By Tyler Stark
Throughout the last decade, the Redwood baseball team has been incredibly successful. Ranger baseball has won at a high level and set the standard for excellence at Redwood. A massive reason for the Rangers success has to be attributed to the coaching staff.
Redwood’s coaching staff is incredibly deep; the Ranger staff currently has 4 coaches with professional baseball experience under their belt.
Ryan Blair has been the hitting coach for Redwood baseball since 2012. Blair was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 2008.
Blair says, “my playing career for the Cleveland Indians lasted three seasons. I was drafted out of Sacramento State and was immediately sent to short season A ball in Ohio for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. During my time with the Indians, I played at Low A (Lake County Captains), High A (Kinston Indians), and AAA (Columbus Clippers).”
When looking back at his playing career, one of Blair’s proudest accomplishments was proving his doubters wrong.
Blair says, “during my career I was able to accomplish my dream of being a professional baseball player and proving to all the coaches that doubted and questioned my abilities, stature, and athleticism, they were wrong. I also accomplished proving to myself that dedication, faith, and immense amounts of hard work can pay dividends in one’s ability to reach for lofty goals.”
Hunter Bryan graduated from Redwood in 2019 and was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 31st round of the MLB draft. Bryan says, “I have been coaching at Redwood since 2020, but helping out with the program for a while.” Bryan is currently in his second year of rookie ball with the Texas Rangers organization.
Bryan says, “I have really enjoyed bringing all the knowledge I’ve gathered from the pros and bringing that back to Redwood.”
Having someone who is currently playing pro ball is a huge asset for the team. Matt Rico is in his first year coaching for Redwood. Rico was drafted in the 6th round by the Tampa Bay Rays organization. Rico has two sons playing baseball for Redwood right now, he cites that as a motivation for coming to coach for the Rangers.
“The things that motivated me to coach at Redwood were just getting back on the baseball field, something I’ve missed for some time now. Redwood is where I have 2 boys playing and all of the other kids that I have coached in the past. So being able to come back and help and coach these kids is a treat.”
Every baseball player wants to make it to the big leagues all the way from the time they put on the jersey. Ranger pitching coach Chris Schwindon was able to achieve that goal.
Schwinden says, “I played seven years professionally. Getting to play with and against the best players in the game, being in a published book called Where Nobody Knows Your Name. Traveling to 90 percent of the United States and visiting parts of other countries. Receiving an award from my organization for pitching and playing in multiple all-star games were some of the many highs that I can think of. The lows were being away from home. Missing friends and families birthdays, weddings, and children being born. Being sent down from the Big Leagues. My last year of playing, coming to the realization of retiring.”
Schwinden’s experience at the highest level of the game makes him a great mentor for the guys who have ambitions of getting to play in the big leagues. Schwinden says while lots of guys have those high ambitions, they also have to stay focused on what’s currently in front of them. Schwinden says, “it’s good to have dreams, goals, and aspirations. However, don’t have your head in the clouds on pitching or hitting in the World Series, when you’re on the mound or in the batter’s box of a high school game. You can’t have one foot in high school and the other in college or the pro level.”
Tyler Stark
Tyler Stark ('24) is in his freshmen year, and this is his first year writing for the Redwood Gigantea. Tyler hopes to work for Sports Illustrated in the future. you can contact him by email with: tyler.st3800@vusd.us
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