Carson Ragsdale Bio
Carson Andrew Ragsdale (born May 25, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher. He currently plays in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers, wearing jersey number 46. Ragsdale has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles after rising through the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants farm systems.
A right-handed pitcher drafted in 2020, Ragsdale has spent his professional career moving between organizations, working his way from rookie ball to the major leagues. His journey has included trades, injuries, and multiple waiver claims, culminating in his first MLB appearance in September 2025 and his move to Japan later that year.
Early Life and Background
Carson Andrew Ragsdale was born on May 25, 1998, and grew up in the United States. He developed an early interest in baseball and worked his way up the amateur ranks as a pitcher. Ragsdale was selected in the 4th round of the 2020 Major League Baseball draft, taken 116th overall by the Philadelphia Phillies.
As a draft pick during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ragsdale was signed by Philadelphia but did not appear in any official games in 2020 because the minor league season was canceled. That unusual start delayed his professional debut but did not change his long-term trajectory as a starting pitching prospect.
Path to Baseball
Ragsdale entered professional baseball in unusual circumstances, having been drafted in 2020 but unable to take the mound until the following year. On January 9, 2021, the Philadelphia Phillies traded him to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for pitcher Sam Coonrod, giving Ragsdale a fresh start in a new organization.
That move launched his climb through the minor leagues. Ragsdale made his professional debut in 2021 with the Single-A San Jose Giants, where he immediately emerged as a strikeout pitcher. Across 24 starts that season, he posted an 8-6 record and a 4.43 earned run average, while striking out 167 batters in 113 and 2/3 innings. The strong debut established him as a prospect to watch in the San Francisco system.
Carson Ragsdale Career
Early Career (2020-2021)
Because of the canceled 2020 minor league season, Ragsdale’s true professional introduction came in 2021 with San Jose. He worked as a starting pitcher, leaning heavily on his ability to miss bats, and produced one of the more impressive strikeout totals among Giants minor leaguers that year.
His heavy workload of 24 starts helped him adjust to the rhythm of a full professional season. The experience set the foundation for future assignments, even as San Francisco continued to develop him carefully through their system.
San Francisco Giants Breakthrough (2021-2025)
Ragsdale’s development was tested in 2022 when he began the year at the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Giants, striking out nine batters across five scoreless appearances. However, he was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and underwent surgery, causing him to miss the remainder of the season. He returned in 2023 with the High-A Eugene Emeralds and posted a 2.93 ERA with 42 strikeouts across seven starts before a right elbow injury ended his year after May 13.
In 2024, Ragsdale split the year between the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels and Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, finishing 5-7 with a 4.18 ERA and 147 strikeouts in 120 and 2/3 innings. The Giants added him to their 40-man roster after the season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, an important signal of organizational trust. He began 2025 back at Triple-A Sacramento, where he went 5-5 with a 5.37 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 18 games, 14 of them starts, before being designated for assignment on July 28, 2025.
Baltimore Orioles Era (2025)
On August 3, 2025, Ragsdale was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles. He joined the Triple-A Norfolk Tides and went 2-2 with a 3.47 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 23 and 1/3 innings across seven appearances, five of which were starts. On September 14, the Orioles promoted him to the major leagues for the first time.
Ragsdale made his MLB debut the same day, appearing as a reliever against the Toronto Blue Jays and giving up eight runs over three innings in an 11-2 loss. He was designated for assignment on September 15, 2025, ending his first major league stint after only one appearance. He later returned to Baltimore briefly for a second stint in September 2025, pitching two scoreless innings against the New York Yankees, before being designated for assignment again on November 6.
Atlanta Braves and Free Agency (2025)
On November 13, 2025, Ragsdale was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves. He made one appearance for the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers and took the loss after allowing four runs on three hits with one strikeout in one inning. On November 21, 2025, Atlanta non-tendered him, and he became a free agent.
Hanshin Tigers Era (2025-Present)
On December 26, 2025, Ragsdale signed a one-year contract with the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball, joining the team for the 2026 season. He was assigned jersey number 46. The move gave him an opportunity to reset his career abroad after a turbulent 2025 in the United States.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ragsdale is a right-handed pitcher whose profile has long revolved around swing-and-miss stuff. His minor league numbers show consistent strikeout totals, including 167 punchouts in 113 and 2/3 innings in 2021 and 147 strikeouts across 120 and 2/3 innings in 2024, even when his results fluctuated. His ability to generate whiffs has been his calling card, though injuries and command issues have at times limited his effectiveness.
Notable Events and Milestones
Ragsdale’s biggest milestone came on September 14, 2025, when he made his MLB debut with the Baltimore Orioles against the Toronto Blue Jays. He also reached the 40-man roster with the Giants after the 2024 season and posted a 2.93 ERA in his return from thoracic outlet surgery in 2023. His move to the Hanshin Tigers in December 2025 marked his first step into professional baseball outside the United States.
Carson Ragsdale Career Wins
Ragsdale’s win totals are best documented at the minor league level, where he has recorded victories across multiple levels of professional baseball. His most productive season came in 2021, when he won eight games for the San Jose Giants, and he added five wins in 2024 between Richmond and Sacramento.
Minor League Highlights
Between 2021 and 2025, Ragsdale accumulated double-digit minor league wins, headlined by his 8-6 record with San Jose in 2021. He also posted a 5-7 record in 2024 and a 5-5 mark with Sacramento in 2025. His MLB career record through the 2025 season stands at 0-0 with a 14.40 ERA and four strikeouts.
Other Wins and Performances
Ragsdale’s other notable results include his 2-2 record with Norfolk in 2025 and a 2.93 ERA across seven starts for High-A Eugene in 2023. These performances reinforced his strikeout profile even as injuries disrupted his consistency.
Carson Ragsdale Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Ragsdale’s immediate family is limited. He is identified by his full name, Carson Andrew Ragsdale, in official records and has been described as an American professional baseball pitcher with no widely reported family members in professional baseball.
Personal Life
Ragsdale maintains a public presence on social media, including an Instagram account under his own name. Beyond his professional career, few additional personal details have been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a whirlwind year for Ragsdale, featuring four different MLB organizations and a major league debut. He began the year at Triple-A Sacramento, where he went 5-5 with a 5.37 ERA in 18 games before the Giants designated him for assignment in late July. Within days, he was claimed by the Baltimore Orioles, setting up a rapid rise to the major leagues.
After his MLB debut with Baltimore on September 14, 2025, Ragsdale was bounced between the Orioles, Braves, and back to the Orioles on waiver claims over the following weeks. He finished the year as a free agent after Atlanta non-tendered him in late November. His 2025 totals at the major league level included a 0-0 record, a 14.40 ERA, and four strikeouts.
Looking ahead, Ragsdale will spend the upcoming year in Japan with the Hanshin Tigers after signing a one-year contract in late December 2025. The move offers a chance for a fresh start and consistent innings in Nippon Professional Baseball, where he will look to restore his stock as a starting pitching prospect.