Robert Victor "B. He played college baseball at Louisiana , where he played for coach Tony Robichaux in and He was a two-way player while at Centenary. Ryan threw three complete games as a true freshman for the Gentlemen. As a sophomore pitcher , Ryan threw seven complete games while racking up As a hitter, he had at bats.
When Ryan decided to transfer to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the fall of , the team used him as a relief pitcher , filling the role of their spot starter , in addition to playing outfield and first base.
As a senior in , he made two starts for the Ragin' Cajuns, pitching to a 6β1 winβloss record with a 2. Additionally, he made 51 starts at first base, hitting at.
The Reds added Ryan to their man roster on July 28, , to use him in the bullpen. He made his major league debut that same day, logging two innings, walking one and giving up four hits. His inability to command his pitches, combined with a history of difficulty facing right-handed batters, prevented him from acquiring a larger role in the bullpen. However, his eccentric, three-quarter, slingshot-like delivery made him a dominant force against left-handed batters.
On May 1, , Ryan logged an unusual accomplishment: he won a game without throwing a pitch. Ryan's first throw was to first base where he picked off Detroit Tigers' Omar Infante to end the inning. The Orioles took the lead in the next half-inning and Ryan was relieved to begin the half-inning after that.
