Ryne Thomas Stanek is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently with the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners, and New York Mets. Stanek attended the University of Arkansas, where he played for the Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team. He was selected by the Rays in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft, making his MLB debut in 2017. Stanek won a World Series championship with the Houston Astros in 2022.
Ryne Stanek Bio
Ryne Thomas Stanek was born on July 26, 1991, and grew up in Stilwell, Kansas. He developed his pitching skills at Blue Valley High School, where he emerged as one of the top prospects in the 2010 MLB draft class. The Seattle Mariners selected him in the third round that year, but Stanek chose to attend college instead of signing. His name honors Baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, who himself was named after pitcher Rinold “Ryne” Duren.
Early Life and Background
Stanek attended Blue Valley High School in Stilwell, Kansas. As a senior, he posted impressive numbers with a 5-1 win-loss record, a 0.72 earned run average, and 71 strikeouts. Baseball America ranked him as the 42nd-best available player in the 2010 Major League Baseball draft. The Seattle Mariners selected him in the third round with the 99th overall selection, but he did not sign and instead chose to continue his baseball career at the collegiate level.
Path to Professional Baseball
Stanek enrolled at the University of Arkansas to play for the Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team. In 2011, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League. As a sophomore in 2012, Stanek recorded an 8-4 record with a 2.82 ERA and 83 strikeouts in over 92 innings pitched. He earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team in the 2012 Houston College Classic and played for the United States collegiate national team that summer.
Prior to the 2013 season, Stanek received multiple pre-season All-American honors from Baseball America, Perfect Game, and Collegiate Baseball. He was named the Southeastern Conference Pre-season Pitcher of the Year. That March, he earned SEC Pitcher of the Week honors. Stanek finished his junior year with a remarkable 10-2 record and a 1.39 ERA, solidifying his status as a top MLB draft prospect.
Ryne Stanek Career
Amateur and Draft (2010-2013)
Stanek was considered one of the top available prospects in the 2013 MLB draft. The Tampa Bay Rays selected him with the 29th pick in the first round. He signed with the Rays for a $1,758,300 signing bonus. His professional debut came with the Bowling Green Hot Rods of the Single-A Midwest League on May 8, 2014, after he missed the start of the season due to surgery on his right acetabular labrum during the 2013-14 offseason. He posted a 3-4 record with a 3.63 ERA for Bowling Green before earning a promotion to the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the High-A Florida State League.
Tampa Bay Rays Breakthrough (2017-2019)
The Rays promoted Stanek to the major leagues on May 13, 2017, and he made his MLB debut the following day. He appeared in 21 games that season with a 5.85 ERA. In 2018, Stanek found his niche working as an opener for the Rays, where he found immediate success with his high-90s fastball and newly introduced splitter. In June, he set an MLB record by throwing seven consecutive scoreless starts across just 9 2/3 innings. He also established a major league record with 17 straight starts allowing one run or fewer. On September 5, Stanek became the first rookie in 75 years to start in back-to-back games.
For the 2018 season, Stanek made 59 total appearances with 29 starts, recording a 2.98 ERA and striking out 81 batters in 66 1/3 innings. The following season, the Rays continued using him as an opener. He hit the disabled list on July 20, 2019, with a hip injury after appearing in 41 games with 27 starts.
Miami Marlins (2019-2020)
On July 31, 2019, the Rays traded Stanek and Jesus Sanchez to the Miami Marlins for pitchers Nick Anderson and Trevor Richards. The shortened 2020 season saw Stanek pitch to a 7.20 ERA in nine relief appearances. He also pitched two scoreless innings in the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves. The Marlins non-tendered him on December 2, 2020, making him a free agent.
Houston Astros Championship Run (2021-2023)
On January 7, 2021, Stanek signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Houston Astros. He posted a 3-5 record with two saves and a 3.42 ERA over 72 relief appearances. In 2022, he agreed to a $2.1 million contract and enjoyed his best professional season. He recorded a career-low 2-1 record with one save and a 1.15 ERA in 54 2/3 innings over 59 relief appearances, breaking the Astros single-season franchise record for relievers. The Astros won the World Series that year, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies to give Stanek his first career World Series championship. He threw four scoreless innings in the postseason.
Stanek returned to Houston in 2023 on a $3.6 million contract. In 55 games, he posted a 4.09 ERA with 51 strikeouts across 50 2/3 innings pitched.
Seattle Mariners (2024)
On March 10, 2024, Stanek signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Seattle Mariners. He appeared in 46 games, compiling a 6-3 record with seven saves and a 4.38 ERA in 39 innings.
New York Mets (2024-2025)
On July 26, 2024, the Mariners traded Stanek to the New York Mets in exchange for minor league prospect Rhylan Thomas. Across 17 regular season games for the Mets, he posted a 6.06 ERA with 23 strikeouts across 16 1/3 innings. However, Stanek pitched much better in the postseason, compiling a 3.38 ERA as the Mets reached the NLCS.
On January 30, 2025, Stanek re-signed with the Mets on a one-year, $4.5 million contract. He made 65 total appearances during the regular season, recording a 4-6 record and 5.30 ERA with 58 strikeouts and three saves over 56 innings of work. He became a free agent after the season.
St. Louis Cardinals (2026-Present)
On January 13, 2026, Stanek signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. He earned a save on Opening Day, then recorded a blown save and win in the third game of the season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Stanek throws a four-seam fastball which sits in the high 90s and low 100s, along with a slider and splitter in the high 80s and low 90s. In the 2024 season, he added a mid-90s sinker to his repertoire. In 2025, he began throwing a sweeper, giving hitters another look to contend with from the right-handed pitcher.
Ryne Stanek Career Wins
Across his MLB career through 2025, Stanek has compiled a 23-24 win-loss record with a 3.93 earned run average and 568 strikeouts. He has recorded double-digit saves across multiple seasons and has been a valuable asset as both an opener and a relief pitcher throughout his career.
Major League Highlights
Stanek’s most decorated season came in 2022 with the Houston Astros, where he recorded a 1.15 ERA in 59 appearances, setting a franchise record for relievers. He was a key contributor to the Astros’ World Series championship that year, throwing four scoreless innings in the postseason. His versatility as an opener with the Rays in 2018 saw him set multiple MLB records for consecutive scoreless appearances.
Ryne Stanek Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Stanek is named after Baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, who himself was named after pitcher Rinold “Ryne” Duren. This unique naming tradition connects him to baseball history.
Personal Life
Stanek is married to Jessica Peet, who appeared as a contestant on Survivor: David vs Goliath. The couple has two children together. Stanek maintains an active presence on social media with the handle @rstanek_55.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Stanek’s second year with the New York Mets organization following his mid-season arrival in 2024. He appeared in 65 games, compiling a 4-6 record with three saves and a 5.30 ERA across 56 innings pitched. His 58 strikeouts demonstrated his continued ability to miss bats at the major league level. While his regular-season numbers were solid, Stanek elevated his performance during the postseason, helping the Mets advance to the National League Championship Series.