coverage in February 2023.[10]
Spilborghs is of mixed descent, as his father is Belgian, and his mother is Guatemalan. On July 20, 2009, Ryan's wife gave birth to their daughter and first child, Kierra. Her middle name, Esperanza, was chosen after his mother, who died duringspring training earlier in the year.[11]