Kenneth Frederick Ryan, Jr. (born October 24, 1968 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island), is a retired professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1992-1999. He is currently working for NESN as a baseball analyst.
He owns a baseball academy in Lincoln, RI. It is called KR Baseball Academy. The academy holds instruction camps and sessions, batting cages, and AAU teams, ages 8-16.
Professional career
After graduating from Seekonk High School in Seekonk, Massachusetts in 1986, Ryan was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Boston Red Sox. He worked his way through the Red Sox minor league system and made his MLB debut on August 31, 1992. Ryan spent the next three years splitting time between the parent team and the minors.
On January 29, 1996 he was traded with Lee Tinsley and Glenn Murray to Philadelphia Phillies for Larry Wimberly, Heathcliff Slocumb and Rick Holyfield. He played in the Phillies organization until they released him on August 22, 1999.
He was signed as a free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 26, 1999 and played for their Triple-A affiliate Nashville Sounds. The Pirates released him at the end of the season.
Ryan was signed in the off-season by the New York Yankees, and played a few games for their Triple-A affiliate Columbus Clippers before retiring from professional baseball.
He has three daughters, Julia, Amanda and Kelli Rose.