Ryan Sadowski Unlikely Big Leaguer

Ryan Sadowski spent two seasons with the Florida Gators, barely appearing in his second campaign in Gainesville. He was a bit player on a very good Gator team in 2002, and yet he is the only member of that team in the major leagues as I write this.

That team included guys like Pat Osborn (.414, 17, 76), Mark Kiger (.403, 11, 55) and Ryan Shealy (.379, 23, 80). On the mound the Gators had Alex Hart (13-3, 3.24) and Keith Ramsey (10-3, 3.88) and yet it’s Sadowski who’s now in the show. Shealy has spent parts of four seasons in the Majors, but he’s in Triple-A at the moment.

Sadowski made his major league debut for the San Francisco Giants on Sunday, pitching six scoreless innings in a win over the Milwaukee Brewers. It was the capper on a career no one could have expected based on his Gator experience.

Ryan Sadowski appeared in seven games for the Gators in 2002 pitching a total of 6 2/3 innings. He got the win in a 17-1 drubbing of Army for his only Gator decision, but had an ERA of 8.10.

The following season Sadowski made just one appearance due to an injury, facing two batters and walking both of them. Despite that, he was drafted by the Giants in the 12th round.

He’s worked his way through the minors, always solid but never dominant. Sadowski won nine games last year and was 5-2, 4.11 in Fresno when he got the call to the big club.

Sadowski may be sent back down by the time you read this, but you gotta give the guy credit. No one on that 2002 team got more out of his ability in pro ball than Ryan Sadowski.