Cody Ransom
Encyclopedia
Bryan Cody Ransom is an American
professional baseball
utility infielder
who is a free agent.
in Chandler, Arizona
. He was selected by the Cleveland Indians
in the 43rd round (1,202nd overall) in the 1995 Major League Baseball draft but did not sign with the Indians. He instead attended South Mountain Community College
.
He was a survivor of a fatal van accident when his South Mountain Community College baseball team’s van blew a tire on a team trip to Tucson, causing the van to roll over. Two of Ransom's teammates died.
After spending two years at South Mountain, Ransom spent the 1997 season at Mesa State, helping the Mavericks to the NCAA Division II regional. Ransom transferred to Grand Canyon University
for the 1998 season, and was a key member of an Antelopes squad that won the Western Athletic Conference Northern Division. Ransom started every game at shortstop, hitting .330 with 8 HR and 48 RBIs while leading the team with 20 doubles.
in the 9th round (278th overall). After signing, he spent his first professional season with the Single-A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
.
Ransom made his major league debut on September 5, 2001, against the Arizona Diamondbacks
. For the next three seasons from 2002 to 2004, he played for the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies
and the major league club. He was mainly used as a defensive replacement by the Giants. On August 8, 2003, he hit his first major league home run
off Philadelphia Phillies
starting pitcher
Vicente Padilla
.
Following the 2004 season, he was granted free agency by the Giants.
He was signed by the Chicago Cubs
on January 20, 2005. On March 30, 2005, he was acquired by the Texas Rangers
for cash considerations. He played for the Triple-A Oklahoma Redhawks and played in 24 games in which he batted .261 with 5 home runs. He was released on May 25, 2005. He resigned with the Chicago Cubs two days later and played with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs
for the rest of the season. He was granted free agency after the season.
on January 27, 2006, with an invitation to Spring Training
. He played in 19 games during Spring Training in which he batted .219 with no home runs. After being reassigned to minor league camp, he was acquired by the Houston Astros for cash considerations on March 30, 2006. He played for the Triple-A Round Rock Express
for 2006 season. He batted just .247 with 21 home runs in 122 games.
He returned to the Round Rock Express for the 2007 season. He played for the Express until the end of the minor league season. Ransom batted .263 in 134 games and led the Express in home runs (28) and RBIs (90). He was also second on the team in hits with 131. His good performance earned him a call up on September 4, 2007.
On September 16, 2007, against the Pittsburgh Pirates
, Ransom hit a home run off Paul Maholm
. It was Ransom's first home run in the major leagues since 2004.
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Ransom signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees before the 2008 season and was called up to the Yankees on August 15. He homered in both his first and second Yankee at bats, the first hitter in Yankee history to do so. The first occurred on August 17, 2008, against the Kansas City Royals
; the second was on August 22, 2008, against the Baltimore Orioles.
On September 21, 2008, Ransom made the last putout in Yankee Stadium history. Baltimore Orioles
second baseman Brian Roberts
hit a slow ground ball down the first baseline that Ransom fielded, then stepped on first for the deciding out in a 7-3 Yankees win. On Friday, September 26, Cody had his first multi-home run game against the Boston Red Sox
. Both home runs came on the first pitch of the at bat. Ransom was one of only three Yankees to hit a home run while serving as a pinch hitter.
Ransom started the 2009 season as the Yankees' starting third baseman due to the hip surgery recovery of Alex Rodriguez
; however, Ransom too was put on the disabled list on April 25 after an injury to his right quadricep. On August 5, 2009, Ransom was designated for assignment. He was released August 7, 2009, but re-signed with the Yankees to a minor league contract on August 10, and was assigned to AAA Scranton/Wilkes Barre. He was placed on the 7-day disabled list for an unknown injury on August 16, 2009.
. On July 3, 2010 the Phillies called him up to the majors after injuries to Chase Utley
and Placido Polanco
.
. He elected free agency on October 10.
video of his 60-inch box jump in a training session has received more than 100,000 hits; Ransom has said that his vertical leap is 60 inches.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
utility infielder
Utility infielder
A utility infielder is a baseball player, usually one who does not have a regular starting role on the team and who is capable of playing more than one of the four defensive infield positions: second base, third base, shortstop, and less typically first base...
who is a free agent.
Early life
Ransom attended Chandler High SchoolChandler High School (Chandler, Arizona)
Chandler High School is a high school located in Chandler, Arizona, United States. One of the oldest high schools in Arizona, it was founded in 1912, the year in which Chandler was founded and Arizona became a state....
in Chandler, Arizona
Chandler, Arizona
-Demographics:As of the Census of 2010, there were 236,123 people, 86,924 households, and 60,212 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 73.3% White, 4.8% Black or African American, 1.5% Native American, 8.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 21.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 8.3%...
. He was selected by the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
in the 43rd round (1,202nd overall) in the 1995 Major League Baseball draft but did not sign with the Indians. He instead attended South Mountain Community College
South Mountain Community College
South Mountain Community College is a community college in Phoenix, Arizona. It is part of the Maricopa County Community College District and was established by the governing board of the District on April 18, 1978. The college takes its name from South Mountain, which is a few kilometers to the...
.
He was a survivor of a fatal van accident when his South Mountain Community College baseball team’s van blew a tire on a team trip to Tucson, causing the van to roll over. Two of Ransom's teammates died.
After spending two years at South Mountain, Ransom spent the 1997 season at Mesa State, helping the Mavericks to the NCAA Division II regional. Ransom transferred to Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University is a for-profit Christian university located in Phoenix, Arizona. It is owned by Grand Canyon Education . GCU was founded in 1949 as a non-profit liberal arts college. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. purchased Grand Canyon University in February 2004...
for the 1998 season, and was a key member of an Antelopes squad that won the Western Athletic Conference Northern Division. Ransom started every game at shortstop, hitting .330 with 8 HR and 48 RBIs while leading the team with 20 doubles.
San Francisco Giants
Ransom was drafted again in 1998, this time by the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in the 9th round (278th overall). After signing, he spent his first professional season with the Single-A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes are a minor league baseball team in Keizer, Oregon, United States. They are a Short-Season Class A team in the Northwest League, and have been an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants since the Volcanoes' inception in 1997...
.
Ransom made his major league debut on September 5, 2001, against the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
. For the next three seasons from 2002 to 2004, he played for the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
and the major league club. He was mainly used as a defensive replacement by the Giants. On August 8, 2003, he hit his first major league home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
off Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
Vicente Padilla
Vicente Padilla
Vicente de la Cruz Padilla is a Major League Baseball pitcher, who is a free agent. Padilla previously pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers...
.
Following the 2004 season, he was granted free agency by the Giants.
2005 season
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
on January 20, 2005. On March 30, 2005, he was acquired by the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
for cash considerations. He played for the Triple-A Oklahoma Redhawks and played in 24 games in which he batted .261 with 5 home runs. He was released on May 25, 2005. He resigned with the Chicago Cubs two days later and played with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park.-Franchise history:...
for the rest of the season. He was granted free agency after the season.
Houston Astros
Ransom signed with the Seattle MarinersSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
on January 27, 2006, with an invitation to Spring Training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. He played in 19 games during Spring Training in which he batted .219 with no home runs. After being reassigned to minor league camp, he was acquired by the Houston Astros for cash considerations on March 30, 2006. He played for the Triple-A Round Rock Express
Round Rock Express
The Round Rock Express is a class Triple-A Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team in Round Rock, Texas, owned by RSR Sports and founded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The team is affiliated with the Texas Rangers, for whom Nolan Ryan serves as the president and...
for 2006 season. He batted just .247 with 21 home runs in 122 games.
He returned to the Round Rock Express for the 2007 season. He played for the Express until the end of the minor league season. Ransom batted .263 in 134 games and led the Express in home runs (28) and RBIs (90). He was also second on the team in hits with 131. His good performance earned him a call up on September 4, 2007.
On September 16, 2007, against the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, Ransom hit a home run off Paul Maholm
Paul Maholm
Paul Gurner Maholm is a left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Amateur career:Maholm is a graduate of Germantown High School in Germantown, Tennessee...
. It was Ransom's first home run in the major leagues since 2004.
New York Yankees
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
; the second was on August 22, 2008, against the Baltimore Orioles.
On September 21, 2008, Ransom made the last putout in Yankee Stadium history. Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
second baseman Brian Roberts
Brian Roberts
Brian Michael Roberts is an American Major League Baseball All Star second baseman, nicknamed B-Rob.He made his Major League debut in and has spent his entire professional career with the Baltimore Orioles organization, located in Baltimore, Maryland.-Early life, education and college-baseball...
hit a slow ground ball down the first baseline that Ransom fielded, then stepped on first for the deciding out in a 7-3 Yankees win. On Friday, September 26, Cody had his first multi-home run game against the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. Both home runs came on the first pitch of the at bat. Ransom was one of only three Yankees to hit a home run while serving as a pinch hitter.
Ransom started the 2009 season as the Yankees' starting third baseman due to the hip surgery recovery of Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez is an American professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Known popularly by his nickname A-Rod, he previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.Rodriguez is considered one of the best...
; however, Ransom too was put on the disabled list on April 25 after an injury to his right quadricep. On August 5, 2009, Ransom was designated for assignment. He was released August 7, 2009, but re-signed with the Yankees to a minor league contract on August 10, and was assigned to AAA Scranton/Wilkes Barre. He was placed on the 7-day disabled list for an unknown injury on August 16, 2009.
Philadelphia Phillies
On December 11, 2009 Ransom signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. On July 3, 2010 the Phillies called him up to the majors after injuries to Chase Utley
Chase Utley
Chase Cameron Utley is a second baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. A native of the Greater Los Angeles area, he was raised in the city of Long Beach. He was a star baseball player at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, before moving on to UCLA...
and Placido Polanco
Plácido Polanco
Plácido Enrique Polanco is a Major League Baseball player who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies and has also played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers. He is a third baseman, but in the past has played second base and shortstop...
.
Arizona Diamondbacks
On July 21, 2011 Ransom was called up from Triple-A Reno to replace an injured Stephen DrewStephen Drew
Stephen Oris Drew is a shortstop in Major League Baseball who plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is the younger brother of Boston Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew and former major leaguer Tim Drew....
. He elected free agency on October 10.
Personal
Ransom is married to Ericka, and they have a daughter named Mackenzie and son named Jordan. A 2009 YouTubeYouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
video of his 60-inch box jump in a training session has received more than 100,000 hits; Ransom has said that his vertical leap is 60 inches.