On Friday, Ryan Minor, the ex-Baltimore Orioles infielder, passed away at 49 after a prolonged struggle with cancer. Notably recognized for his place in baseball history, Minor holds the distinction of being the first player to replace the iconic Cal Ripken Jr. after Ripken’s remarkable streak of 2,632 consecutive games played.
“After a brave and determined struggle, I regret to announce that Ryan succumbed to cancer this afternoon,” stated Damon. “He was genuinely the finest twin brother one could wish for. His family and I extend our gratitude to everyone for the prayers and support offered during this challenging time.”
The Orioles and Oklahoma, where Minor attended college, issued statements to pay tribute to their former player.
Minor excelled as a two-sport athlete at the University of Oklahoma, making significant contributions to both the men’s basketball and baseball teams. In the 1996 NBA Draft, he was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers, and simultaneously, the Orioles drafted him in the 1996 MLB Draft.
Initially pursuing a career in the NBA, Minor eventually shifted his focus to baseball. He received an invitation to the Orioles’ spring training in 1997 and made his debut in the major leagues in 1998. Just a week after this debut, on September 20, Minor earned the starting position ahead of Ripken Jr.
Minor’s professional career spanned four seasons, with three seasons played with the Orioles and one with the Montreal Expos. Throughout his career, he accumulated a batting average of .177, hitting five home runs and recording 27 RBIs across 142 games.
