Nine Questions with Ryan Bliss
In celebration of Black History Month, 2022 Hop Ryan Bliss reflects on his baseball path and those who helped him along the way. Bliss led the Hops in at-bats (426), plate appearances (484) and runs scored (68) in 2022, all of which are club records. He also had 91 hits,
In celebration of Black History Month, 2022 Hop Ryan Bliss reflects on his baseball path and those who helped him along the way. Bliss led the Hops in at-bats (426), plate appearances (484) and runs scored (68) in 2022, all of which are club records. He also had 91 hits, 19 doubles, 32 extra-base hits, 147 total bases and hit the 8th grand slam in team history. Bliss was selected 42nd overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2021 MLB draft.
In conjunction with Minor League Baseball’s “The Nine” initiative, Bliss answered nine wide-ranging questions about baseball, his time growing up and memories from Hillsboro.
What was your draft day experience like?
My draft day experience was amazing. I was with my friends and family and got to experience it in a place that was comfortable to me at Auburn. I had a lot of great people around me and it happened so fast I didn’t have time until later to realize what happened. I am very blessed to get drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks and it was a great experience to have everyone experience that moment with me.
What was your first experience in pro ball?
My first affiliate was the Visalia Rawhide. It was most of our first times playing professional baseball and we were all learning how to understand pro ball and play as a team. I enjoyed spending time in California and being able to bond with the team.
Can you talk us through your first pro at-bat?
My first at-bat in pro ball was nothing different. I was just coming off a college season and just trying to treat it as a normal at-bat. I realized later that night, "man" I really just played my first professional baseball game. It was pretty surreal and I was definitely nervous because of the new environment, new team and new career, but at the end of the day it's just baseball and I am doing what I love and I get to do this as a job.
Who was your baseball role model growing up?
Growing up my role model was Derek Jeter he was the captain; he was always in the playoffs and always winning. I was a shortstop and I wore #2 because of him.
Who was your personal role model?
My father was a big off-field role model for me. He taught me how to be a man and how to never give up. I will forever be grateful for him, he is always there for me and I love him to death. I am so very thankful for him.
What is your favorite stadium you have played in?
Its hard to pick a favorite field outside of Hillsboro because I think it’s the best affiliate field out there, but it had to be Vancouver. The Canadians’ field is amazing, they have 5,000 strong every night. They have great fans and a beautiful city. I enjoyed playing there every time we went.
What was your favorite thing to do outside of baseball in Hillsboro?
Hillsboro had a lot of great activities. One of my favorites was hiking and seeing all the nature and waterfalls. It was a little different than what I am used to in Georgia, being thousands of miles from home, so going out and seeing the beauty of Oregon was surreal.
Favorite moment as a Hop?
My personal favorite moment as a Hop was the 4th of July game. I led off the game with a home run to dead center field. It was sold out and the crowd was rocking. I will remember that moment for a long, long time.
What is your goal after your playing career is over?
My goal after baseball is to give back. I want to give back to kids younger than me who love the game as much as I do, whether that’s coaching or being an instructor. I want to provide something to them so they can play the game and I will do everything I can to make that happen.
The Hillsboro Hops will be celebrating their 10th Anniversary season throughout the 2023 campaign, with the home opener on April 11th at Ron Tonkin Field against the Seattle Mariners’ High-A affiliate, Everett AquaSox. More information on promotions and tickets can be found at hillsborohops.com or by calling 503-640-0887.
Hillsboro Shut Out for League-Leading Sixth Time
May 31, 2025 (Vancouver, BC) – The Hops will be happy to see the calendar turn to June tomorrow, as the month of May was quickly going south. Hillsboro held onto just a 1.5 game lead for first place entering play on Saturday where they were shut out for a
Two Early Vancouver Homers Prove to Be Costly in 8-1 Hops' Loss
Vancouver, BC (May 30, 2025) – Despite being last place in the Northwest League, Vancouver had the best run deferential, and most runs scored in the league entering Friday’s game against Hillsboro. They would add to both of those numbers at the Hops’ expense, as Eddie Micheletti slugged a home
Hops Take Shutout to the Ninth, Hold on to 3-2 Win
Vancouver, BC (May 29, 2025) – Hillsboro was clinging to a one-game lead in the Northwest League entering Thursday’s game at Nat Bailey Stadium against Vancouver. Needing a win badly, the Hops would have one of the best pitching performances of the season as a team and hold off a
Hops Slug Six Doubles & Outhit C's, but Lose 9-5
Vancouver, BC (May 28, 2025)- The last time Hillsboro came to Vancouver they fell behind 2-0 in the series and history would repeat itself on Wednesday night at Nat Bailey Stadium. The Hops were last in the NWL in extra-base hits entering play today, but they would slug six doubles
10-Run Second Inning Leads Vancouver Over Hillsboro
Vancouver, CA (May 27, 2025) – Vancouver has not been a kind place for the Hops to play over their 12-year history. The Vancouver Canadians are the only team that the Hops have an under .500 record against, including going 1-11 against them north of the border last year. That
Hops Avoid Series Loss with a Three-Run Seventh Inning
Hillsboro, OR (May 25)- With the series on the line, the Hillsboro Hops rallied to split the six-game set against the Everett AquaSox with a 5-4 win on Sunday afternoon at Hillsboro Ballpark. The Hops racked up 11 hits and struck out only three times, while the Hillsboro pitching staff
Montes and Cijntje Shine as Sox Beat Hops 3-2
Hillsboro, OR (May 24, 2025) – The Hops and AquaSox were tied at two games a piece entering the fifth game of the series on a beautiful Saturday at Hillsboro Ballpark. The electric switch-pitching Jurrangelo Cijntje was on the bump for Everett and was dominant until the fifth inning where
John West Shines as Hops Claim Statement Win Over AquaSox
May 23 (Hillsboro, OR)- The Hillsboro Hops delivered a commanding performance Friday night at Hillsboro Ballpark, notching a 4-1 victory over the Everett AquaSox. John West was electric on the mound, throwing seven strong innings and allowing just one earned run while striking out seven. The Hops offense backed him
Hops Come Up Short in 3-0 Loss to AquaSox Despite Strong Pitching
May 22 (Hillsboro, OR) – The Hillsboro Hops were blanked 3-0 by the Everett AquaSox in a tightly contested Thursday afternoon matchup at Hillsboro Ballpark. Pitching dominated on both sides, as both teams combined for just eight total hits. Hillsboro outhit Everett five to three and committed fewer errors, Everett
Mariners' Top Prospects do Damage in 9-3 Win Over Hops
Hillsboro, OR (May 21, 2025) – The Everett AquaSox are the only team in MiLB with five top 100 prospects and those top prospects would make some noise on Wednesday night at Hillsboro Ballpark. Hillsboro beat Everett last night by a score of 7-2, but tonight it was the Mariners’
Jansel Luis' Two-Run Go-Ahead Homer gets Hops Series Split
Pasco, WA (May 18, 2025) – Hillsboro entered play on Sunday looking to avoid their first series loss of 2025 and through seven innings it wasn’t looking promising. Hillsboro trailed 2-1 entering the eighth inning and had just two hits, when Jansel Luis hit a go-ahead two-run homer with two
Hillsboro Outhits Tri-City for Fifth Straight Game, Wins 6-3
Pasco, WA (May 17, 2025) – The Hops were just 1-3 against Tri-City this week entering Saturday’s game, despite outhitting them in every game of the series. Hillsboro would again outhit the Dust Devils, but this time they got the win. Logan Clayton was solid over 3.2 innings, Gavin Logan
Hops Lose Third One-Run Game of the Week to Tri-City
Pasco, WA (May 16, 2025) – Entering the series against Tri-City this week, Hillsboro was 10-1 in one run games in 2025. The Hops would lose a one-run game on Tuesday and Thursday and unfortunately added another to the tally on Friday night at Gesa Stadium. The Dust Devils beat
Opportunity Walks And A.J. Blocks
PASCO, Wash. --- The Hillsboro Hops outhit the Tri-City Dust Devils for the third consecutive game Thursday night, but find themselves trailing the six-game series two games to one. Adrian Placencia grounded a single past second baseman Cristofer Torin with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth inning,
Season Ticket Seat Selection for New Ballpark Underway
Hillsboro, Ore. (May 15, 2025) – The Hillsboro Hops announced on Thursday that season ticket seat selection for the new Hillsboro Hops Ballpark has officially begun. The first season ticket holders in Hops’ history, former Hillsboro Mayor Steve Callaway and his wife Joan have purchased their new seats for 2026.
Persistent Hops Even Series
PASCO, Wash. --- The Hillsboro Hops have looked like baseball's version of a West Coast offense, dinking and dunking their way through two games at Tri-City without ever hitting the home run ball or getting the explosive inning. Wednesday night's dinks plus dunks added up an 11-8 victory over the
You Can't Catch Me-Devils Walk Off In Series Opener
PASCO, Wash. -- Baseball may seem like a slow game to some, but the ability to make split-second decisions, to read and react quickly can often be essential to success in the grand old game. Leading 2-1 entering the last of the ninth and with lefty closer Philip Abner (0-1)
Hillsboro Walks all over Eugene in 10-4 Series-Clinching Win
Hillsboro, OR (May 11, 2025) – The Hops celebrated Mother’s Day 2025 at Hillsboro Ballpark on Sunday with one of their best offensive showings of the year. Hillsboro drew 14 walks and picked up 11 hits, in their 10-4 series-clinching victory over Eugene. Druw Jones and Junior Franco each reached
Emeralds Take Control in 8-2 Win Over Hops
May 10th (Hillsboro, OR)- One night after a valiant comeback win, the Hillsboro Hops could not recreate the magic, falling 8-2 to the Eugene Emeralds on Saturday at Hillsboro Ballpark. Tied at 2-2 in the third, Eugene pulled ahead in the fourth and took full control of the contest. The
Hillsboro Hangs Tough in 5-4 Comeback Win
May 9th (Hillsboro, OR)- The Hillsboro Hops showed resilience against the Eugene Emeralds in the Friday night battle at Hillsboro Ballpark. After being shut out for five innings, the Hops rallied to score four runs in the sixth, then took the lead for god in the eighth on an Angel
Hops Escape Late Eugene Rally, Hold on For 4-3 Win
Hillsboro, OR (May 8, 2025) – Daniel Eagen made his last start in an 11am game at Hillsboro Ballpark on April 24th and started off that game with an immaculate inning. Today, in an 11am game against Eugene he would turn in another great performance, recording the win and striking
Crisantes' Two-Homer Game Powers Hops to Win
Hillsboro, OR (May 7, 2025) – Despite leading the league in batting average and being second in total hits, the Hops were dead last in the Northwest League in home runs entering play on Wednesday. The Hops and Emeralds squared off for the fifth time 2025 at Hillsboro Ballpark and
Early Grand Slam Sinks Hops in Series Opener Against Emeralds
April 6th (Hillsboro, OR)-The Hillsboro Hops opened a six-game series at Hillsboro Ballpark on Tuesday night against the Eugene Emeralds. Eugene launched its first grand slam of the season in the opening inning, and despite several comeback efforts, Hillsboro fell short in a 9–7 loss to start the series. It
One-Hit Wonder: Hops Beat C’s, Split Series
VANCOUVER, B.C. (May 4, 2025) --- Baseball is a funny game, wrote Joe Garagiola. That was on display over the final four games of the Hillsboro Hops’ six-game series in Vancouver. The Hops tallied 32 hits in a pair of wins on Thursday and Friday. Saturday? Just two hits in
Old Adages Prove True, C’s Win 6-0
VANCOUVER, WASH. (May 3, 2025) --- There are a pair of old lines in baseball, oft-repeated because they’re true. Good pitching beats good hitting. And momentum is only as good as the next day’s starting pitcher. Those lines showed their veracity again on Saturday at Nat Bailey Stadium in Vancouver.