Ryan Pressly

Pressly attended American Heritage Academy in Carrollton, Texas, for his first three years of high school. He starred as a pitcher and shortstop for the school's baseball team, leading the conference in 23 different offensive categories.[1] As the school considered ending its baseball program, Pressly transferred to Edward S. Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas, for his senior year.[1][2] In addition to baseball, Pressly played American football as a defensive back. During a football game, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee when he was tackled following an interception. His knee required surgery, jeopardizing his baseball career.[1]

Pressly committed to attend Texas Tech University after receiving a scholarship to play college baseball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball team.[1]

The Boston Red Sox drafted Pressly in the 11th round, with the 354th overall selection, of the 2007 MLB Draft.[2] Pressly signed with Boston for a $100,000 signing bonus rather than attend college.[1][3] Pressly worked as a starting pitcher for the Red Sox in minor league baseball, but was converted into a relief pitcher in 2012. As a relief pitcher for the Portland Sea Dogs of the Class AA Eastern League, he pitched to a 2.93 earned run average with 21 strikeouts in ​27 ²⁄₃ innings pitched.[4]

After the 2012 season, the Minnesota Twins selected Pressly from the Red Sox in the Rule 5 draft.[4] Pressly made the Twins' Opening Day roster.[5][6] He made his major league debut on April 4, pitching a scoreless inning, in which he struck out Torii Hunter.[7] Pressly appeared in 49 games, going 3-3.

Pressly has played for the Twins for six years as of 2018, as a relief pitcher. He had a stint in the minor leagues in 2014 and a few brief ones in 2015 and 2017 as well. He appeared in 72 games in 2016, compiling a 6-7 record with a 3.70 ERA.

In 2017 he was 2-3 with a 4.70 ERA in 57 relief appearances.

The Twins traded Pressly to the Houston Astros for minor leaguers Jorge Alcalá and Gilberto Celestino on July 27, 2018.[8] In 26 regular season games pitched with the Astros, Pressly had a 0.77 ERA and walked only three batters. Houston's focus on analytics has largely been credited for his post-trade success.[9]

Before the 2019 season, Pressly signed a two-year contract extension with the Astros worth $17.5 million.[10] In 2019 he was 2-3 with three saves and a 2.32 ERA in 55 relief appearances in which he pitched ​54 ¹⁄₃ innings and struck out 72 batters (11.9 per 9 innings), and tied for the major league lead in holds (31).[11]