Ryan Boldt (baseball)

Career

Boldt is naturally left-handed, but taught himself to throw with his right arm after having surgery to repair a broken radial head in his left elbow at the age of 10. He attended Red Wing High School in Red Wing, Minnesota, where he played for the school's baseball team. He joined the varsity team in his sophomore season, but required further surgeries on his arm. In the fall of 2012, Boldt was named the most valuable player of the Perfect Game High School All-American Classic, and competed on the United States national baseball team in the 2012 18U Baseball World Championship, winning the gold medal. He suffered a partial tear in the meniscus of his right knee in the first game of his senior season, causing him to miss the remainder of the year. The Boston Red Sox selected him in the 22nd round, with the 653rd selection, of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft. Though the Red Sox flew Boldt to Boston in an attempt to sign him, Boldt opted not to sign, and instead enrolled at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln to play college baseball for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Boldt serves as the leadoff hitter for the Cornhuskers. In 2015, his sophomore year, he was named to the All-Big Ten Conference's second team. That summer, he was named an All-Star in the Cape Cod Baseball League. In 2016, Boldt was named to the Golden Spikes Award watch list, and ranked as one of the best prospects available in the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. However, he slumped in the 2016 season, batting .208 over his last 25 games.

The Tampa Bay Rays selected Boldt in the second round of the 2016 draft. Boldt signed with the Rays, and began his professional career with the Hudson Valley Renegades of the Class A-Short Season New York-Penn League. He finished the 2016 season batting .218 in 43 games.

Personal life

Boldt has three older siblings. His cousin, Pat Kelly, also played baseball for the Cornhuskers now plays in the Minnesota Twins Organization.