Ryan Vilade #26

His father James, played collegiately at Baylor University before beginning a coaching career that included stops with the Texas Rangers organization and Oklahoma State University under head coach Josh Holliday, brother of former Cardinals outfielder Matt Holiday…James’ involvement in the game led to several opportunities for Ryan, who worked as a bat boy for the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders and practiced with Rangers Minor Leaguers, including a then-19-year-old Elvis Andrus...He spent three years at Frisco High School before transferring to Stillwater (Okla.) High School for his senior year, following his father, who had taken the job at Oklahoma State…Stillwater is the same high school attended by Matt Holliday and both of his sons, Jackson and Ethan...In 2014, his father founded the Keeper of the Game Foundation to help share the game of baseball with children who have disabilities…James was inspired to create the foundation when his wife, Jennifer, an elementary school special education teacher, connected him with a student who used prosthetic legs and dreamed of playing in the Majors…Ryan has been heavily involved in the foundation since the start, volunteering at clinics, helping raise money and acquiring memorabilia to auction off to support fundraising efforts…because Keeper of the Game works in conjunction with other foundations such as Miracle League, Angel League and Little League Challenger, he has found ways to stay involved with the local community at every stop of his career.

2025

Opened the season in the Cardinals system, appearing in seven games after his contract was selected May 31…was designated for assignment June 12 before being claimed off waivers by the Reds June 14 and optioned to Triple-A Louisville…was recalled June 25 and made one appearance with Cincinnati, coming on as a defensive replacement in left field on June 27 vs. SD…optioned July 4 and spent the remainder of the season in the Minors...In eight Major League games, went 1-for-13 (.077) with two BB…logged his lone hit on June 8 vs. LAD, a ninth-inning single off Michael Kopech...Did not commit an error over 21 total chances across four appearances (three starts) in right field and three in left field...Combined to hit .290 (115-for-397) with 29 2B, four 3B, 17 HR, 66 RBI, 11 SB and 75 R over 113 games between Triple-A Memphis and Triple-A Louisville…tallied his third multi-homer game in the Minors Aug. 7 vs. Toledo...The Reds traded him to the Rays in exchange for cash considerations Nov. 3.

2024

Signed by the Tigers as a Minor League free agent, Nov. 21, 2023. Began the season in Toledo (AAA) and made it to the Major League roster on May 7, a span of 957 days between MLB games, last playing on Sept. 23, 2021 with the Rockies...Was 2-for-3 with his first Major League hits and established his career-high with three RBI vs. CLE (5/7). First hit was an RBI single off Pedro Avila...Hit his first Major League home run vs. LAD (7/13) at Comerica Park off Justin Wrobleski, a solo home run in the fifth inning as the Tigers rallied with seven runs over the final two innings for an 11-9 walk-off win in 10 innings...Started games in left and right field and appeared at all three outfield positions and first base in Detroit, posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage over 35 total chances and 128.1 innings.

2023

Spent the entire 2023 season with Triple A Indianapolis, playing in 122 games...Hit .304/.433/.456 with five doubles, two triples, one home run and 13 RBI in 23 games during June...Had a five-hit game on Sept. 19 vs. Rochester, going 5-for-6 with a double and four RBI...Slashed .325/.373/.481 with seven doubles, a triple, a home run and 14 RBI in 19 games in September.

2022

Hit a combined .251 (95-for-379) with 16 doubles, four triples, six home runs and 41 RBI in 102 games between Albuquerque (Rockies’ Triple-A) and the Arizona Complex League Rockies (rehab)… Homered twice on 6/15 vs. Salt Lake; his first time to go deep for the season… Went 14-for-29 (.483) with two doubles, three home runs and eight RBI in a seven-game stretch from 6/15-22…Was placed on the injured list on 6/26 (retro to 6/25)…Began a three-game rehab assignment with the Arizona Complex League Rockies on 7/26…Was reinstated from the injured list on 7/31…Homered in his return from the injured list on 7/31 vs. Las Vegas…Hit safely in six straight games from 8/21-27…Made 64 appearances (63 starts) in right field, 20 appearances (20 starts) in left field and 13 appearances (12 starts) in right field with Albuquerque.

2021

Had his contract selected on Sept. 18, his first time on a Major League active roster, and made his debut as the starting left fielder that night at Washington (0-for-4, BB)... Appeared in three games and did not record a hit before being optioned on Sept. 24... Logged 117 games with Triple-A Albuquerque, batting .284 (133-for-468) with 28 doubles, five triples, seven home runs, 44 RBI and 12 stolen bases... Led Triple-A West with 82 runs scored, was third in hits and ranked sixth in doubles... Represented the Rockies’ organization in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, going 0-for-2 as the starting DH.. Played for Salt River in the Arizona Fall League … slashed .253/.344/.304 over 23 games … named to the AFL Fall Stars Game...Was a non-roster invitee to Rockies Spring Training … appeared in 27 games slashing .385/.400/.785.

2020

Did not play due to the COVID-19 pandemic...Attended his first Major League Spring Training and went 2-for-12 (.167) with three walks, four strikeouts and one stolen base.