The St. Louis Cardinals called up Ryan Loutos on Monday. The unique thing about Loutous is that started working for the club as an app programmer. Loutos graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2021 with a computer science degree. He joined the Cardinals as a programmer soon after and wrote most of the coding framework for the pitching development app still used throughout the organization.
Loutos pitched at Washington University in college and helped bring them to the Division III World Series. He was undrafted out of college. Loutos wrote code for the Cardinals in the Winter of 2021-’22 before leaving the desk job for the baseball diamond in 2022 signing a minor league deal with the organization.
“I’ve got most of my life to work, I’m not worried about coding right now in that capacity where I could be sitting at a desk right now,” Loutos told KSDK in 2022 when he joined the Cardinals Double-A affiliate. So many people would rather be in my shoes. That’s not the reason why you do it, it’s more like I want to still be out here and in the sun every day playing the great game of baseball. Yeah, it’s tough sometimes, but I can tell you the tough times here are way better than the tough times with the alternative.”
A Dream Come True for Ryan Loutos
One of the first things he did when started school at Washington University was go see the Cardinals play.
“The first week of school at Wash U back in the fall of ’17 coming to, I think it might have been a Cards-Cubs game, and sitting all the way up, way up high, $10 tickets or whatever it was,” Loutos said in his first big-league media availability. “Looking down, I remember seeing [Jack] Flaherty running in from the bullpen. It’s just pretty cool that however many years later I’m here.”
WashU product Ryan Loutos on his first MLB callup: “First week of school WashU back in the fall of ’17 coming to, I think what might’ve been a Cubs/Cardinals game, and sitting all the way up…It’s pretty cool that however many years later now I’m here.” #STLCards pic.twitter.com/QTngoGHraC
— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) May 20, 2024
Loutos told reporters that his first call after receiving the news he’d be joining the Cardinals was his dad. More than two dozen friends and family members were in attendance for Monday’s game, though Loutos did not make his first MLB appearance in the game.
“It’s so hard to even put into words, I think it’s just the coolest feeling of all time,” Loutos told reporters Monday. “I’ve been definitely dreaming about all of this and now that I get to actually feel it my goal is just to soak it all up. It’s a dream come true.”
Minor League Career
In 2022 the right-handed pitcher started his season in Single-A. He then worked his way up through the Cardinals system spending time in Double-A and finishing the season in Triple-A. This year he has pitched in 13 games with Triple-A Memphis. He posted a 1.73 ERA, a 1-0 record and is perfect in his save opportunities with four saves. He has struck out 18 batters in 15 2/3 innings.
Dreams do come true…Our very own Ryan Loutos is a big leaguer! Congratulations Ryan – we are thrilled for you & your family!! pic.twitter.com/2kFTAahyyY
— WashU Baseball (@washubaseball) May 20, 2024
Loutos has worked his fastball up to 97 mph. He hopes to carve a role out for himself in middle innings for the struggling Cardinals and show he can convert his 27 percent strikeout percentage into punch-outs in the Big Leagues.
The Pride of Washington University
Washington University baseball alum Ryan Loutos caught up with @washubaseball Coach Pat Bloom, former Asst. Coach Adam Rosen and former SID Chris Mitchell ahead of tonight’s Cardinals game—where he’s suited up in the bullpen. ⚾️
Loutos is officially a big leaguer! @KMOV pic.twitter.com/z5uuOA0cyQ
— Caroline Hecker (@carolinehecker) May 21, 2024
Loutos is the first Washington University product to reach the majors since Dal Maxvil in 1962. But for Loutos, he was named to the Division III First-Team All-American Team in his senior season. He set a program record with 116 strikeouts in his senior season.
“Dreams do come true, our very own Ryan Loutos is a big leaguer! Congrats to Ryan – we are thrilled for you and your family.” Washington U Baseball tweeted after news of Loutos’ callup.
Main Photo: © Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
