Riley O'Brien

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Riley O'Brien
O'Brien with the Tacoma Rainiers in 2023
St. Louis Cardinals – No. 55
Pitcher
Born: (1995-02-06) February 6, 1995 (age 29)
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 28, 2021, for the Cincinnati Reds
MLB statistics
(through March 28, 2024)
Win–loss record0–1
Earned run average8.10
Strikeouts5
Teams

Riley Chun-Young O'Brien (born February 6, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners. He made his MLB debut in 2021.

Amateur career[edit]

O'Brien attended Shorewood High School in Shoreline, Washington, where he played baseball.[1][2] He graduated in 2013, and then enrolled at Everett Community College. After two seasons at Everett, he transferred to the College of Idaho. As a junior in 2016, he went 6–3 with a 3.23 ERA and sixty strikeouts over 69 innings.[3] In 2017, his senior year, he pitched to a 3–4 record and a 2.15 ERA over 67 innings.[4] After the season, he was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.[5][6][7]

Professional career[edit]

Tampa Bay Rays[edit]

O'Brien signed with the Rays and made his professional debut that year with the Princeton Rays of the Advanced Rookie Appalachian League, going 1–0 with a 2.20 ERA over 11 games (ten starts).[8] During the season, he was named Appalachian League Pitcher of the Week twice.[9] In 2018, he began the season with the Bowling Green Hot Rods of the Single–A Midwest League (with whom he was named an All-Star) before being promoted to the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the High–A Florida State League, with whom he ended the year; over 25 games (13 starts) between both teams, he went 8–4 with a 2.75 ERA.[10][11][12] In 2019, he began the season with Charlotte and was promoted to the Montgomery Biscuits of the Double–A Southern League in May. Over 20 games (17 starts) with the two clubs, he pitched to a 7–6 record and 3.16 ERA.[13]

O'Brien did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[14]

Cincinnati Reds[edit]

On August 28, 2020, the Rays traded O'Brien to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Cody Reed.[15][16] On November 20, 2020, the Reds added O'Brien to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[17] To begin the 2021 season, he was assigned to the Louisville Bats of the Triple-A East.[18] Over 23 games (22 starts), O'Brien pitched to a 7–7 record, a 4.55 ERA, and 121 strikeouts over 112+2⁄3 innings.[19]

On September 28, 2021, the Reds recalled O'Brien to the active roster to make his MLB debut versus the Chicago White Sox.[20][21] He was the starting pitcher and threw 1+1⁄3 innings, giving up two solo home runs while walking three and striking out two.[22]

On April 13, 2022, the Reds designated O'Brien for assignment to make room for Nick Lodolo.[23]

Seattle Mariners[edit]

On April 16, 2022, the Reds traded O’Brien to the Seattle Mariners for cash considerations or a player to be named later.[24] (On June 3, minor league infielder Luis Chevalier was sent to Cincinnati to complete the trade).[25] He was designated for assignment on May 27. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers on June 2.[26]

O'Brien spent the entirety of the 2023 season in Triple–A with Tacoma. In 51 appearances, he registered a 2.29 ERA with 86 strikeouts and 15 saves across 55.0 innings of work.[27]

St. Louis Cardinals[edit]

On November 5, 2023, O'Brien was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals and subsequently added to the 40–man roster.[28] On March 26, 2024, the Cardinals officially revealed that O'Brien had made the opening day roster.

Personal life[edit]

Riley is married to Chellyn O'Brien, they had their wedding in late 2023. O'Brien's grandfather, Johnny O'Brien, played six seasons in the major leagues.[21] His great uncle Eddie O'Brien also played in the majors.[29]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Another gem by O'Brien leads Shorewood past GP". HeraldNet.com. April 5, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  2. ^ "Shorewood, EvCC alum chosen by Rays in 8th round of MLB draft". HeraldNet.com. June 14, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  3. ^ WUSTROW, JOHN. "C of I pitcher Riley O'Brien picked by Rays in MLB Draft's eighth round". Idaho Press.
  4. ^ "Broncos hope the MW tips falls into place". KTIK-AF. June 14, 2017.
  5. ^ Katz, Michael. "Tampa Bay Rays select College of Idaho's Riley O'Brien". idahostatesman.com. Idaho Statesman. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  6. ^ Cooper, Brittany. "College of Idaho pitcher goes in eighth round of MLB Draft". www.kmvt.com.
  7. ^ Statesman, MICHAEL KATZ Idaho. "Rays take College of Idaho pitcher in 8th round". Twin Falls Times-News.
  8. ^ THWAITES, GEORGE. "O'Brien doing his part for Rays on mound". Bluefield Daily Telegraph.
  9. ^ Staff report. "Princeton pitcher O'Brien honored again". Bluefield Daily Telegraph.
  10. ^ Norris, Josh. "Midwest League Announces 2018 All-Star Rosters". www.baseballamerica.com.
  11. ^ "Hot Rods' Hernandez wins All-Star Home Run Derby". Bowling Green Daily News.
  12. ^ Chase, Benjamin (October 23, 2018). "Tampa Bay Rays 2018 minor league awards - Page 3". Calltothepen.com. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  13. ^ "MLB Trade Deadline: Cincinnati Reds add Riley O'Brien from Tampa Bay". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  14. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  15. ^ Athletics, MIKE SAFFORD College of Idaho. "Former Yotes pitcher traded to Cincinnati". Idaho Press.
  16. ^ "Cody Reed traded to Rays". Mlb.com. July 26, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  17. ^ Steve Adams (November 20, 2020). "Reds Acquire Brandon Bailey From Astros". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved May 2, 2021.
  18. ^ Clark, Mitchell (May 4, 2021). "2021 Reds' Minor League Roster Preview". Red Reporter. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  19. ^ WKRC (September 27, 2021). "Reds starters set to make MLB debuts in consecutive games for fourth time in team history". WKRC. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  20. ^ "Notes: O'Brien debut; rotation; Farmer's slam". MLB.com. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  21. ^ a b Goldsmith, Charlie. "Three things to know about Reds starting pitcher Riley O'Brien". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  22. ^ "Reds' Riley O'Brien: Gives up two runs in short outing".
  23. ^ "Reds' Nick Lodolo: Called up from minors".
  24. ^ "Mariners acquire pitcher Riley O'Brien in trade with Reds". April 17, 2022.
  25. ^ Gray, Doug (June 1, 2022). "Cincinnati Reds acquire Luis Chevalier from the Seattle Mariners".
  26. ^ "Mariners' Riley O'Brien: Outrighted to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  27. ^ "Cards bolster staff, acquiring Riley O'Brien from Mariners". mlb.com. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  28. ^ "Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Acquired by Cardinals". CBSSports.com. November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  29. ^ admin. "Eddie O'Brien – Society for American Baseball Research". Retrieved March 27, 2024.

External links[edit]

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