In the Pros
Selected in the 15th round (456th overall) by the Kansas City Royals in the 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft
2007: Idaho Falls Chukars (Rookie Pioneer League)
2008: Burlington Bees (A Midwest League)
Honors and Awards
ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District V: 2007
Honorable Mention All-MVC: 2007
First Team Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete: 2006 and 2007
Troy Guidotti Hustle Award: 2007
Kirby Puckett Gold Glove: 2007
Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll: Fall 2004, Spring 2005, Fall 2005, Spring 2006, Fall 2006, Spring 2007
2007 at Bradley
Arguably the top defensive catcher in the Missouri Valley Conference, Eigsti also enjoyed a strong season at the plate by batting .291 with a pair of home runs and 34 runs batted in ... Threw out 16-of-47 potential base stealers and prevented more attempts just by the strength and accuracy of his arm.
2006 at Bradley
Started 49 games behind the plate for the Braves... Tied for the team lead in triples with three... Threw out 36 of the 63 runners who tried to steal against him... In the February 26 game against Tennessee-Martin, Eigsti drove in three runs, including a two -run triple during the Braves 14-6 victory.
2005 at Bradley
Despite splitting time behind the plate with Brad Canada, Eigsti shared the team lead with four home runs ... Threw out 13 of the 47 runners who tried to steal against him ... The Braves were 19-13 in Eigsti’s 32 starts last season and the pitching staff boasted a 3.34 earned run average with three shutouts ... His first career home run was a grand slam in a 10-5 win March 3 at Missouri State.
High School
Eigsti helped Eureka to the 2004 IHSA Class A state tournament ... A first-team all-state selection, Eigsti was a McDonald’s All-Star and played in the Illinois Baseball Coaches All-Star Game ... Named the area 2004 Player of the Year by both the Peoria Journal Star and Bloomington Pantagraph.
Personal
Eigsti’s brother, Jake, is a senior on the Indiana State baseball team.
Full Name: Ryan David Eigsti
Birthdate: Aug. 24, 1985
Birthplace: Peoria, Ill.
Parents: Howard & Jayme Eigsti
Major: Construction
High School Coach: Bob Gold
