Former Shorebirds player and manager Ryan Minor died Friday afternoon after a battle with colon cancer, his twin brother, Damon, announced on social media.
Minor, who was diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer last fall, was 49.
“He truly was the best twin brother you can ask for,” Damon Minor wrote on X/Twitter. “His family and I want to thank everyone for the prayers and support during this time.”
Ryan Minor’s playing, coaching career with Orioles, Shorebirds
Ryan Minor was also a standout on the basketball court, and the Philadelphia 76ers selected him in the 1996 NBA Draft. The Baltimore Orioles selected him in the MLB Draft the same year, and his MLB career lasted from 1998-2001 with the Orioles and Montreal Expos.
He is known for replacing Cal Ripken Jr. as Ripken’s notorious streak of 2,632 straight starts ended in 1998.
Minor served as a coach and manager after his playing career, beginning in 2006.
In his lone season as a player for the Shorebirds in 1997, Minor helped lead the team to its first South Atlantic League championship and set multiple Shorebirds hitting records. He would then come back to be the manager from 2010-12 and 2014-17.
Minor had his number 44 jersey retired before the Aug. 4, 2023, home game against the Lynchburg Hillcats. He became the first Shorebird to receive that honor.
Minor is survived by his wife, Allyson, and two daughters, Regan and Finley.
More on Ryan Minor’s cancer battle: Former Shorebirds manager Ryan Minor enters hospice care amid battle with colon cancer
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