Sean Runyan
Encyclopedia
Sean David Runyan is a former Major League Baseball
player.
After attending Urbandale High School in Urbandale, Iowa
, Runyan was drafted by the Houston Astros
in the 5th round of the 1992
amateur draft. After several seasons in the minors with the Quad City River Bandits
, the Astros traded to the San Diego Padres
in 1997
for Luis Lopez
, but was drafted by the Detroit Tigers
in the Rule 5 draft
that same year.
Runyan's major league debut came on March 31, 1998. He would be used as a left-handed specialist
out of the Tigers bullpen, and would go on to lead the American League
in appearances with 88. The 88 appearances were 2 short of the American League record, but were enough to set the record for rookies.
After dealing with arm troubles, Runyan pitched his final game on September 9, 2000. For his career, he pitched parts of 3 seasons, all in Detroit, and was out of baseball
by 2003.
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...
player.
After attending Urbandale High School in Urbandale, Iowa
Urbandale, Iowa
Urbandale is a city in Polk and Dallas counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 29,072; a special census taken by the city in 2005 counted 35,904 residents and the United States Census Bureau estimated that 38,369 residents lived there in 2008...
, Runyan was drafted by the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
in the 5th round of the 1992
1992 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Toronto Blue Jays over Atlanta Braves ; Pat Borders, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Roberto Alomar*National League Championship Series MVP: John Smoltz...
amateur draft. After several seasons in the minors with the Quad City River Bandits
Swing of the Quad Cities
The Quad Cities River Bandits are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals, that plays in the Midwest League...
, the Astros traded to the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in 1997
1997 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Florida Marlins over Cleveland Indians ; Liván Hernández, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Marquis Grissom**American League Division Series*National League Championship Series MVP: Liván Hernández...
for Luis Lopez
Luis Lopez
Luis Lopez or Luis López can mean:People*Luis A. López, Mexican-American poet*Luis Alfredo López , Colombian road cyclist*Luis Alfredo López Honduran footballer.*Luis Diego López Breijo , Uruguayan footballer...
, but was drafted by the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
in the Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
that same year.
Runyan's major league debut came on March 31, 1998. He would be used as a left-handed specialist
Left-handed specialist
In baseball, a left-handed specialist is a left-handed relief pitcher who specializes in pitching to left-handed batters, or to switch-hitters who bat poorly right-handed...
out of the Tigers bullpen, and would go on to lead the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
in appearances with 88. The 88 appearances were 2 short of the American League record, but were enough to set the record for rookies.
After dealing with arm troubles, Runyan pitched his final game on September 9, 2000. For his career, he pitched parts of 3 seasons, all in Detroit, and was out of 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...
by 2003.