Ryan Madson

Ryan Michael Madson (born August 28, 1980) is an American former professional baseball pitcher.

He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, Washington Nationals, and Los Angeles Dodgers.

He graduated from Valley View High School in 1998 with a 3.5 GPA.

He committed to play college baseball for USC.

His uncle, Steve Barr, played for the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers.

The Philadelphia Phillies selected Madson in the ninth round (254th overall) of the 1998 Major League Baseball draft.

He made his major league debut in 2003.

In 2005, he finished with a 4.14 earned run average in 87 innings.

The Phillies converted him back to a starting pitcher, the role he held throughout his minor league career in 2006.

Madson won World Series championships with the Phillies in 2008 and the Royals in 2015.

He is second all-time in postseason pitching appearances; only Mariano Rivera has pitched in more postseason games.

Madson throws three types of fastballs.

His four-seamer and sinker both average 95 miles per hour.

He also throws a cut fastball that averages 93 mph, and a circle changeup around 85 mph.

Madson was born in Long Beach, California.

By 2008 Madson had become part of the "bridge to Lidge (closer Brad Lidge)", developing into an outstanding set-up man.

With a devastating changeup, Madson found increased velocity, hitting as high as 97 miles per hour in the NLCS.

Madson earned his first playoff victory when the Phillies defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the 2008 NLCS.

He pitched 1 2⁄3 innings, striking out one while allowing one hit and one walk.

When Brad Lidge was placed on the disabled list on June 9, 2009, Ryan Madson was the Phillies' choice for interim closer.

Madson got his first save in his new role on June 10, 2009, against the New York Mets.

In Game 6 of the 2010 National League Championship Series, Madson was the losing pitcher when he gave up a solo home run to Juan Uribe in the eighth inning of a 3–2 loss to the San Francisco Giants.

Madson began the 2011 season once again as the Phillies' main set-up reliever.

However, with Lidge and José Contreras on the disabled list in May 2011, Madson was chosen to close for the Phillies.

, Madson converted 23 saves in 25 opportunities and retained the closer role even after Lidge returned from the DL in July.

Madson finished the season with 32 saves, 62 strikeouts, and an ERA of 2.37.

A free agent, Madson was close to negotiating a four-year, $44 million contract to remain with the Phillies, but Phillies general manager Rubén Amaro, Jr. reneged on the verbal agreement and instead signed Jonathan Papelbon to a four-year $50 million deal to replace Madson as the team's closer.

During the 2011–12 offseason, Madson agreed to a one-year $8.5 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds.

Before the end of spring training, Madson had a torn ligament in his right elbow, requiring Tommy John surgery, and missed the entire 2012 season.

He never pitched for the Reds, as he declined his option on October 31 and became a free agent.

On November 28, 2012, Madson agreed to a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

He began the 2013 season on the 15-day disabled list as he attempted to recover from the Tommy John surgery.

Later in the season, the Angels transferred Madson to the 60-day disabled list.

He was released on August 5 without appearing in a game.

Madson tried out with several teams in January 2014 but received no minor league deals from them, so he retired.

Madson had become a youth baseball coach in California after his retirement, and in 2014, he received a call from Kansas City Royals executive Jim Fregosi Jr., asking Madson to tutor a high school pitcher.

Working with the student inspired Madson to return to MLB, and he contacted Fregosi again that winter.

On January 4, 2015, the Royals signed Madson to a minor league contract that included an invitation to spring training.

Madson was the last player added to the Royals' 25-man roster, beating out Brian Flynn for the final bullpen position in a decision that manager Ned Yost called "the hardest ... I think I've ever had to make".

He made his first major league appearance in over three years on April 6, 2015, pitching a scoreless ninth inning in the Royals' 10-1 Opening Day defeat of the Chicago White Sox.