Stephen Ridings

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Stephen Ridings

|image = Stephen Ridings in 2021.png

|caption = Ridings with the New York Yankees

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|8|14}}

|birth_place = Commack, New York, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = August 3

|debutyear = 2021

|debutteam = New York Yankees

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate = August 15

|finalyear = 2021

|finalteam = New York Yankees

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 0–0

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 1.80

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 7

|teams =

New York Yankees ({{mlby|2021}})

}}

Stephen Thomas Ridings (born August 14, 1995) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees in 2021.

Career

=Amateur career=

Ridings attended St. Anthony's High School in South Huntington, New York,{{cite web |last=Lauterbach |first=Jordan |date=August 6, 2021 |title=LI native Stephen Ridings' longtime private pitching coach saw future greatness for the Yankee |url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/stephen-ridings-yankees-st-anthony-s-x52499 |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Newsday}} and played college baseball at Haverford College.{{cite web |date=August 8, 2017 |title=Haverford's Stephen Ridings Learning In Cubs Organization |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/haverfords-stephen-ridings-cubs/ |accessdate=2025-02-12 |work=CBS Local}}

=Chicago Cubs=

Ridings was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the eighth round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/cubs-draft-pick-stephen-ridings-started-his-journey-on-li-1.12053254|title=Stephen Ridings' journey from LI to the Cubs|website=Newsday|accessdate=August 28, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.registerguard.com/sports/20180628/eugene-emeralds-pitcher-stephen-ridings-rises-from-small-college-to-minor-leagues|title=Eugene Emeralds pitcher Stephen Ridings rises from small college to the minor leagues|first=Steve|last=Mims|website=The Register-Guard|date=June 28, 2018|accessdate=August 28, 2021}} Ridings made his professional debut in 2017 with the rookie-level Arizona League Cubs, logging a 4.09 ERA in 12 appearances. In 2018, Ridings played for the Low-A Eugene Emeralds, pitching to a 4.15 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 34.2 innings across 22 games.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=riding000ste|title = Stephen Ridings College & Minor Leagues Statistics & History}}

=Kansas City Royals=

On March 9, 2019, the Cubs traded Ridings to the Kansas City Royals for Donnie Dewees.{{Cite journal |date=March 11, 2019 |title=Stephen Ridings Traded to Kansas City Royals Organization |url=https://www.haverfordathletics.com/sports/bsb/2018-19/releases/20190311i4rufw |accessdate=August 28, 2021 |website=Haverford Athletics}} Ridings spent the 2019 season with the rookie-level Idaho Falls Chukars, but struggled to a 4-3 record and 5.91 ERA with 88 strikeouts in 13 games (11 of them starts). Ridings did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |last=Todd |first=Jeff |date=2020-06-30 |title=2020 Minor League Season Canceled |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/06/2020-minor-league-season-will-be-canceled.html |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}} On November 4, 2020, Ridings was released by the Royals organization.{{cite web |last=Hilburn-Trenkle |first=Chris |date=November 18, 2020 |title=Minor League Transactions |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-transactions-nov-2-16-2020/ |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Baseball America}}

=New York Yankees=

On January 18, 2021, Ridings signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees.{{cite web |last=Miller |first=Randy |date=May 5, 2021 |title=Stephen Ridings, Yankees' new 6-foot-8 flame thrower, opens eyes in Somerset Patriots' Opening Night win |url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2021/05/stephen-ridings-yankees-new-6-foot-8-flame-thrower-opens-eyes-in-somerset-patriots-opening-night-win.html |accessdate=August 28, 2021 |website=nj}} Ridings began the year with the Double-A Somerset Patriots, posting a 0.47 ERA in 14 appearances with the team before being promoted to Triple-A. On July 21, while pitching for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, he combined with Luis Gil and Reggie McClain to throw a no-hitter.{{Cite web |last=Harrigan |first=Thomas |date=2021-07-22 |title=Yanks' Triple-A affiliate throws no-hitter |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/scranton-wilkes-barre-throws-no-hitter |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=MLB.com |language=en-US}}

Ridings made his major league debut on August 3, 2021, in which he struck out three batters and allowed one hit. Luis Gil started the game and Brody Koerner also pitched. It was only the second time that three pitchers debuted in the same game for the Yankees, previously occurring on September 26, 1950.{{cite web |date=August 4, 2021 |title=Gil throws 6 scoreless in MLB debut, Yankees rout Orioles |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/gil-throws-6-scoreless-in-mlb-debut-yankees-rout-orioles/ |accessdate=August 28, 2021 |website=CBS Sports |agency=Associated Press}} Ridings pitched to a 1.80 ERA in five appearances with the big league club before being returned to Triple-A Scranton on August 17.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-17 |title=Yankees' Stephen Ridings: Heads back to minors |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/yankees-stephen-ridings-heads-back-to-minors/ |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=CBS Sports |language=en-US |agency=RotoWire}} The Yankees added Ridings to their 40-man roster after the 2021 season on November 19, 2021.{{cite web |author=Anderson |first=R.J. |date=2021-11-23 |title=Yankees release Clint Frazier, Rougned Odor; trade Tyler Wade to Angels in roster shakeup |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/yankees-designate-clint-frazier-rougned-odor-and-tyler-wade-for-assignment-as-part-of-roster-restructuring/ |accessdate=2022-08-26 |website=CBS Sports}}

Ridings began the 2022 season with a right shoulder impingement. He began throwing bullpen sessions in August,{{cite web |last=Kuty |first=Brendan |date=2022-08-13 |title=Yankees fireballing reliever making progress, could help late season |url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2022/08/yankees-fireballing-reliever-making-progress-could-help-late-season.html |accessdate=2022-08-26 |website=nj.com}} but never appeared in a game having spent the entire season on the injured list.

=New York Mets=

On November 15, 2022, the New York Mets claimed Ridings from the Yankees off of waivers.{{cite web |last=Kuty |first=Brendan |date=November 15, 2022 |title=Yankees lose righty pitching prospect to Mets |url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2022/11/yankees-lose-righty-pitching-prospect-to-mets.html |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=NJ.com}} On May 1, 2023, Ridings was placed on the 60-day injured list with a right lat strain that he had suffered in Spring Training.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-01 |title=Mets' Stephen Ridings: Shifts to 60-day IL |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mets-stephen-ridings-shifts-to-60-day-il/ |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=CBS Sports |language=en-US |agency=RotoWire}} On June 15, he was activated from the injured list and optioned to the Triple–A Syracuse Mets.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-15 |title=Mets' Stephen Ridings: Activated, optioned to Triple-A |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mets-stephen-ridings-activated-optioned-to-triple-a/ |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=CBS Sports |language=en-US |agency=RotoWire}} After posting a 6.75 ERA in 10 minor league games, on July 19, Ridings was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Syracuse.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-18 |title=Mets' Stephen Ridings: Sent outright to Triple-A |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mets-stephen-ridings-sent-outright-to-triple-a/ |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=CBS Sports |language=en-US |agency=RotoWire}} He was released by the Mets organization on July 30.{{cite web |date=2023-07-30 |title=Transactions |url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-07-30 |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=MiLB.com}}

=High Point Rockers=

On July 7, 2024, Ridings signed with the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{Cite web|title=Transactions|url=http://baseball.pointstreak.com/transactions.html?leagueid=174&seasonid=33927|access-date=July 8, 2024|website=baseball.pointstreak.com|language=en}} In 9 games (7 starts) for the Rockers, he posted a 1–0 record and 3.06 ERA with 41 strikeouts across {{fraction|32|1|3}} innings pitched. He became a free agent following the season.

=Los Angeles Dodgers=

On January 25, 2025, Ridings signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-25 |title=Transactions |url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2025-01-25 |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}} He appeared in one game for the AAA Oklahoma City Comets, allowing five runs on three hits and three walks, without recording an out. On May 6, he was placed on the voluntarily retired list.https://www.milb.com/transactions/2025-05-06/p-2

Personal life

After the 2020 minor league season was canceled, Ridings worked out on his own, paying the bills by selling sports equipment and teaching chemistry as a substitute teacher at the Palm Beach Maritime Academy in Lantana, Florida.{{cite web|author=Lou DiPietro |url=https://www.audacy.com/wfan/sports/yankees/stephen-ridings-dominates-in-mlb-debut-amid-family-tragedy |title=Stephen Ridings dominates in MLB debut amid family tragedy |publisher=Audacy.com |date=August 4, 2021 |accessdate=August 28, 2021}}{{Cite web |last=Monagan |first=Matt |date=2021-08-28 |title=The substitute teacher who throws 100 mph |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/the-substitute-teacher-who-joined-the-yankees |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=MLB.com |language=en-US}}