Ryan McCurdy

Position:
Infielder
Height:
5-10
Weight:
170
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Tampa, Fla.
High School:
Plant

Four-year starter Ryan McCurdy rejoined the Duke baseball program as a volunteer assistant coach in August, 2010.

A 2010 graduate of Duke University, McCurdy directs all Duke Baseball Academy camps, coaches the catchers, and runs the bunting program. Additionally he assists with the daily routines for the hitters and infielders as well.

“Ryan is a special young man who epitomizes the character and the values that we look for in our players here at Duke,” said head coach Sean McNally, who coached McCurdy from 2007-10. “He was a highly successful student, an active force in the community, and a talented player during his time as an undergraduate. We are very fortunate to have him on our staff and know that he will make an impact on all facets of our program.”

A native of Tampa, Fla., McCurdy was a full-time starter at three different positions during his four-year tenure at Duke. After starting at second base as a freshman and third base as a sophomore and junior, McCurdy became Duke’s starting catcher as a senior. Despite never having played the position before, McCurdy did not make an error behind the plate all season and caught 19 runners stealing.

McCurdy ended his career with a .978 fielding percentage and was among the league’s best defensive infielders. He led all ACC third basemen in fielding percentage in 2008 and 2009 and did not make a single error in 28 ACC games as a junior. McCurdy made only 19 errors in 865 career chances.

Offensively, McCurdy posted a .397 career on base percentage and struck out only 44 times in 820 career plate appearances. He was also hit by 69 pitches, setting the ACC career and single-season records in that category.

Academically, McCurdy excelled as well and earned All-ACC Academic Baseball Team honors twice and ACC Academic Honor Roll honors three times.

Following his senior season, McCurdy signed a professional contract with the Houston Astros organization and spent his first season as a catcher at the Rookie and Class-A levels. McCurdy will continue his professional baseball career in 2011 and will stay on staff with the Blue Devils until spring training begins in February.

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2009

Named to the ACC All-Academic Baseball Team
Appeared on the ACC Academic Honor Roll for the second year
Started 55 games and appeared in 57 overall, including 52 at third base
Led all ACC third basemen in fielding percentage (.965) for the second straight year
Did not commit an error in 28 ACC games
Hit .256 with 22 RBI and 39 runs scored
Hit a career-high 11 doubles, more than his first two seasons combined
Went 4-for-6 stealing bases
Led Duke in times hit by a pitch for the second year, taking 16 pitches
Struck out just 13 times in 172 at bats, an average of 17.1 plate appearances between strikeouts
Had streaks of 19 games and 14 games without making an error
Went a combined 5-for-5 with four runs and two RBI in a double header against N.C. Central
Went 3-for-4 against Wofford
In the ACC Tournament, went 3-for-11 with two RBI, two doubles and three runs

2008

Named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll
Started 49 games at third base
Batted .292 with 45 hits and six doubles
Scored 40 runs and drove in 22
Led the team with a .454 on base percentage after drawing 21 walks and being hit by a school-record 27 pitches
Struck out just 10 times in 154 at bats
Led all ACC third basemen with a .975 fielding percentage
Made just four errors in 50 games for the fewest faults among any ACC third baseman
Went errorless over his last 24 games
Stole five bases in six attempts
Hit leadoff in six games
Dropped down a team-leading nine sacrifice bunts
Went no longer than two games without a hit all season
Reached base safely in all but three of his 50 games played
Collected multiple hits in 12 games with one three-hit effort
Put together a seven-game hitting streak (3/19 through 3/28)
Played with the Peninsula Oilers in the Alaska Baseball League during the summer

2007

Started 39 consecutive games before suffering a shoulder injury that forced him to miss the final 15 games
Started at second base 33 times and at shortstop on six occasions
Batted .260 with 24 runs and 21 RBI
Collected 38 hits, including four doubles
Knocked in nine RBI with two outs on the board
Laid down seven sacrifice bunts for the second most on the team while also picking up four singles off bunts
Committed only eight errors in 306 chances
Was part of 24 double plays
Started 16 games as the leadoff batter
Amassed a nine-game hitting streak from Feb. 16 to March 3
Ended the streak after a 5-for-5 outing against Holy Cross (3/3)
Turned in 10 outings with two or more hits
Did not commit an error in his last 49 opportunities
Had a team-high with seven assists in a single game.

High School

Three-year letterwinner at H.B. Plant High School
Hit .478 with one home run to earn first team all-county and all-conference honors during his senior season
Won the Wade Boggs Athletic Achievement Award as a senior, given annually by the county for academic and athletic excellence
Garnered first team all-county and all-conference accolades after hitting .400 and leading the county in runs scored with 29 as a junior
Also lettered in basketball where he was named Mr. Plant Basketball and was an academic all-county selection as a senior
Finished his career ranked second in school history with 122 career three-pointers
National Honor Society member

Personal

Born Ryan Joseph McCurdy on December 28, 1987, in Tampa, Fla.
Son of Jack and Kathy McCurdy
Has two brothers, Mike and Chris, and a sister, Ali
His brother, Mike Williams, was a standout wide receiver at USC and played three seasons in the NFL
Majoring in Political Science.