Skip To Main Content

Radford University Athletics

Home Of The RadFord Highlanders RadFord Highlanders
Meisinger-20160426
Delmarva Shorebirds

Baseball

A CONVERSATION WITH RYAN MEISINGER



RADFORD, Va. – We continue our weekly conversation around the Radford in the Pros diamond as the Highlanders currently have six players scattered throughout Minor League Baseball. This week, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications Jordan Childress caught up with former Radford closer, Ryan Meisinger.

Meisinger is currently with the Delmarva Shorebirds, a Single-A Affliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The Shorebirds are a member of the South Atlantic League. The Orioles selected Meisinger with the 343rd pick in the 11th round of the 2015 MLB June Amateur Draft.

During his three-year career as a Highlander, Meisinger became one of the most dominate closers in program and Big South history. Meisinger finished his career with a 12-1 record and 22 saves in 65 games. The righty is the program's all-time leader in ERA, finishing with a 2.60 mark. Meisinger's 22 saves rank second all-time. The historic 2015 campaign saw Meisinger lead the country with 17 saves.

After being drafted, Meisinger appeared in 18 games across two different levels, commanding a 1.99 ERA and saving eight games in nine opportunities. The righty punched out 33 batters in 22.2 innings pitched, holding opposing batters to a .188 average.

The 2016 season has seen Meisinger appear in five games, holding a 0-1 record with one save. In 7.2 innings pitched, Meisinger has struck-out 12 batters, while only allowing one earned run.

Jordan Childress: Take me through your first spring training. Highlight the differences between professional and college baseball.

Ryan Meisenger: I got invited to early camp, so I went down about a week and a half to two weeks earlier than everybody else. There were around 30 to 35 guys, which was nice because I had a chance to get acclimated to the hotel and daily routine. Spring training is more relaxed, very similar to the regular season. We have to get up early. Reporting time for the Orioles is 7 a.m. I would get up around 6:15 a.m. If I wanted to lift one morning, I would get up earlier. We would get breakfast and attend meetings on how to handle media interviews and managing social media. After that is over, I start my normal routine and once games started, days would get longer. If you were on the travel roster for a game, sometimes your day would not end until around 4:30 p.m., especially if it was a road game. We do get a good amount of down time. Some camp days would be for us to go in, get our work done and leave. The Orioles camp is stationed in Sarasota, Fla., which is nice because of the beaches and there is a lot of cool stuff to do.

JC: What would you say was your favorite part of spring training this year?

RM: I think my favorite part of spring training was getting to know the older guys in the organization, while getting to hang out with Jeff Kemp a lot. I got to meet Matt Wieters and Chris Davis. I really enjoyed hanging out with the older guys and getting some advice from them. It was really neat to get to know them after watching them on television.

JC: Can you talk about some of the differences between Radford when you knew that if the game was close you were going in, versus pro ball where you can be used in the sixth through ninth innings, three to four days in a row?

RM: Right now in Delmarva, it's a little different because everyone needs innings right away. So in the next couple weeks, everybody will fall into a role. We have two closers, which is something you have to have in a minor league season. Another guy and myself will primarily close, in addition to a couple of setup guys. It's definitely a grind. I think this month we have one off day, so it's different because there is a lot more significance on strength and conditioning to stay healthy throughout the season. But I think it's more mental than anything. We have to be ready to pitch every day and if you need a day, then you take a day. For the most part, my arm is able to bounce back pitching back-to-back days. I was able to do that at the end of my Radford career.

JC: Being a Maryland kid and getting drafted by the Baltimore Orioles, take me through your emotions after being selected? Not many players get the opportunity to play professional baseball close to home.

RM: Well going into the draft I had been in contact with the Orioles and a couple other teams, so I didn't really know what was going to happen or where I was going to end up. But when I got the call from the Orioles, it was like everything I could have dreamed of. I am close to home now and my family can come watch me. A lot of my family are Orioles' fans.

JC: What was your first welcome to pro ball moment?

RM: It was my first day with the Aberdeen Ironbirds in 2015. I had just got in and my coach did not want me to pitch that night, because I traveled all day. The next night, I got my first save and went back into the clubhouse pumped up. Before I had the chance to put my stuff down, three guys were called into the manager's office and were released on the spot. I was putting my stuff in the lockers that they were cleaning out. The three guys were calling their agents to see what options they had. It was one of the first moments where I realized you have to fight for your job every day.

JC: Tell me about some of the people you have met in the Baltimore organization?

RM: When I first got to Aberdeen, Dan Duquette, came down to meet with some of the higher draft picks. He talked with me for 10 to 15 minutes, which was pretty cool. The Ironbirds hosted the New York-Penn League All-Star Game in 2015 and I was fortunate enough to be selected to participate. I was invited to a luncheon at Camden Yards where I met several of the Orioles' front office staff. At bible study during spring training is where I met Davis and Wieters, in addition to Darren O'Day and Kevin Gausman. I was able to talk with Darren for 15 minutes after bible study.

JC: Who is the toughest batter you faced in your three years at Radford?

RM: Early in my career, I struggled pitching to Alex Close from Liberty. He was the closest thing to a complete hitter. Josh Greene from High Point is also another one I would throw in there.

JC: Who is the toughest professional batter you have faced?

RM: In spring training, I was on the Orioles Advanced-A squad and we only really played three different teams. Boston's Andrew Benintendi and Yoan Moncada were tough inside the box.

JC: What are some of the things you took away from the Radford coaching staff?

RM: I think one of the things I took away from Coach McQueen was how consistent you have to be on the mound, especially as a bullpen pitcher. Coach Raccuia and myself became very close. I valued how professional he was...he knew the difference on when to joke around and when to be serious.

JC: Is there anything you want to add about the differences between college and professional baseball?

RM: There are a lot of differences, especially in the amount of games played. In college, we played 56 games and full season minor league teams play 140 games. The travel can wear on you, but we do get to travel to some really cool places. It was a big transition, but baseball is my job now and there is nothing better than getting paid to play the game I love.  

Radford baseball fans in the New River Valley will have an opportunity to catch Meisinger in Greensboro, N.C. and Charleston, W.Va., this summer.

Delmarva will take on the Greensboro Grasshoppers: May 23-25, June 2-4, August 16-18 and August 30-September 1.

The Shorebirds will travel to the West Virginia Power: June 6-8, July 28-31 and August 11-14.

For more on the Shorebirds and Meisinger, click here.

For the latest on Radford Athletics, please subscribe to our weekly newsletter, Highlander Happenings.

 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Ryan Meisinger

#23 Ryan Meisinger

RHP
6' 4"
Junior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Ryan Meisinger

#23 Ryan Meisinger

6' 4"
Junior
R/R
RHP
Skip To Footer