'Let's go': Auburn's Ryan Bliss celebrates MLB Draft with family, teammates

'Let's go': Auburn's Ryan Bliss celebrates MLB Draft with family, teammates'Let's go': Auburn's Ryan Bliss celebrates MLB Draft with family, teammates

Ryan Bliss hugs his mother, Rhonda, after being drafted

AUBURN, Ala. – Surrounded by family, friends and teammates, Ryan Bliss celebrated his Major League Baseball Draft selection Monday not far from the ballpark where he honed his skills.
 
On the sixth floor of the Whatley Residences on South College Street, Bliss hugged his grandmother and mother when MLB Network announced that the Arizona Diamondbacks had chosen the Auburn All-American in the second round, pick No. 42 overall.
 
Known for his studious approach to baseball, Bliss had a hunch his name would be called early and that his destination was the desert.
 
"It went by really fast," Bills said. "I had an idea that I may be going to the Diamondbacks about 20 minutes before the draft started.
 
"When the pick came, [my adviser] said, 'Hey, you're up. Are you ready?' I said, 'Let's go,' and I got called. It was amazing. I'm going to go out there and be me and continue to do what I do."
 
In 2021, Bliss delivered the best hitting season by an Auburn shortstop in 40 years, belting 15 home runs while batting .365.
 
"I knew coming to school was going to help me, especially in the SEC, just mature and get better," said Bliss, who was drafted in 2018 out of high school by Boston in the 30th round. "That's an upside of me going into pro ball. I've played a lot of big-time games in big places, so I can take that maturity to the next level and progress better up there."
 
Auburn coach Butch Thompson noted how Bliss, like 2018 No. 1 overall pick Casey Mize, prioritized sharing draft day with teammates on the Plains.
 
"Just like Casey, Ryan said, 'I want to do this in Auburn with the people who helped get me there,'" Thompson said. "What a day for Ryan Bliss and his family. What a day for Auburn University. He's one of the best we've ever had.
 
"He's worked so hard, he believes in Auburn so much. What I think is neat is that we're all together today."
 
"Having the support there and having everybody with me, it shows me all the love I have behind me," Bliss said. "I can just go out there and play without having too much to worry about. The support is amazing and I love every one of them."
 
"It just show such leadership when you want to share it with the people, fans, teammates and coaches who have worked beside you to get you to this point," Thompson said. "This makes today even richer for Ryan and his parents, sharing it with his Auburn family."
 
The fifth highest position player drafted in program history, Ryan Bliss will seek to become the 56th former Auburn player to make it to the majors.
 
"I tell everybody, this is the best decision I've made, to come to Auburn," Bliss said. "To leave a legacy here, to be another guy to make it to the bigs from Auburn, it would be amazing. That's my goal and I can't wait to strive and do that."
 

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer