Ryan Bliss Bio
Ryan Isiah Bliss (born December 13, 1999) is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). A former college standout at Auburn University, Bliss entered professional baseball after being selected in the 2021 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks and reached the majors three years later with Seattle. Known for his speed and contact-oriented approach, he has worked his way through the minor leagues as a middle infielder before establishing himself as a big-league second baseman.
Early Life and Background
Ryan Isiah Bliss grew up in LaGrange, Georgia, where he developed his baseball skills in a region with a strong tradition of producing athletic talent. He attended Troup County High School, where he quickly became one of the most productive hitters in the program. As a senior, Bliss hit eight home runs and earned All-American recognition from Rawlings-Perfect Game, which cemented his reputation as one of the top amateur middle infielders in his class.
Bliss’s performance at Troup County drew the attention of professional scouts before he had even finished high school. He was selected in the 30th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft by the Boston Red Sox, although he opted not to sign with the organization. That decision allowed him to honor his college commitment and continue refining his game at the next level.
Path to Baseball
Bliss enrolled at Auburn University, where he played three seasons of college baseball for the Auburn Tigers in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). He became the team’s starting shortstop as a freshman and was named to the SEC All-Freshman team after batting .281 and scoring 50 runs, signaling his ability to contribute immediately at a high level of college competition.
In the summer of 2019, Bliss played collegiate summer baseball for the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League, gaining valuable experience against top amateur talent. As a sophomore, he batted .377 with a team-high 21 runs scored in 18 games before the season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. In his junior year, Bliss earned All-American honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association after batting .365 with 15 home runs, 14 doubles, and 45 runs batted in, establishing himself as one of the premier hitters available in the 2021 draft class.
Ryan Bliss Career
Early Career (2021-2022)
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Bliss in the second round, with the 42nd overall pick, in the 2021 Major League Baseball draft. He signed on July 18, 2021, and received a $1.25 million bonus. Bliss made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League Diamondbacks and was promoted to the Visalia Rawhide of the Low-A West after just two games. He hit for the cycle with Visalia on September 17, 2021, and finished his first professional season batting .267 with six home runs, 24 runs batted in, and 13 stolen bases across 39 minor league games.
Bliss spent the entire 2022 campaign with the High-A Hillsboro Hops, where he played in 110 games and batted .214 with a .298 on-base percentage and a .343 slugging percentage. He added 10 home runs, 37 runs batted in, and 31 stolen bases, continuing to demonstrate the speed and on-base skills that had defined his amateur profile while adjusting to a full season at the High-A level.
Minor League Breakthrough and Trade to Seattle (2023)
Bliss began the 2023 season with the Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles and quickly became one of the most productive hitters in the Texas League, batting .358 with a .414 on-base percentage and a .594 slugging percentage in 68 games. He added 12 home runs, 47 runs batted in, and 30 stolen bases before earning a promotion to the Triple-A Reno Aces in July. At Reno, he struggled to a .196 average in 13 games, but his overall performance that year made him a sought-after trade asset.
On July 31, 2023, the Diamondbacks traded Bliss, Dominic Canzone, and Josh Rojas to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for reliever Paul Sewald. Bliss finished 2023 with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, batting .251 with 10 home runs in 47 games and stealing 58 bases across the minor leagues. He also played for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League, batting .239 with 14 walks in 21 games to wrap up his first season in the Seattle organization.
MLB Debut and Mariners Tenure (2024-Present)
Bliss opened the 2024 season in Tacoma and hit .247 with a .382 on-base percentage, seven home runs, 35 runs batted in, and 28 stolen bases before getting the call to the majors. On May 27, 2024, the Mariners selected his contract and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time. He made his MLB debut the same day, earned his first hit on June 1 with a single off Carson Fulmer of the Los Angeles Angels, and hit his first home run on June 7 off Daniel Lynch of the Kansas City Royals. After a brief option to Tacoma in July, Bliss ended his first MLB season with a .222 batting average, two home runs, and five stolen bases in 33 games, while also swiping 50 bases in 93 games for Tacoma.
Bliss was the Mariners’ 2025 Opening Day second baseman, but his season was disrupted by injuries early on. On April 8, 2025, he injured his arm swinging at a pitch from Framber Valdez, and the following day the Mariners placed him on the 10-day injured list with a left biceps tear. The team projected a four-to-five-month absence before moving him to the 60-day injured list on April 13. On September 8, it was announced that Bliss had undergone season-ending surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee. In 11 games with the Mariners in 2025, he batted .200 with one home run, two stolen bases, and two caught stealings.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bliss is a contact-oriented middle infielder whose game is built around speed, on-base skills, and defensive versatility. He has consistently produced high walk rates and stolen-base totals throughout his career, including a 58-steal season across the minors in 2023, and he has shown the ability to play both shortstop and second base. His aggressive baserunning and willingness to work counts have made him a valuable table-setter when healthy, and his profile as a left-handed-hitting middle infielder has given Seattle a complementary piece to slot into the top or middle of the lineup.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most memorable moments of Bliss’s early career was his first major league hit on June 1, 2024, a single off Carson Fulmer of the Los Angeles Angels, followed six days later by his first MLB home run off Daniel Lynch of the Kansas City Royals. He also hit for the cycle with the Visalia Rawhide on September 17, 2021, in one of the first highlights of his professional career. Being named the Mariners’ 2025 Opening Day second baseman stood as a major milestone, even though injuries prevented him from building on that role during the season.
Ryan Bliss Career Wins
Although MLB career totals are still developing for Ryan Isiah Bliss, his wins and performances have largely been measured in milestones, statistical production, and team achievements rather than championship trophies. Through his first two MLB seasons, he has established himself as a depth middle infielder and speed threat for the Seattle Mariners, while also stacking up significant numbers in the minor leagues, including a 58-steal campaign in 2023 and a 50-steal season between Tacoma and Seattle in 2024.
Minor League and MLB Highlights
Bliss’s most productive minor league season came in 2023, when he batted .358 with 12 home runs, 47 runs batted in, and 30 stolen bases in 68 games for the Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles before being traded to Seattle. He also stole 50 bases in 93 games for Tacoma in 2024 to go with 12 home runs, while batting .269 for the Rainiers. At the major league level, his most notable achievements include his debut on May 27, 2024, his first hit on June 1, 2024, his first home run on June 7, 2024, and his selection as Seattle’s 2025 Opening Day second baseman.
Ryan Bliss Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Ryan Isiah Bliss was raised in LaGrange, Georgia, and is an American by nationality. Public details about his immediate family and personal life remain limited, and there is no widely confirmed information available about his parents, spouse, or children from verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a challenging year for Ryan Isiah Bliss, who entered the year as Seattle’s Opening Day second baseman but saw his campaign derailed by a pair of significant injuries. He injured his left arm on April 8 swinging at a pitch from Framber Valdez and was diagnosed the next day with a left biceps tear, prompting a stint on the 10-day injured list that was later upgraded to the 60-day injured list on April 13. The Mariners initially projected a four-to-five-month absence, but his year took another difficult turn on September 8, when the team announced he had undergone season-ending surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee.
On the field, Bliss appeared in only 11 games for the Mariners in 2025, batting .200 with a .282 on-base percentage, a .314 slugging percentage, one home run, two stolen bases, and two caught stealings. The abbreviated season left him with limited opportunities to build on his 2024 debut year, and his long-term role with Seattle will depend on his recovery from both the biceps and knee injuries heading into the next campaign.
