Ryan Cole Lavarnway (; born August 7, 1987) is an
American-Israeli former professional
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...
catcher
Catcher is a position in baseball and softball. When a batter takes their turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the (home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to this primary duty, the catc ...
. He played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...
(MLB) for the
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
,
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...
,
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...
,
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
,
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central ...
,
Cincinnati Reds,
Miami Marlins, and
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...
. In international competition, he plays for
Team Israel, and competed for them in the
World Baseball Classic and in the
Olympics.
Lavarnway attended
Yale University
Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...
,
where in 2007 he won the
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...
(NCAA)
batting title by
hitting .467 and led the NCAA with an .873
slugging percentage. That year, Lavarnway also set the
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an American collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference of eight Private university, private Research university, research universities in the Northeastern United States. It participates in the National Collegia ...
record with a 25-game
hitting streak. In addition, he set the Ivy League all-time career
home run
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the Baseball (ball), ball is hit in such a way that the batting (baseball), batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safe (baseball), safely in one play without any error ( ...
record, with 33.
Lavarnway was drafted by the Red Sox in
2008
2008 was designated as:
*International Year of Languages
*International Year of Planet Earth
*International Year of the Potato
*International Year of Sanitation
The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...
. In 2009, he led the
South Atlantic League with 59
extra-base hits. Next season, he was a
Carolina League Mid-Season and Post-Season All Star; additionally, he was named the Red Sox co-Minor League Offensive Player of the Year. In 2011, after Lavarnway hit 30 home runs in 478 minor league at bats, ''Baseball America'' named him the best power prospect in the
International League
The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major ...
. He was also named to their 2011 Minor League All-Star Team, and the Red Sox organization named him co-winner of their Offensive Player of the Year award for the second season in a row.
He was
called up to the major leagues by the Red Sox in August 2011, making headlines in September when he hit two home runs in his first start as a catcher. Entering the 2012 season Lavarnway was the No. 9 prospect in the Red Sox system according to ''Baseball America''. That season, he was the International League (IL) All Star starting catcher and a post-season IL All-Star. He played 46 games for Boston in 2012, batting .157. He split 2013 between Pawtucket and Boston, batting .299 in 25 games for the major league club. In 2014 with Pawtucket, Lavarnway led the team to the International League title, and was voted MVP of the IL series. However, he was hitless in 10 at bats for Boston, who
designated him for assignment after the year.
Lavarnway began the 2015 season with the Baltimore Orioles but only played 10 games for them before getting designated for assignment on May 26. Signed by the Atlanta Braves, he served as
A. J. Pierzynski's backup starting on June 15; though he spent the rest of the season with Atlanta, he only appeared in 27 games for them. Failing to make the Braves' roster in 2016, he spent most of the season in the minor leagues for the
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...
. Lavarnway received international honors in 2017, getting named Pool A MVP after playing for
Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic. In the major leagues that year, he got into six games with the Oakland Athletics. He was a 2018 mid-season
Triple-A All Star for the
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and play their home games at Victory ...
. Called up by the Pittsburgh Pirates at the end of 2018, he had four hits in six at bats. Lavarnway started 2019 in the minor leagues again but was called up by the Reds in July. In his debut for the team on July 19, he became the first Red with six RBIs in his Cincinnati debut since RBIs became a statistic in 1920. However, he only played five games for the Reds before they returned him to the minor leagues. In November 2019, he obtained
Israeli citizenship, hoping to play for Team Israel in
baseball at the 2020 Summer Olympics. He played for Team Israel at the
2020 Summer Olympics
The officially the and officially branded as were an international multi-sport event that was held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some of the preliminary sporting events beginning on 21 July 2021. Tokyo ...
in Tokyo in the summer of 2021, and his slugging percentage of .700 was 5th-highest at the Olympic Games. He signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins in December. He played for
Team Israel in the
2023 World Baseball Classic.
Early life
Lavarnway was born on August 7, 1987, in
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in the southeastern end of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located northwest of downtown Los Angeles, Burbank had a Census-estimated population of 102,755 as of 2023. The city was ...
, and grew up in
Woodland Hills, California.
Born to a Jewish mother and a Catholic father, Lavarnway celebrated
Chanukah growing up but never had a
Bar Mitzvah
A ''bar mitzvah'' () or ''bat mitzvah'' () is a coming of age ritual in Judaism. According to Halakha, Jewish law, before children reach a certain age, the parents are responsible for their child's actions. Once Jewish children reach that age ...
.
Starting in high school, Lavarnway began pursuing the Jewish faith more seriously. "I felt spiritually attracted and I began to attend synagogue," he said of his high school days.
From watching his father play
softball
Softball is a Variations of baseball, variation of baseball, the difference being that it is played with a larger ball, on a smaller field, and with only underhand pitches (where the ball is released while the hand is primarily below the ball) ...
games, Lavarnway developed an interest in baseball at a young age. He played catcher in
Little League, and his favorite
major league player growing up was
Jason Varitek.
At
El Camino Real High School, Lavarnway caught at first but later played
outfield for the "Conquistadors" baseball team as a senior. The team retired his jersey in 2018.
College career
Lavarnway attended
Yale University
Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...
,
where he majored in philosophy and played baseball for the
Yale Bulldogs in the
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an American collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference of eight Private university, private Research university, research universities in the Northeastern United States. It participates in the National Collegia ...
.
Lavarnway chose Yale because "obtaining good grades was important and
alehad a strong academic reputation," he said.
In 2006, he primarily played
right field, earning Ivy Player and Rookie of the Week honors that March.
In 2007, Lavarnway moved back to catcher.
"I knew it would provide the best opportunity to reach the major leagues," Lavarnway said, explaining he did not have enough speed in the outfield.
He led the
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...
(NCAA) in
batting average (.467) and
slugging percentage (.873), setting Yale single-season records in those categories as well as in
home runs
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run ...
(14) and
runs batted in
A run batted in or runs batted in (RBI) is a statistic in baseball and softball that credits a batter for making a play that allows a run to be scored (except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play). For example, if th ...
(RBIs).
His 25-game
hitting streak set an Ivy League record, and he earned the G.H. Walker, Jr. Award for being the team's Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Following the college season, Lavarnway played for the
Manchester Silkworms in the
New England Collegiate Baseball League in the summer of 2007, batting .313 for the team. He was honored as a starter on the league All Star team, also competing in the
home run derby.
In 2008, his junior year, Lavarnway was the Ivy League's leader in home runs (13), RBIs (42),
walk
Walking (also known as ambulation) is one of the main gaits of terrestrial locomotion among legged animals. Walking is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined as an "inverted pendulum" gait in which the body vaults over ...
s (29), slugging percentage (.824), and
on-base percentage (.541). He also batted .398.
He missed the last 11 games of the year after breaking the
scaphoid bone in his left wrist while diving into
home plate in April.
Even though he missed some playing time, Lavarnway set the Ivy League record with 33 home runs during his time at Yale.
Lavarnway was a semi-finalist for the
Johnny Bench Award and the
Golden Spikes Award, in addition to being named Second-Team All-Ivy.
In 120 total games for Yale, he had a .384 batting average, 33 home runs, and 122 RBIs.
In 2012,
Craig Breslow (also
Jewish
Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
) and Lavarnway became the first Yale players to be Major League teammates since 1949, and the first All-Yale battery in the major leagues since 1883.
Lavarnway left the university 11 credits short of graduating, and wants to return to Yale to finish his philosophy degree.
Career
Boston Red Sox
2008–09
Lavarnway was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 6th round of the
2008 Major League Baseball Draft.
He signed for a $325,000
signing bonus
A signing bonus or sign-on bonus is a sum of money paid to a new employee (including a professional sports person) by a company as an incentive to join that company. They are often given as a way of making a compensation package more attractive ...
, though he vowed to later study the extra year he needed to complete his degree.
Once projected to be drafted higher, his status had fallen after he broke his left wrist in April 2008, causing him to more strongly consider remaining at Yale for his senior year. He played his first professional baseball for the
Lowell Spinners of the
Class A short season
New York-Penn League, batting .211 with two home runs and nine RBIs in 22 games.
In 2009, Lavarnway played for the
Greenville Drive in the Class A
South Atlantic League, with whom he started using a bigger bat. He hit 21 home runs (a team all-time record) and posted a .540 slugging percentage; in both these categories, he led all Red Sox minor league players. Additionally, he recorded 36 doubles (a team record), a league-leading 59
extra-base hits, and 87 RBIs (second in the league) in 404
at bat
In baseball, an at bat (AB) or time at bat is a batter's turn batting against a pitcher. An at bat is different from a plate appearance. A batter is credited with a plate appearance regardless of what happens upon completion of his turn at bat, ...
s.
2010
Lavarnway split 2010 between the
Salem Red Sox of the Class A+
Carolina League, and the
Portland Sea Dogs of the
Class AA Eastern League, combining for 22 home runs (second among Red Sox minor leaguers; his 14 homers in his Carolina League stint led the league), 102 RBIs (first in the Red Sox system, and 11th among all minor leaguers), and a .489 slugging percentage (tops among Red Sox minor leaguers) in 462 at bats.
He was a Carolina League Player of the Week (April 19), Mid-Season All Star, and Post-Season All Star. In the Eastern League, he won Player of the Week honors for the week ending August 30.
He was leading the league in homers, RBIs, and runs at the time of his promotion.
For 2010, he was named the Red Sox co-Minor League Offensive Player of the Year, along with first baseman
Anthony Rizzo.
He also threw out 33% of attempted base-stealers and was rated as the top Red Sox catching prospect by ''Baseball America''.
After the regular season ended, Lavarnway also played for the
Peoria Javelinas in the
Arizona Fall League (AFL). He was named an "AFL Rising Star" in November.
2011
Lavarnway started the 2011 season with Portland before getting promoted to the
Pawtucket Red Sox in the
Class AAA International League
The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major ...
on June 13. At Pawtucket, he batted third in the
lineup.
With Portland, he hit 14 home runs with a .510 slugging percentage in 208 at bats, and with Pawtucket he hit 18 home runs with a .612 slugging percentage in 227 at bats. That was good for a combined total of 30 home runs (tied for fourth-most in the minors) and 93 RBIs in 435 at bats.
Lavarnway was voted the International League Player of the Week for the week ending July 25 and received Topps Minor League Player of the Month honors for July.
''Baseball America'' named Lavarnway the best power prospect in the International League, and the Red Sox organization named him a co-winner of their Offensive Player of the Year award. Defensively, through mid-August he had made only one error behind the plate.
''Baseball America'' named him the catcher on its 2011 Minor League All-Star Team,
and MLB.com ranked him the No. 93 prospect in Major League Baseball.

In 2011, former major leaguer
Ken Ryan compared Lavarnway to
Mike Lieberthal, whose offensive ability was far ahead of his catching ability when he first made it to the major leagues, but who over time established himself as a defensive catcher as well. On August 18, Lavarnway was called up to the Red Sox.
[ He filled the roster spot of Kevin Youkilis, who went on the disabled list.] The next day, August 19, he collected his first career hit, a single off of Jeff Francis of the Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...
.
On September 27, with both Jason Varitek and Jarrod Saltalamacchia injured, Lavarnway started for the Red Sox and hit his first two major league home runs, recording four RBIs in a key 8–7 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Lavarnway became the third player in major league baseball history to hit two home runs in his first start at catcher, joining Bobby Pfeil (1971) and J. P. Arencibia (2010). In 17 games for Boston in 2011, Lavarnway batted .231 with nine hits, two home runs, and eight RBI.
2012
Entering the 2012 season, Lavarnway was named the No. 9 prospect in the Red Sox system by ''Baseball America''. That season, he was the International League All-Star starting catcher and also a post-season IL All-Star. In 83 games with Pawtucket, he batted .295 with eight home runs and 43 RBI.
On August 1, Lavarnway was called up from Pawtucket when Daniel Nava was placed on the 15-day disabled list. He remained with Boston the rest of the season, receiving regular playing time at catcher and also as a designated hitter
The designated hitter (DH) is a baseball player who bats in place of another position player, most commonly the pitcher. Unlike other players in a team's lineup, they generally only play as an offensive player and usually do not play defense as ...
. With the Red Sox and the Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. The Mariners compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. The team joined the American ...
tied at three runs apiece on September 4, Lavarnway hit a home run against Blake Beavan, providing the margin of victory in a 4–3 win that snapped a seven-game losing streak for Boston. On September 14, he had four RBIs, including a three-run home run against Aaron Laffey, as the Red Sox defeated the Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...
by a score of 8–5. Lavarnway played 46 games for the Red Sox in 2012, batting .157 with two home runs and 12 RBI. Though his caught stealing percentage was 32% at Pawtucket, it was 10% with Boston.
2013
On March 27, 2013, the Red Sox optioned Lavarnway to Pawtucket. Manager John Farrell said: "Right now he needs 'everyday' at-bats." Commenting on Lavarnway having been timed at 1.9 seconds throwing out a runner trying to steal second, Farrell said, "More than acceptable at the big league level." Lavarnway was recalled to Boston on April 25 but was optioned back on April 28 to make room for John Lackey's return from the disabled list without having made an appearance. Larvarnway was called up again on May 12 after David Ross was placed on the 7-day disabled list with a concussion. He appeared in three games this time before getting optioned to Pawtucket again on May 24.
He was called up for a third time on June 18 after Ross was again placed on the 7-day disabled list with a concussion. On August 6, while catching knuckleballer Steve Wright in his first major league start, Lavarnway tied a Major League record with four passed balls in one inning. The record was set by Ray Katt of the New York Giants in 1954, catching knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm, and tied by Gino Petralli of the Texas Rangers in 1987, catching knuckleballer Charlie Hough. Lavarnway was sent back to Pawtucket on August 19 when Ross returned from the disabled list, but it was only for a couple weeks before he was recalled in September as part of September call-ups. Overall in 2013, he batted .299 in 25 regular season games for Boston, with one home run and 14 RBI. With Pawtucket in 2013, he batted .250 with three home runs and 24 RBI. With Pawtucket, he threw out 18 of 45 attempted base stealers (40.0%), the 4th-best percentage among International League catchers. However, he only threw out 19% of would-be base stealers in the major leagues.
2014
In the spring of 2014 Lavarnway was tutored to play first base by infield instructor Brian Butterfield. Lavarnway started the 2014 season in Pawtucket, where he batted .265 with two home runs and 11 RBIs in 44 games before getting recalled by Boston on May 26. He started at first base for the first time in the major leagues on May 29 against the Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...
but left the game early with left wrist soreness. The next day, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list after an MRI revealed a broken hamate bone in the wrist. He had surgery to remove the hamate bone from his left wrist at the Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic is an American Nonprofit organization, nonprofit Academic health science center, academic Medical centers in the United States, medical center based in Cleveland, Ohio. Owned and operated by the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, an O ...
on June 4 and began a rehab assignment with Portland on July 21. Moved up to Pawtucket on July 25, Lavarnway was eventually optioned to Pawtucket, not rejoining the Red Sox until September. With Pawtucket, Lavarnway led the team to the International League title, earning Governor's Cup MVP honors after earning 10 hits in 22 at bats. Promoted by the Red Sox after Pawtucket's season ended, he appeared in five games, either as a pinch-hitter or as a first baseman. In nine games with Boston in 2014, Lavarnway had only 10 at bats, going hitless in them. His totals with Pawtucket were a .283 average, three home runs, and 20 RBIs in 62 games. After the season, he was designated for assignment on November 25.
Baltimore Orioles
The Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
claimed Lavarnway off waivers on December 5, 2014. Lavarnway was out of options, and therefore could not be sent to the minor leagues without first clearing waivers. However, he was designated for assignment, then claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...
on December 19, 2014. Four days later, however, the Cubs also put him on waivers.
Lavarnway changed teams again on December 23, when the Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...
– his fourth team in 18 days – claimed him off waivers from the Cubs. Lavarnway was again designated for assignment on January 9. He began the 2015 season on the Orioles' opening day roster. After appearing in only ten games, he was designated for assignment on May 26. Manager Buck Showalter said, "I just don't think Ryan's swing and the things that he's capable of doing are conducive to playing once a week," and indicated that he hoped Lavarnway would accept a Norfolk roster position. Instead, Lavarnway became a free agent. He had batted .107 in 10 games for Baltimore, with no home runs or RBI.
Atlanta Braves
On May 30, 2015, Lavarnway signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...
. Playing for the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves, in 49 plate appearances he recorded a .268 batting average/.388 on-base percentage/.463 slugging percentage with two home runs and eight RBIs. After playing 13 games for Gwinnett, he was called up to the majors on June 15 to replace the struggling Christian Bethancourt. With the Braves, he served as A. J. Pierzynski's backup. On July 11, his home run against Jorge de la Rosa accounted for half of Atlanta's scoring in a 3–2 loss to the Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. Th ...
. In 27 games for Atlanta, he batted .227 with two home runs and six RBIs. He was outrighted off the roster on October 9 but was re-signed to a minor league deal by the organization.
Invited to spring training
Spring training, also called spring camp, is the preseason of the Summer Professional Baseball Leagues, such as Major League Baseball (MLB), and it is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spri ...
with the Braves in 2016, Lavarnway failed to make the team and played for Gwinnett, batting .276 with no home runs and 10 RBIs in 25 games. Lavarnway was granted his release on May 15, allowing newly-acquired Anthony Recker to get more playing time with Gwinnett.
Toronto Blue Jays
On May 27, 2016, Lavarnway signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...
and was assigned to the Double–A New Hampshire Fisher Cats. In 66 games for New Hampshire, he batted .262/.357/.395 with six home runs and 38 RBI. Lavarnway elected free agency following the season on November 7.
Oakland Athletics
On November 21, 2016, Lavarnway signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
that included an invitation to spring training. He began the 2017 season playing for the Nashville Sounds of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. He was called up on July 5, appearing in one game before being sent outright back to Nashville on July 11. His contract was selected by the Athletics on July 27 when Josh Phegley went on the disabled list with an oblique injury. This time, he appeared in five games before being designated for assignment on August 5 after the A's added catcher Dustin Garneau. Lavarnway was outrighted to Nashville two days later. He batted .273 for the Athletics, recording three hits in 11 at bats. In 83 games for Nashville, he batted .239 with six home runs and 26 RBIs. He elected free agency after the season.
Pittsburgh Pirates
On January 22, 2018, Lavarnway signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central ...
. He was invited to spring training. Lavarnway began the 2018 season playing for the Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and play their home games at Victory ...
of the Class AAA International League, for whom he was a mid-season All Star. He hit .288/.375/.485 in 77 games for Triple-A Indianapolis, was called up to Pittsburgh on September 4, and had four hits in six at bats for the Pirates. He elected free agency on November 3.
New York Yankees
On November 7, 2018, Lavarnway signed a contract with the New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
, in which he was invited to spring training. In 2019 he played for their Triple–A affiliate, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, and batted .213/.333/.315 with three home runs and 19 RBI in 108 at bats. The team released him on July 18.
Cincinnati Reds
Just hours after his release from the Yankees, Lavarnway signed a one-year major league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. The following day on July 19, 2019, he became the first player with six RBI in his Reds debut since RBIs became an official statistic in 1920 and the first player ever to have three or more extra base hits and six or more RBI in his first game with any team (dating back to 1920). He was also the first Reds catcher to have three hits, two home runs, and six RBI in one game since Johnny Bench in 1973.[Justin Leger (July 19, 2019)]
"Former Red Sox catcher Ryan Lavarnway has historic night for Reds,"
''NBC Sports''. Retrieved May 29, 2020 Lavarnway would go on to play a total of five games for the Reds, batting .278 with two home runs and seven RBI. On July 28, Lavarnway was designated for assignment. The Reds subsequently sent him to their Triple–A affiliate, the Louisville Bats, where he batted .225/.319/.500 with three home runs and seven RBI in 40 at–bats before being released on August 29.
Cleveland Indians
On August 30, 2019, the Cleveland Indians signed Lavarnway to a minor league contract and assigned him to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They are located in Columbus, Ohio, and are named for speedy Merchant ship, merch ...
, wanting him to compete with Eric Haase for a promotion to the major leagues after the minor league season ended. Lavarnway played four games in the regular season for Columbus, batting .364/.429/.455 in 11 at bats. However, he never played a game for the Indians, as Cleveland chose to call up Haase instead. Lavarnway became a free agent following the season on November 4.
Miami Marlins
On December 18, 2019, Lavarnway signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins with an invitation to spring training. On August 3, 2020, Lavarnway was selected to the active roster. He was designated for assignment on August 21, and then outrighted by the Marlins to their alternate site. At the end of the regular season he was on the Marlins' 12-player " taxi squad". In the coronavirus-shortened 2020 regular season he batted .364/.364/.364 in 11 at bats. Lavarnway elected free agency on October 15, 2020.
Cleveland Indians (second stint)
On February 19, 2021, Lavarnway was signed to a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...
organization with an invitation to the Indians' 2021 major league spring training camp. He began the season with the Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They are located in Columbus, Ohio, and are named for speedy Merchant ship, merch ...
of the newly-formed Triple-A East. On June 17, the Indians selected Lavarnway's contract, adding him to their active roster. Lavarnway went 3-for-11 in four games with Cleveland before being designated for assignment on June 24. He was outrighted to Triple-A Columbus on June 28. The Indians selected Lavarnway's contract a second time on September 2, 2021. Lavarnway was designated for assignment on September 14, 2021, and subsequently outrighted to Columbus on September 17, 2021.
Lavarnway elected free agency on October 6, 2021.
Detroit Tigers
On March 14, 2022, Lavarnway signed a minor league deal with the Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...
. Playing for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens in 2022, he batted .281/.385/.459 in 146 at bats.
Miami Marlins (second stint)
On June 21, 2022, the Tigers traded Lavarnway to the Miami Marlins in exchange for cash considerations. He played for the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp of the International League. Between the two teams in 2022, he batted .245/.352/.417 in 278 at-bats with 11 home runs and 44 RBIs. Lavarnway elected free agency following the season on November 10.
On March 22, 2023, Lavarnway announced his retirement from professional baseball.
Team Israel; World Baseball Classic and Olympics
Lavarnway played for Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifier. Throughout the qualifier, Lavarnway was the starting catcher in all three games while also batting second in all games. In the opening game, Lavarnway went 3-for-4, while scoring a run and walking once, with his one out resulting in a double play. In the second game Lavarnway went hitless in three at bats, while walking once. In the third and final game, Lavarnway hit a two-run home run, as part of a 2-for-5 evening, scoring 2 runs and collecting 3 RBIs.
Lavarnway was the starting catcher for Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic in the main tournament, in March 2017. After # 41-ranked Israel defeated # 3-ranked South Korea and # 4-ranked Taiwan, Lavarnay noted: "two generations ago, the way that this team was put together would have meant that we were being killed...It means a lot more than that we're here." Lavarnway was named Pool A MVP, after going 5-for-9 (.556/.692/.889) a home run, 3 RBIs, and 4 walks. Over the two rounds that the team played, Lavarnway batted 8-for-18 (.565) with two doubles, a home run, and 6 RBIs, while walking 5 times.[Carl Steward (March 17, 2017)]
">"Team Israel star Ryan Lavarnway reveled in WBC experience"
''The Mercury News''. Retrieved May 29, 2020. Discussing the experience, he observed, "It changed how proud I am about being Jewish."
In November 2019, Lavarnway obtained Israeli citizenship, hoping to play for Team Israel in baseball at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
He played for Team Israel at the 2020 Summer Olympics
The officially the and officially branded as were an international multi-sport event that was held from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan, with some of the preliminary sporting events beginning on 21 July 2021. Tokyo ...
in Tokyo in the summer of 2021, and his slugging percentage of .700 was 5th-highest at the Olympic Games. He batted .350/.350/.700 in 20 at bats with three runs, two home runs, and three RBIs.
Lavarnway played for Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic in Miami, Florida, in March 2023. He played under manager Ian Kinsler, and alongside All Star outfielder Joc Pederson and pitcher Dean Kremer, among others.
Lavarnway played catcher for Team Israel in the 2023 European Baseball Championship in September 2023 in the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the south ...
.
Post-playing career
Starting in April 2023, Lavarnway has served as an On-Air Analyst covering the Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. Th ...
for AT&T SportsNet.
On August 23 and August 24, 2023, Lavarnway played for the Rocky Mountain Vibes of the Pioneer League. His appearances came as a "marketing player", which under Piooner League rules is allowed to play in no more than two games a month.
Lavarnway is currently a roving catching instructor for the Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...
.
Personal life
In 2013, Lavarnway married chef and food blogger Jamie Neistat, a Denver native who, like Lavarnway, is Jewish. Lavarnway and his wife go to synagogue regularly and live what he describes as a "Jewish lifestyle".[Yair Katan (November 14, 2016)]
"Mensch on the bench: Israel to play in World Baseball Classic,"
ynet. Retrieved May 28, 2020. "We are proud members of the Jewish community in the city," he says. His cousin, Emma, served in the Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; , ), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the national military of the State of Israel. It consists of three service branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and ...
. In 2020, Lavarnway was inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Lavarnway and his wife Jamie have one daughter, Blake Elizabeth, born on June 11, 2022.
See also
* List of Jewish Major League Baseball players
References
External links
Ryan Lavarnway
at SABR
Sabr () (literally 'endurance' or more accurately 'perseverance' and 'persistence'"Ṣabr", ''Encyclopaedia of Islam'') is one of the two parts of Iman (concept), faith (the other being ''shukr'') in Islam. It teaches to remain Spirituality, sp ...
Bio Project
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lavarnway, Ryan
1987 births
Living people
2017 World Baseball Classic players
2023 World Baseball Classic players
2023 European Baseball Championship players
American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela
Atlanta Braves players
Baltimore Orioles players
Baseball players at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Baseball players from Burbank, California
Boston Red Sox players
Bravos de Margarita players
Cincinnati Reds players
Cleveland Indians players
Columbus Clippers players
El Camino Real High School alumni
European Baseball Championship players
Greenville Drive players
Gulf Coast Red Sox players
Gwinnett Braves players
Indianapolis Indians players
Israeli baseball players
Jews from California
Jewish American baseball players
Lowell Spinners players
Major League Baseball catchers
Miami Marlins players
Nashville Sounds players
Oakland Athletics players
Olympic baseball players for Israel
Pawtucket Red Sox players
People from Woodland Hills, Los Angeles
Peoria Javelinas players
Pittsburgh Pirates players
Portland Sea Dogs players
Rocky Mountain Vibes players
Salem Red Sox players
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders players
Yale Bulldogs baseball players
21st-century American Jews