Ryan Spilborghs
Encyclopedia
Ryan Adam Spilborghs is a Major League Baseball
outfielder
with the Colorado Rockies
.
The Rockies drafted Spilborghs in the seventh round of the 2002 draft
out of the University of California, Santa Barbara
. He played for the Madison Mallards
during the summer of during his collegiate career. 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, Kiera. Her middle name, Esperanza (which means hope in Spanish), was chosen after his mother, who died during spring training
earlier in the year.
, after being beaten out for a roster spot by veteran Steve Finley
. After Finley was released by the Rockies, Spilborghs returned to the team. In 2008, he made the team outright from spring training
, serving as the fourth outfielder.
He also played in the Mexican Pacific League for the Yaquis de Obregón
, playing center field
.
On August 24, 2009 in the 14th inning against the San Francisco Giants
with the Rockies down 4-2, Spilborghs homered off pitcher Merkin Valdéz
for the first walk-off grand slam in Rockies history.
, each batter has a signature song that plays as he comes to the plate. During the 2009 season, Ryan's song was "Sweet Escape" by American pop singer Gwen Stefani
featuring Akon
. His 2010 song was Soft Cell
's version of "Tainted Love
". For the 2011 season it is Bon Jovi
's "Living on a Prayer".
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
with the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
.
The Rockies drafted Spilborghs in the seventh round of the 2002 draft
2002 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 4 and 5.This year's draft is featured in Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball.-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Compensation Selections:...
out of the University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
. He played for the Madison Mallards
Madison Mallards
The Madison Mallards are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Madison, Wisconsin that plays in the Northwoods League. Warner Park on Madison’s North side is the team's home field. The 2010 season marks the Mallards' 10th anniversary season....
during the summer of during his collegiate career. 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, Kiera. Her middle name, Esperanza (which means hope in Spanish), was chosen after his mother, who died during 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...
earlier in the year.
Baseball career
Spilborghs has served as a utility outfielder for the Rockies since 2007. He began the 2007 season at AAA with the Colorado Springs Sky SoxColorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
, after being beaten out for a roster spot by veteran Steve Finley
Steve Finley
Steven Allen Finley is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Early life:Finley, who grew up in Paducah, Kentucky, attended Paducah Tilghman High School and Southern Illinois University, where he earned a degree in physiology and played for the baseball team from 1984–87.-College, Team USA,...
. After Finley was released by the Rockies, Spilborghs returned to the team. In 2008, he made the team outright from 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...
, serving as the fourth outfielder.
He also played in the Mexican Pacific League for the Yaquis de Obregón
Yaquis de Obregón
The Yaquis de Obregón is a Mexican baseball team of the Liga Mexicana del Pacífico .The team was founded on October 8, 1970, and its home stadium is the Estadio Tomás Oroz Gaytán. They have been champions of the league on five occasions. The first time was at the 1965–1966 season with Manuel...
, playing center field
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
.
On August 24, 2009 in the 14th inning against the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
with the Rockies down 4-2, Spilborghs homered off pitcher Merkin Valdéz
Merkin Valdéz
Merkin R. Valdéz Mola is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Valdez graduated from Escuela Rural Palenque High School in his native Dominican Republic.-Atlanta Braves:...
for the first walk-off grand slam in Rockies history.
Entrance music
During Rockies home games at Coors FieldCoors Field
Coors Field, located in Denver, Colorado, is the home field of Major League Baseball's Colorado Rockies. It is named for the Coors Brewing Company of Golden, Colorado, which purchased the naming rights to the park prior to its completion in 1995...
, each batter has a signature song that plays as he comes to the plate. During the 2009 season, Ryan's song was "Sweet Escape" by American pop singer Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Renée Stefani is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock and ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over...
featuring Akon
Akon
Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
. His 2010 song was Soft Cell
Soft Cell
Soft Cell are an English synthpop duo who came to prominence in the early 1980s. They consist of vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist David Ball. The duo is most widely known for their 1981 worldwide hit version of "Tainted Love" and platinum debut Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret...
's version of "Tainted Love
Tainted Love
"Tainted Love" is a song composed by Ed Cobb, formerly of The Four Preps, which was originally recorded by Gloria Jones in 1965. It attained worldwide fame after being covered by Soft Cell in 1981, reaching number one in the UK Singles Chart, and has since been covered by numerous groups and...
". For the 2011 season it is Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
's "Living on a Prayer".