Ryne Stanek: 2024 Mets Wild Card Winning Relief Pitcher (2024 - 2025)
The tall six-foot four right hander Stanek attended the University of Arkansas where he played for the Arkansas Razorbacks. In 2019 he was the Tampa Rays first round draft pick, the 29th pick overall.
"the Opener": Stanek began his career with the Tampa Rays (2017-2019).
In his time there he was used as an Opener- where he would start a game pitch an inning or two then get relieved.
In January 2021, Ryne signed on with the Houston Astros. He would become a big part of the
Astros bullpen over the next three seasons, primarily used in the late innings, making the playoffs each year, winning two pennants & a Worlds Championship in 2022.
In 2021 he collected 21 holds, two saves & finishing off 13 games. Stanek was 3-5 with a 3.42 ERA striking out 83 batters in 68.1 innings of work.
In the ALDS win over the Chicago White Sox, he appeared in three of the four games. In Game #2 at Houston, he was the games winning pitcher tossing a scoreless 7th inning.
2021 ALCS: In Game #1 of the ALCS win over Boston, he was the winning pitcher, retiring just one batter to end the 7th inning of a tied game. In the bottom of the 7th, Carlos Correa's HR would end up being the winning run giving Stanek the win. He would make three appearances & finish off three games in the series.
In 2022 from April 29th to July 22nd, he had a 27.1 scoreless innings streak, lasting over three
months. It was the second longest by an Astro reliever since Dave Smith's 27.2 in 1987. In September he made ten straight scoreless appearances.
On the season, Ryne went 2-1 with a spectacular 1.15 ERA, setting a franchise record for Astros relievers. His 1.15 ERA was best in the league for relief pitchers & second best in the majors. He held batters to a .181 batting average, giving up just seven earned runs in 54.2 innings. Stanek posted 62 strike outs as well, notching 17 holds.
In the World Series win over the Phillies he made two appearances, finishing off the Game #1 loss. Stanek won his first championship that season.
2023 Post Season: Stanek made four appearances in the post season. In Game 4 of the ALCS he was the games winning pitcher, retiring Mitch Garver on an inning ending double play in the 3rd inning.
He made two more appearances in the ALCS loss to the eventual World Champion Rangers.
2024: Stanek began the year with the Mariners appearing in 46 games going 6-3 with seven saves. By the trade deadline he was sent to the New York Mets for a minor leaguer (Rhylan Thomas). Stanek along with Phil Maton helped secure what had been a shaky bullpen.
Field.
On July 30th at Citi Field, he came in relief of Sean Manaea who had pitched six shutout innings over the Twins. Stanek pitched a scoreless 7th & earned his first Mets hold, his 16th of the season.
On August 11th, he was beat up in Seattle giving up four runs on two hits & two walks in a 12-2 Mets loss.
From August 13th to September 9th, he gave up just one run in 7.2 innings over seven appearances. Opponents batted just .120 against him in that time. In his last 12 regular season appearances he posted a 2.92 ERA allowing four runs in 12.1 innings with a win & a hold.
First Mets Victory: On September 9th he earned his first Mets win, pitching a scoreless 8th inning in Toronto, in a 3-2 Mets comeback win. It was his seventh win of the year the season.
Stanek allowed a run in three of his next five appearances. On September 14th, he finished up a loss in Philadelphia & appeared in the September 19th win over the Phils at Citi Field.He made two more appearances in losses to end the regular season.
victories, allowing a run in 2.1 innings.
In Game #3 he closed out the game striking out pinch hitter Cody Clemens who had doubled off him in the previous outing.
He made one more appearance in the Game #6 loss.
Overall, in the 2024 post season, Stanek was 1-0 with two holds, posting a 3.38 ERA. He allowed three runs on five hits, with three walks while striking out eight batters in eight innings in seven appearances.
In an eight-year career, Stanek made 401 appearances, finishing off 81 games. He is 17-17 with a 3.65 ERA, with 473 strike outs 200 walks in 402.1 innings.
Family: Stanek is married to Jessica Peet who was a contestant on Survivor: David vs Goliath (2018). They were married in 2020 & together they have two children.