A Baseball Journey: the Ryan Frederick Story
2/27/2014 8:53:00 AM | Baseball
STATESBORO, Ga. - A college baseball team's roster is made of up to 35 student-athletes. Some join the team out of high school, others transfer in from junior colleges after spending two seasons honing their skills, but for others it isn't as simple.
For one member of the Georgia Southern Baseball team his path to joining the team is best described as a journey; one that led him from high school, to SCAD, to out of baseball, to bagging groceries and finally to the mound at Georgia on Sunday of this season's opening weekend.
Ryan Frederick was recruited as a walk-on out of Effingham County High School by Georgia Southern but chose to sign a letter of intent with Savannah College of Art & Design in Savannah.
"I went to SCAD because I liked the degrees they offered, the coaches and the school in general," Frederick said about his choice of schools.
Before having an opportunity to even complete his first year of classes, SCAD announced on Jan. 23, 2012 that they were discontinuing the baseball program. That was not the only bad news he got that season. Ryan also found out that he would need Tommy John surgery and would miss most of his freshman season.
"I was in the best situation out of everyone on the team. It messed up most of the other players – the juniors and seniors. They didn't get to play their last year and were too far into their major to transfer," said Frederick.
Left with no team to play for he transferred to Georgia Southern University in the fall of 2012 and started his rehab hoping to have a chance to play baseball once again. In the meantime, he started a part-time job bagging groceries at Harveys Supermarket. Ironically enough the grocery store was located across the street from J.I. Clements Stadium, where he hoped to take the mound the following year.
"It was a lot different. I had to get a job because my parents didn't want me to sit around and do nothing. Being a regular student was not as fun," said Frederick, but he was determined to get back on the mound. "Every time someone came through the line with Georgia Southern baseball gear on. I would be like, 'Hey I am trying out next year.' They didn't believe me."
Rehabbing the injury was not easy.
"I didn't know if I was going to be able to play baseball again. I had a bump in the road along my rehab and from my elbow down it was numb because of a nerve moving out of place. It was scary but after two weeks of rest I got over it," said Frederick.
"It was different for him rehabbing then a guy in our program, who has access to the training room and somebody to throw with everyday, coming off Tommy John. Ryan was probably in a situation there for a while where he was doing all that on his own. It says a lot about him to come back from that injury," said Head Coach Rodney Hennon.
Ready to pitch again, Ryan visited his former high school and Head Coach and former Eagle Brett Griffin.
"I went home and threw a bullpen session for my high school coach, and he put in a good word for me with coach Hennon," said Frederick.
Hennon not only had Griffin to rely on but former SCAD pitching coach and former Eagle Brett Lewis.
"We had seen him a little bit out of high school and knew that he had a good arm before the injury," said Hennon. "We had two great resources to talk to about Ryan and get a feel for him as far as his make up and work ethic. They all had great things to say about him."
After making those calls, Hennon invited Ryan to try out for the team in the fall and the coaching staff liked what they saw.
"He got an opportunity to come out in the fall after we talked to him. He showed us this fall pretty early on that he recovered and his arm strength was good. The more he pitched this fall and coming on in to January you could see him progress," said Hennon.
Ryan made the team and was a part of the squad's opening day roster. He could not have been more happy to have a chance to take the mound again.
"It is great. I wouldn't change anything. I am hungry. I am excited to be out here everyday," said Fredrick.
Three years and two months after signing a NLI to play baseball for SCAD, Ryan found himself on the mound at Georgia making his first start as an Eagle.
"I didn't expect that opportunity at all," said Frederick about being named the Sunday starter. "I would be happy coming in here and just getting my innings, trying to contribute as much as I can and working hard to try to earn a spot next year. Stepping on the mound and competing in games like that is what I do it for."
Ryan helped the Eagles take their second-straight weekend series from the Bulldogs and threw 2.2 innings and allowed two runs on four hits in his first career start. He picked up his first career win last Sunday after holding Maryland-Eastern Shore to one run on five hits.
"He loved being out there. He was in a situation not knowing if he was going to make the roster or not, but just had an opportunity," said coach Hennon. "I think he really enjoyed being back out on the baseball field. It was evident with Ryan ever since day one that he has been in our program, that he is one of those guys that brings energy down with him everyday and has a positive attitude. That is contagious within the team."
Frederick and the Eagles are set to host Ohio and Southern Illinois Edwardsville this weekend. The Eagles will face Ohio Friday at 6 p.m., SIUE Saturday at 5 p.m. and again Sunday at 1:30 p.m. GSU wraps up the weekend with a 5 p.m. contest against Ohio on Sunday.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics and twitter.com/GSAthletics.
For one member of the Georgia Southern Baseball team his path to joining the team is best described as a journey; one that led him from high school, to SCAD, to out of baseball, to bagging groceries and finally to the mound at Georgia on Sunday of this season's opening weekend.
Ryan Frederick was recruited as a walk-on out of Effingham County High School by Georgia Southern but chose to sign a letter of intent with Savannah College of Art & Design in Savannah.
"I went to SCAD because I liked the degrees they offered, the coaches and the school in general," Frederick said about his choice of schools.
Before having an opportunity to even complete his first year of classes, SCAD announced on Jan. 23, 2012 that they were discontinuing the baseball program. That was not the only bad news he got that season. Ryan also found out that he would need Tommy John surgery and would miss most of his freshman season.
"I was in the best situation out of everyone on the team. It messed up most of the other players – the juniors and seniors. They didn't get to play their last year and were too far into their major to transfer," said Frederick.
Left with no team to play for he transferred to Georgia Southern University in the fall of 2012 and started his rehab hoping to have a chance to play baseball once again. In the meantime, he started a part-time job bagging groceries at Harveys Supermarket. Ironically enough the grocery store was located across the street from J.I. Clements Stadium, where he hoped to take the mound the following year.
"It was a lot different. I had to get a job because my parents didn't want me to sit around and do nothing. Being a regular student was not as fun," said Frederick, but he was determined to get back on the mound. "Every time someone came through the line with Georgia Southern baseball gear on. I would be like, 'Hey I am trying out next year.' They didn't believe me."
Rehabbing the injury was not easy.
"I didn't know if I was going to be able to play baseball again. I had a bump in the road along my rehab and from my elbow down it was numb because of a nerve moving out of place. It was scary but after two weeks of rest I got over it," said Frederick.
"It was different for him rehabbing then a guy in our program, who has access to the training room and somebody to throw with everyday, coming off Tommy John. Ryan was probably in a situation there for a while where he was doing all that on his own. It says a lot about him to come back from that injury," said Head Coach Rodney Hennon.
Ready to pitch again, Ryan visited his former high school and Head Coach and former Eagle Brett Griffin.
"I went home and threw a bullpen session for my high school coach, and he put in a good word for me with coach Hennon," said Frederick.
Hennon not only had Griffin to rely on but former SCAD pitching coach and former Eagle Brett Lewis.
"We had seen him a little bit out of high school and knew that he had a good arm before the injury," said Hennon. "We had two great resources to talk to about Ryan and get a feel for him as far as his make up and work ethic. They all had great things to say about him."
After making those calls, Hennon invited Ryan to try out for the team in the fall and the coaching staff liked what they saw.
"He got an opportunity to come out in the fall after we talked to him. He showed us this fall pretty early on that he recovered and his arm strength was good. The more he pitched this fall and coming on in to January you could see him progress," said Hennon.
Ryan made the team and was a part of the squad's opening day roster. He could not have been more happy to have a chance to take the mound again.
"It is great. I wouldn't change anything. I am hungry. I am excited to be out here everyday," said Fredrick.
Three years and two months after signing a NLI to play baseball for SCAD, Ryan found himself on the mound at Georgia making his first start as an Eagle.
"I didn't expect that opportunity at all," said Frederick about being named the Sunday starter. "I would be happy coming in here and just getting my innings, trying to contribute as much as I can and working hard to try to earn a spot next year. Stepping on the mound and competing in games like that is what I do it for."
Ryan helped the Eagles take their second-straight weekend series from the Bulldogs and threw 2.2 innings and allowed two runs on four hits in his first career start. He picked up his first career win last Sunday after holding Maryland-Eastern Shore to one run on five hits.
"He loved being out there. He was in a situation not knowing if he was going to make the roster or not, but just had an opportunity," said coach Hennon. "I think he really enjoyed being back out on the baseball field. It was evident with Ryan ever since day one that he has been in our program, that he is one of those guys that brings energy down with him everyday and has a positive attitude. That is contagious within the team."
Frederick and the Eagles are set to host Ohio and Southern Illinois Edwardsville this weekend. The Eagles will face Ohio Friday at 6 p.m., SIUE Saturday at 5 p.m. and again Sunday at 1:30 p.m. GSU wraps up the weekend with a 5 p.m. contest against Ohio on Sunday.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics and twitter.com/GSAthletics.
The GATA Zone - Air Rifle
Thursday, February 19
Walk and Talk: J.I. Clements Stadium
Friday, February 13
2026 Baseball Pre Season Check in
Thursday, February 12
Georgia Southern Football: 2026 State of the Program
Thursday, February 12
