During the 2015 American Association season, 28 times St. Paul Saints manager George Tsamis asked his closer to save the day for him and 25 times Ryan Rodebaugh delivered. Those 25 saves led the league, which is quite impressive considering that the first week of the season Rodebaugh was not even the club’s closer. That is just the kind of performance that the Saints have come to expect out of the right-handed reliever. Whenever they are in need, Rodebaugh is prepared to deliver.

The truth is that the closer’s role has been the perfect spot for Ryan to fill. The right-hander has always been unflappable on the mound, not concerned with a bad outing two days ago or a bad pitch thrown just 10 seconds earlier. He is focused on the task at hand, namely the batter in front of him, and it is one of the aspects of the righty that makes him an ideal closer. Something his father noticed right away.

“My dad always praised me on how my demeanor stayed the same no matter what. That stuck with me and I realized how important that is, because it can be a little intimidating to a hitter when the pitcher always stays the same.”

Ryan’s father was an integral part of why the right-hander is playing baseball. His dad loved the sport and excelled in it as well, reaching the college level before finally hanging up the cleats. His passion for baseball he instilled in his own sons and soon they were as avid a fans as their father.

“From the time I could think of it I was picking up a ball and throwing it. I have an older brother too, so we had a ball and bat in our hands from the time I was walking as far as I can remember. He didn’t even want us playing other sports as kids.”

The elder Rodebaugh always knew that his son had the skills to be the real deal on the diamond. The problem was that he was a bit small for his size. As he further developed his dream of playing professional baseball soared and it looked like Ryan would be heading off to play college baseball as well.

“My dad always knew that I had the skill set, but I was smaller in stature, so he just wondered if I would catch up to everyone else in size. Finally in my senior year in high school I filled out and my strength came, and then I knew I had a good chance to play in college. It was just going one step at a time. I just wanted to get a scholarship then.”

Rodebaugh moved onto Kennesaw State University where he was with the team for three seasons. In 2010 he went 4-6 with a 4.67 ERA, striking out a very impressive 86 batters in 79.0 innings pitched. That caught the attention of the Texas Rangers, who made Ryan their pick in the 15th round of the MLB amateur draft.

The right-hander began his professional career at short-season Spokane in 2010. There he was 4-1 with a 3.33 ERA and 2 saves in 19 appearances. That success got him moved up the next season as he began in Mid-A Hickory before moving to Advanced-A Myrtle Beach. Combined the righty went 2-3 with a very impressive 1.87 ERA. That included a microscopic 0.41 ERA in 28 appearances at Hickory, where he also had 14 saves.

In 2012 the progression continued as Ryan found his way to AA-Frisco. Rodebaugh appeared in 37 games there where he was 3-5 with 5 saves and a 2.61 ERA. In 51.2 innings there, he struck out 62 while only yielding 10 walks. Clearly he was on the fast track, and in 2012 he began at Frisco but quickly moved to AAA-Round Rock where he finished out the season.

It looked like he was just a year away from reaching the Majors, but a shoulder injury sidetracked him in 2014. Ryan went back to Frisco to work himself back into shape, but he was unable to maintain his consistency or his arm strength. The Rangers brought him to Spring Training this season, but he was given very little chance by the organization to make the team and was released.

While that may have been an unfair decision by the organization, Ryan sees the reality of why it occurred. “Last year I had battled through some injuries, so I had kind of been passed by in the organization by some other guys. I knew this was going to be a big year in Spring Training, and I had a lot to prove, but I wound up rolling my ankle and couldn’t even prove what I had. So I never really had a chance to prove myself and so, when rosters were set, there just wasn’t any room for me.”

Tsamis wanted the reliever in his bullpen in St. Paul and so Ryan happily decided that St. Paul was going to be his home for the summer. He wanted a chance to pitch on a regular basis and knew that this was his opportunity to get his stuff together again.

“I am just trying to get back to 100 percent. Two years ago was when I was at my best and so this has been a great opportunity to try to get back to that.”

Ryan began the season in the setup role and was flourishing there, but when the closer’s role became open Tsamis turned to Rodebaugh. In three appearances to that point the right-hander had allowed just a hit and a walk in 4 innings pitched. Clearly he had the stuff, and now he was going to get the chance to be the guy who could close the deal on the mound each night.

Ryan made the most of the opportunity and proved to be the guy to get the job done. He finished the regular season with a 2.84 ERA in 41 appearances and led the American Association in saves. The righty through 44.1 innings pitched, striking out 47 while giving up just 31 hits and 16 walks.

His success has been miraculous because Ryan openly admits that he wasn’t really sure what was going to happen when he came to St. Paul. With really no knowledge of the league or its hitters he was a little unsure of what might happen in the Minnesota capital.

“Honestly I didn’t know what to expect coming from the Rangers and coming into this league. I had heard that it’s a pretty good caliber of baseball, and this is one of the better teams I have ever played on.”

What Ryan was looking for this season was a chance to regain his form of 2013. Clearly he had the arm strength, the velocity and the demeanor to be a dominant pitcher. He just needed the chance to regain his consistency, and that has been the part of this season that he is most pleased with. “It is just great to be back into a groove, where I can feel good after each outing. I didn’t feel that much last year.”

A chance was all that he was looking for. A chance to prove to himself and to others that he had what it takes to be a prime prospect once again. Whether win or lose, Ryan is going to give it all, and he knows he is blessed for each chance he gets.

“I’m just trying to be confident entering the ninth inning that I can get those guys out. That I have what it takes to beat them. Being a Christian I just give glory to God for my opportunity no matter what the results are. He helps me get through.”

It has also helped that Tsamis has had complete confidence in Rodebaugh to deliver. “Knowing the manager gave me the ball in a big situation is another confidence booster.”

That confidence has been well rewarded this season, but it has been a combination of factors that have made the St. Paul Saints closer so successful. He has challenged hitters this season, not necessarily looking for a hole in their swing as much as wanting to use his best pitch to get them out. “I try to stick to my strengths rather than go after their weaknesses,” he explains.

It is also his readiness before he takes the mound. The closer’s job means that for six or seven innings he doesn’t really need to be as locked into the game, but once he realizes that his time is getting close and that he will likely be entering the game, there is no one better at getting himself ready to close it out.

“My preparation and routine before I enter a game is key for me. Just being able to lock in for my last 10 pitches in the bullpen before I enter the game. I try to treat as much like a game situation as possible. You’re just thrown into the fire, so you have to make sure that all your pitches are working.”

His pitches have been working this season quite well. His preparation, physical skills, and talent have made him the most successful closer in the American Association this season, and a key reason why the St. Paul Saints set a club record for wins in a season. Ryan is having fun again, enjoying doing the thing he loves best; coming into games and getting people out. You maybe can’t say that relieving is in his blood, but it is sure in his gray matter.

“I like the mentality of the bullpen. Coming into games you maybe get just three outs or six outs, so you can just go and throw you stuff right away. I kind of like that feeling, as opposed to a starter where you have to settle into a game and then waiting a week to pitch.”

That mentality has made him a great success at a position that requires a heart of stone and a mind ready to let go when things have not gone well. That is where the St. Paul Saints closer excels beyond measure. Ryan could have just given up a three-run homer or struck out the side and his steely eyes would look the same. This is a cold hearted assassin on the mound, who enjoys that his ability to disregard his emotions on the hill is actually unsettling to his opponent. It’s that “intimidation” of the hitter that he is openly enjoying and, unfortunately for his opponents this season, he has been enjoying it a lot this season.

While a pillar of stone on the mound, Ryan understands the big impact that so many have had on his career. Two in particular standout immediately. “My dad has been so instrumental in helping me develop. And my brother who also played at the college level. He was a good hitter so he’s given me some good tips on pitching as far as from a hitter’s standpoint.”

But his accolades don’t end there. The numerous coaches, both at the professional and college levels, were keys to him getting where he is today, as is his most vital supporter. “My wife has been amazing; really supportive to help me follow my dream. It’s hard to put into words how much she has helped me to get to this point.

What has made the St. Paul Saints season so truly special is that 38-different guys have played a part in making this such a season to remember. It is a season full of storylines that are sometimes so amazing they seem like they cannot be true.

One of those stories that has been enjoyable to watch is how a young right-hander has reinvented himself in one of the most demanding positions on the diamond and done it with such excellence that his team is just four wins away from the 2015 American Association Championship. Ryan Rodebaugh has given his manager confidence that games are over once they reach the ninth inning and, if a few more breaks go their way, he will be the guy standing on the mound when they close out a championship. Raise the temperature, because Ryan is ready to jump into the fire.

By Robert Pannier
Member of the IBWAA