On Wednesday, July 22, Ryan Waldschmidt hit the first home run of his Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Athletics at Chase Field.
The home run was a two-run shot that came in the fifth inning and extended Arizona’s lead to 9-2. The Diamondbacks went on to win the game 15-5.
This season, Waldschmidt has a .260 batting average in 131 at-bats with the Diamondbacks. Along with his home run this season, the 23-year-old also has 10 doubles, a triple, and 12 RBIs.
Waldschmidt and his college career
Before playing in the MLB with Arizona, Waldschmidt played two seasons of college baseball with the Kentucky Wildcats.
He transferred to Kentucky after playing the 2022 college baseball season with the Charleston Southern Buccaneers. In that season, he had a .310 batting average and a 1.043 OPS with the Bucs. Waldschmidt was Charleston Southern’s Most Valuable Player that season and was also a part of the Big South’s All-Freshman Team.
In his first season at Kentucky in 2023, Waldschmidt finished with a .290 batting average and a .427 on-base percentage. He also had 14 doubles and 37 RBIs that season.
The Bradenton, Fla.-native played a huge role in leading Kentucky to its second-ever super regional appearance that season. The Wildcats finished with 40 wins that season, and it was the first 40-win season for the program since 2017.
In 2024, Waldschmidt capped off his college career by showcasing true power in his bat. He had a .333 batting average that season with 17 doubles, 14 home runs, and 46 RBIs. Waldschmidt also had a 1.079 OPS that season for the Wildcats. He was second on the team in batting average behind Nick Lopez and was also second-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Waldschmidt and Kentucky took their NCAA Tournament run to the next level in 2024 as well. The Wildcats made the College World Series that season for the first time in program history.
MLB Draft Pick and MLB Debut in 2026
After three seasons at Charleston Southern and Kentucky, Waldschmidt was selected 31st overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2024 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut with Arizona on May 8 this season against the New York Mets. He recorded a hit in that game in a 3-1 loss for the Diamondbacks.
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PHOTO: Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ryan Waldschmidt runs during an inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Wednesday, June 10, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
