Ryan Spilborghs

Lore & Background

Spilborghs played college ball at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he was all Big West Conference in 2001. After that season, he played summer league baseball for the Madison Mallards of the Northwoods League, later becoming the first ever Mallard alum to play in the majors. He was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 7th round of the 2002 MLB draft. Between 2002 and 2005, he played for the Tri-City Dust Devils, Asheville Tourists, Visalia Oaks, and Tulsa Drillers.

He made his Major League debut for the Rockies on July 16, 2005, against the Cincinnati Reds and recorded his first hit in that game, a single to right field off of Todd Coffey. That was the only game he played in for the Rockies that year, spending the rest of the year in AAA with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, where he hit .338 in 68 games. He rejoined the Rockies in 2006 and hit his first home run on May 29 off of Jim Brower of the San Diego Padres.

He began the 2007 season at Triple-A with the Sky Sox, after being beaten out for a roster spot by veteran Steve Finley. After Finley was released by the Rockies, Spilborghs returned to the team. In 2008, he made the team from spring training, serving as the fourth outfielder. On August 24, 2009, in the 14th inning against the San Francisco Giants with the Rockies down 4–2, Spilborghs homered off pitcher Merkin Valdéz for the first walk-off grand slam in Rockies history.

This solo Rockies record was held for over 11 years until Charlie Blackmon, also wearing jersey number 19, hit a walk-off grand slam against the Los Angeles Angels on September 11, 2020. On December 12, 2011, Spilborghs was non-tendered by the Rockies and became a free agent. He signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians on January 20, 2012. He failed to make the team and was assigned to the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, where he hit .250 in 21 games.

On May 4, 2012, Spilborghs was traded to the Texas Rangers organization for cash considerations and played for the Triple-A Round Rock Express. In 103 games with Round Rock, he hit .295. On December 6, 2012, he agreed to a one-year contract with the Saitama Seibu Lions of the Japanese Pacific League.

Reader's Guide

Spilborghs' walk-off grand slam on August 24, 2009, was the first in Rockies history. This record was held for over 11 years until Charlie Blackmon hit a walk-off grand slam on September 11, 2020.