Thumper's Biography

Batting Order

Biography

The Basics

Full Name: Ryan Anthony Klesko
Birthday: June 12, 1971
Born: Westminster, California
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 220 lbs
Resides: Boynton Beach, Florida
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Status: Engaged
Nicknames: Thumper, Rhino
Hobbies Hunting, fishing, scuba diving, golf, surfing
Position: Pitcher in high school; 1st base in minors; left field in majors
High school: 1989 graduate of Wesminster High School, CA
Prior to being signed by the Braves: Played on the U.S. Junior Olympic Team in Australia
Obtained: Sixth round, 1989 June free agent draft Family Parents are Howard and Lorene Klesko; older sisters are Pam and Paula

Fun Facts

Favorite subject in school: History
Least favorite subject: Geometry
First job: Roofing
Favorite movie: Strange Brew
Favorite actors: Mel Gibson and Chuck Norris
Favorite TV show: Top Cops
Favorite music: Country, Alternative
Favorite food: Seafood and Mexican
Favorite dessert: Cheesecake
Favorite color: Blue
Favorite ballpark: Coors Field
Favorite restaurant: Mario's in Huntington Beach, California
Sports hero when he was young: Had several, couldn't name just one
Hall of famer he'd like to meet: Ted Williams
Players, past or present, he'd pay to watch play: Willie Stargell, Reggie Jackson, Greg Maddux and Roger Clemens
Favorite baseball team growing up: California Angels
Sports played growing up: Soccer, football and baseball
Type of bat: All kinds
Type of glove: Rawlings
Type of spikes: Reebok
Type of batting glove: Rawlings
Best time of his life: Getting a chance to play in the World Series in 1995 and 1996
Biggest disappointment The players going on strike in 1994
Life after baseball: Will be active with his hobbies
If he wasn't a baseball player, he'd be: Involved with law enforcement
Players he learned the most from: Willie Stargell and Terry Pendleton
If he could change one thing about baseball it would be: Get a few more days off during the course of the year
Most embarrassing baseball experience: "I was hitting sixth or seventh in the lineup one game and I went into the on-deck circle while the clen-up hitter was batting. They had to call me back into the dugout. It was funny at the time, but it was embarrassing, too."
Fun family fact: Height runs in the family, Pam and Paula are 5'10" and 6'0"
Did you know?: While Ryan bats and throws lefty, he writes with his right hand!

Inspirational

Person who infuenced him most: His mother
Best advice anyone ever gave him: If you work hard enough, you can get most anything you want as long as your goals are reachable
If he could tell kids one thing: Stay away from drugs