AUBURN, Ala. – After a Sunday matinee in mid-June, the shortstop for the Hillsboro Hops drove south 75 miles from suburban Portland to Corvallis, Oregon.
Arriving at Oregon State, Ryan Bliss joined the Auburn section in Goss Stadium to cheer for the team for which he played 134 games from 2019-21.
"It's amazing," Bliss said between innings. "I'm thankful that I was able to be in Oregon the same time they're playing Oregon State."
Two days earlier, on the eve of the Corvallis Super Regional, Bliss visited his former teammates at Auburn's hotel after his Friday evening game.
"It made me feel comfortable seeing faces I'm so used to," Bliss said.Ryan's reunion: Bliss visited former Auburn teammates before the Corvallis Super Regional
Reconnecting with his former teammates corresponded with an increase in Bliss' batting average. He hit .102 points higher in June than in May, doubling his hit total from the previous month as he adjusts to the grind of professional baseball.
"You play every day," Bill said. "The talent is similar. You hear all the time about the great caliber of SEC baseball. It's definitely better in pro ball, obviously, but it's not that big of a difference. Just learning how to be consistent and play every day."
As a freshman in 2019, Bliss helped lead Auburn to the program's first College World Series appearance in 22 years, playing in 66 games. In 2022, he's played in 64 games through June 30, with another two-and-half months remaining in the season.
"I've been playing for two months and I've already played a whole college season," he said while watching Auburn and Oregon State play game two of the Corvallis Super Regional. "Your body reacts differently. You have to learn how to deal with baseball differently because you play every day and you can't dwell on last weekend or yesterday.
"You've just got to go out and compete every day. I've been learning as I go. It's a process and a journey."
Ryan Bliss leads off and plays shortstop for Arizona's High-A affiliate, the Hillsboro Hops
A journey for which Bliss believes playing three seasons in the Southeastern Conference prepared him well.
"Seeing the best of the best every night, being in hostile environments, and being under pressure like I was prepared me to play pro ball," said Bliss, who smashed 15 home runs for the Tigers last season while batting .365, the best hitting season for an Auburn shortstop in 40 years. "When you do play in front of fans, you've seen that situation before."
Ryan's road to the pros began last summer when the Arizona Diamondbacks drafted Bliss in the second round, No. 42 overall.
After just two games of rookie ball, Arizona promoted Bliss to Class A in Visalia, California, where he batted .260 to earn another promotion to High-A Hillsboro for the 2022 season.
"Had a great first year," said Bliss, an All-American at Auburn in 2021. "Now, baseball has brought me out to Oregon, somewhere I never thought I would be. Baseball has blessed me to allow me to be places I've never been and never thought of going to. It's been amazing so far and I'm loving every moment of it."
Fifty-seven Auburn baseball players have climbed the ladder from the Plains to the big leagues. In the Pacific Northwest, 2,660 miles from Plainsman Park, Ryan Bliss goes to the ballpark every day with the intent of becoming No. 58.
"I tell everybody it's the best decision for me that I went to Auburn University with a great staff, great community and great fans," Bliss said. "It helped me grow not only as a baseball player but as a person.
"I'm so thankful for the university, for the coaches and my teammates who helped me get to where I am now. I'm so glad I went to Auburn and I think it helped me to be where I am today."
"I'm so thankful to watch them play."
— Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) June 13, 2022
🗣@ribliss2
Former All-America @AuburnBaseball SS Ryan Bliss is in Corvallis to watch his teammates.
Ryan plays for the @Dbacks High-A affiliate in Hillsboro, Oregon.
"Hoping they get one more win & go to Omaha."#WarEagle I #Legacy pic.twitter.com/4C0Am8Uee2
Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Ryan Bliss
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer