Ryan Fitzgerald

Ryan Fitzgerald Bio

Ryan Fitzgerald (born June 17, 1994) is an American professional baseball infielder currently in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. He made his Major League Baseball debut with the Minnesota Twins in 2025, appearing in 24 games during his rookie campaign. Fitzgerald has played professionally since 2017, advancing through the minor leagues with four different organizations before reaching the majors. He is known as an infielder who has displayed power potential at the Triple-A level and contributes across multiple defensive positions.

Early Life and Background

Ryan Fitzgerald was born on June 17, 1994, in Burr Ridge, Illinois. He grew up in the Chicago suburb and attended Fenwick High School, a well-known Catholic preparatory school in the area. During his high school years, Fitzgerald developed his skills as a baseball player, laying the foundation for his future professional career.

After graduating from Fenwick High School, Fitzgerald continued his baseball and academic career at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. He played college baseball for the Bluejays for four seasons, balancing his athletic development with his studies at the Jesuit institution.

Path to Professional Baseball

While at Creighton University, Fitzgerald established himself as a reliable hitter and defender. He earned second-team All-Big East Conference honors as a junior, recognizing his contributions to the Bluejays lineup. During his senior season, he maintained a .230 batting average, demonstrating consistency throughout his collegiate career despite facing strong conference competition.

Despite his collegiate success, Fitzgerald went unselected in the 2016 MLB draft. Rather than abandoning his professional aspirations, he continued playing baseball through alternative routes. He participated in the Arizona Winter League during the winter of 2016, showcasing his abilities against other players seeking professional opportunities outside the draft system.

Ryan Fitzgerald Career

Early Professional Career (2017–2018)

Following his collegiate career, Fitzgerald signed with the Gary SouthShore RailCats of the independent American Association of Professional Baseball in 2017. Playing in 84 games for the RailCats, heslash .239/.301/.395 with seven home runs, 20 RBI, and eight stolen bases. This independent league experience proved valuable for his development, allowing him to refine his skills and attract attention from affiliated organizations.

On May 15, 2018, the Boston Red Sox purchased Fitzgerald’s contract from Gary SouthShore. The Red Sox assigned him to the Single-A Greenville Drive, where he batted .274 with 44 runs scored and 38 RBI in his first season in affiliated minor league baseball.

Boston Red Sox Organization (2018–2023)

Fitzgerald spent the 2019 season with the High-A Salem Red Sox and delivered a strong performance, hitting .271 with 125 hits, 63 runs scored, and 65 RBI. His offensive production and defensive excellence earned him the distinction of being named the Boston Red Sox organization defensive player of the year. This recognition highlighted his value as a complete player capable of contributing both at the plate and in the field.

The 2020 season was lost to the cancellation of the minor league campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing Fitzgerald from advancing his development that year. He returned in 2021, starting the season with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs before earning a promotion to the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox after batting .271 with 13 home runs and 49 RBI in 95 games with Portland.

Fitzgerald entered Boston’s 2022 spring training as a non-roster invitee, demonstrating that the organization viewed him as a potential future contributor at the major league level. He returned to Worcester to begin the 2022 season and played in 127 games, hitting .219/.304/.400 with 16 home runs and 72 RBI. He split the 2023 campaign between the rookie-level Florida Complex League Red Sox and Worcester, slashing .268/.348/.491 with 12 home runs, 60 RBI, and 11 stolen bases across 99 combined appearances.

Kansas City Royals (2024)

On December 6, 2023, the Kansas City Royals selected Fitzgerald in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft, acquiring him from the Red Sox organization. In 2024, he played 108 games for the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers, batting .244/.336/.418 with 14 home runs and 54 RBI. Following the season, he elected free agency on November 4, 2024, ending his tenure with the Royals.

Minnesota Twins (2025)

On January 16, 2025, Fitzgerald signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins. He began the season with the Triple-A St. Paul Saints, where he excelled in 36 appearances, slashing .320/.417/.516 with four home runs, 21 RBI, and three stolen bases. His strong performance earned him a promotion to the major leagues on May 16, 2025, when he was selected to the Twins 40-man roster.

Fitzgerald made his major league debut shortly after his promotion. He scored his first big league run on May 19, pinch running for Ty France and crossing home plate on a walk-off double by Kody Clemens in a game the Twins won. On August 10, 2025, Fitzgerald recorded his first MLB hit, a two-run go-ahead home run against Ryan Bergert of the Kansas City Royals. In 24 appearances during his rookie season with Minnesota, he batted .196/.302/.457 with four home runs, nine RBI, and one stolen base.

Los Angeles Dodgers (2026–Present)

On January 2, 2026, the Minnesota Twins designated Fitzgerald for assignment following the acquisition of Eric Wagaman. He was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers on January 9, 2026. A few days later, on January 13, the Dodgers also designated him for assignment. He cleared waivers on January 20 and was sent outright to the minors. Fitzgerald was assigned to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets to begin the 2026 season, continuing his pursuit of a permanent role in major league baseball.

Driving Style and Strengths

Fitzgerald has shown throughout his minor league career the ability to impact games in multiple facets. At the Triple-A level, he demonstrated power potential with above-average home run totals and maintained solid on-base percentages through patient plate approaches. His defensive versatility allows him to play multiple infield positions, increasing his value as a depth player for major league organizations.

Notable Events and Milestones

The defining moment of Fitzgerald’s early major league career came on August 10, 2025, when he recorded his first MLB hit—a two-run go-ahead home run against his former organization, the Kansas City Royals. This milestone provided a memorable milestone for the player who went undrafted in 2016 and spent years working through independent and minor league baseball to reach the sport’s highest level.

Ryan Fitzgerald Career Wins

Throughout his professional career spanning multiple organizations and levels, Fitzgerald has accumulated solid statistics that reflect his growth as a player. His most productive minor league seasons came at the Triple-A level, where he consistently posted on-base percentages above .300 while contributing 10 to 16 home runs per season.

MLB Highlights

In his rookie MLB season with the Minnesota Twins in 2025, Fitzgerald appeared in 24 games and batted .196 with a .302 on-base percentage and .457 slugging percentage. He hit four home runs and drove in nine runs while recording his first career hit and stolen base at the major league level. His best performance came in a game against the Kansas City Royals when he homered to provide the go-ahead runs.

Minor League Highlights

Fitzgerald’s best minor league seasons include his 2021 campaign with Portland and Worcester, where he combined to hit 13 home runs and 49 RBI while earning a promotion to Triple-A. In 2022 with Worcester, he set career highs with 16 home runs and 72 RBI in 127 games. His 2024 season with Omaha saw him hit 14 home runs and 54 RBI in 108 games.

Ryan Fitzgerald Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Public information regarding Ryan Fitzgerald’s family background, including his parents, siblings, or any family connections to professional baseball, is not currently available through verified sources.

Personal Life

Fitzgerald maintains an active presence on social media, where he engages with fans through his accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. Beyond his baseball career, details about his personal life, relationships, or off-field interests are not extensively documented in public sources.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season marked Fitzgerald’s long-awaited arrival to Major League Baseball after nearly a decade of professional play. Signed by the Minnesota Twins in January 2025, he reported to Triple-A St. Paul where he immediately demonstrated his readiness for the majors by hitting over .320 with an excellent on-base percentage. His strong start earned him a promotion to the 40-man roster in mid-May, fulfilling his goal of reaching the major leagues.

His debut as a pinch runner on May 19 provided an immediate impact, scoring the winning run in a walk-off victory. The experience of scoring that game appeared to settle any nerves, and he continued to contribute defensively across multiple infield positions. His first career home run on August 10 against his former organization served as a career highlight and demonstrated his power ability at the major league level.

Fitzgerald’s rookie season concluded with 24 appearances, showing the typical adjustment challenges faced by first-year players. His ability to play multiple infield positions provided value to the Twins roster, though the team ultimately designated him for assignment in early 2026 following the acquisition of another player. His claimed by the Los Angeles Dodgers shortly after demonstrated that other organizations saw value in his skill set and versatility as a depth infielder capable of contributing at the major league level.