RYAN RABURN - OUTFIELDER - #25 - (2001-present)

2007 SEASON

Opened the season with Triple A Toledo and he spent the first three months of the season with the Mud Hens before earning a promotion to Detroit -- tabbed the Detroit Sports Broadcasters’ Association Tigers Rookie of the Year.

• Selected to the International League’s mid-season all-star squad -- unable to participate in the Triple A All-Star Game due to his promotion to Detroit.

• Rated as possessing the best outfield arm in the International League by Baseball America.

• Tied for third in the International League with 15 RBI during April, while he tied for fifth with four home runs.

• Hit for the cycle on May 27 versus Columbus -- first Mud Hens player to accomplish the feat since Dewayne Wise on May 14, 2005 at Pawtucket.

• Tied for third in the International League with six home runs during May, while he finished fifth with 22 RBI -- hit .290 (29x100) with 24 runs scored, six doubles and two triples in 29 games during the month.

• Posted a 10-game hitting streak June 18-28, batting .357 (15x42) with eight runs scored, five doubles, a home run and five RBI.

• Selected the TOPPS Player of the Month in the International League in June after hitting .348 (39x112) with 22 runs scored, nine doubles, a triple, six home runs and 24 RBI in 28 games -- led the league with 68 total bases during the month, while he finished fourth with 24 RBI, tied for fourth with six home runs and sixth with a .348 batting average.

• Joined the Tigers after having his contract purchased from Toledo on July 6 -- at the time of his promotion, he was leading the International League with 60 runs scored, while he was second with 64 RBI, tied for third with 41 extra-base hits and a .540 slugging percentage and fourth with 17 home runs.

• Belted his first major league home run on July 21 versus Kansas City, a lead-off blast off Jorge De La Rosa.

• Established career highs with four hits, two home runs and seven RBI on July 25 at U.S. Cellular Field against the White Sox -- first Tigers player with seven RBI since Carlos Pena on May 19, 2003 at Cleveland...it marked the 13th seven-or-more RBI game by a Tigers player since at least 1957, including the only one by a club rookie during that stretch...his four hits were the most by a club rookie since Curtis Granderson collected five hits on September 18, 2005 at the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim...his 11 total bases were the most by a Tigers player in a single game since Ivan Rodriguez collected 11 total bases on April 5, 2006 at Kansas City.

• Compiled a career-high six-game hitting streak July 29-August 7, batting .391 (9x23).

• Hit .387 (12x31) in 12 games during July, collecting two doubles, three home runs and 10 RBI.

• Collected a career-high two doubles on August 7 versus Tampa Bay.

• Batted .338 (27x80) against righthanded pitchers for the Tigers...hit .259 (15x58) with lefties on the mound.

• Hit .359 (14x39) with runners in scoring position.

MAJOR LEAGUE CAREER

Recalled from Double A Erie by the Tigers on September 12, 2004 -- made his major league debut that day versus Minnesota, striking out as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning.

• Ripped a run-scoring double, his first major league hit, in the fifth inning off C.C. Sabathia on September 16 at Cleveland.

MINOR LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS

Spent his second season with Toledo in 2006, earning International League all-star honors as he split time between second base and the outfield.

• Posted a 13-game hitting streak May 7-20, batting .436 (24x55) with 11 runs scored, five doubles, a triple, four home runs and 12 RBI.

• Belted a season-high two home runs on May 18 at Norfolk.

• Named the Tigers Minor League Player of the Month for May after hitting .323 (32x99) with 16 runs scored, seven doubles, a triple, five home runs and 20 RBI -- tied for third in the league with 20 RBI during the month, while he was fifth with 56 total bases.

• Hit .314 (33x105) with 16 runs scored, nine doubles, a triple, five home runs and 15 RBI in 27 games during June -- fourth in the league with 59 total bases during the month.

• Sidelined August 11-26 with a left rib cage contusion.

• Saw action in nine games during the International League playoffs, batting .114 (4x35) with four runs scored, a home run and two RBI.

• Named the 27th-best prospect in the Tigers organization following the season by Baseball America.

Spent the entire 2005 season at Toledo, clubbing 19 home runs for the Mud Hens.

• Led all International League second basemen with 21 errors.

• Opened the season by hitting .179 (12x67) in 19 games during April... rebounded to bat .292 (57x195) with 14 doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 30 RBI in 53 games during May and June.

• Hit safely in 14 of his 15 games May 29-June 13, batting .386 (22x57) with 11 runs scored, five doubles, a triple, two home runs and eight RBI.

• Drove in a season-high four runs on June 21 at Ottawa -- equaled the high with four RBI in the second game of a doubleheader on August 22 at Charlotte.

• In six games during the International League playoffs, he hit .348 (8x23) with a double and three RBI.

• Fared better against lefthanded pitchers, hitting .288 (34x118)...batted .241 (85x353) with righties on the mound.

• Named the 18th-best prospect in the Tigers organization following the season by Baseball America.

Played the majority of his first season as a second baseman at Erie in 2004, before seeing his first major league action with the Tigers in September.

• Opened the season on the disabled list at Erie with a dislocated right finger.

• His option was transferred to Single A Lakeland on May 14 after being reinstated from the disabled list -- played in three games with Lakeland before having his option transferred back to Erie on May 18.

• Sixth in the Eastern League with a .390 on-base percentage for the SeaWolves, while he finished ninth with a .533 slugging percentage and tied for ninth with a .301 batting average.

• Collected a season-high two home runs and four RBI May 26 versus Akron -- equaled the high in home runs on August 4 at Portland and matched the best in RBI on July 7 versus Binghamton, August 4 at Portland and August 10 versus Reading.

• Posted two four-hit games for the SeaWolves, June 20 at Altoona and August 10 at Reading.

• Over his final 56 games July 4-September 6, he hit .367 (81x221) with 48 runs scored, 25 doubles, four triples, 12 home runs and 52 RBI.

• Recorded a 13-game hitting streak July 4-19, batting .442 (23x52) with five runs scored, seven doubles, a triple, three home runs and 13 RBI.

• Tied for fourth in the league with nine doubles during July and tied for sixth with 21 RBI -- batted .348 (32x92) in 24 games during the month, scoring 11 runs and belting four home runs.

• Reached base safely via a hit or walk in his final 25 games of the season August 9-September 6, hitting .420 (42x100) with 30 runs scored, 13 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 22 RBI and a .482 on-base percentage.

• Recorded the league’s longest hitting streak, a 20-game streak August 9-31...batted .476 (39x82) over the course of the streak, scoring 26 runs and collecting 12 doubles, two triples, four home runs and 22 RBI.

• Selected as the Eastern League’s Player of the Week for August 9-15 after batting .520 (13x25) with 10 runs scored, five doubles, two home runs and nine RBI in six games.

• Named the Tigers Minor League Player of the Month for August after hitting .407 (48x118) with 33 runs scored, 15 doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 31 RBI in 29 games -- led the league during the month with a .407 batting average, 33 runs scored, 48 hits and 15 doubles, while he finished second with 31 RBI and tied for fifth with eight home runs.

• Led all Eastern League second basemen with 26 errors.

• Hit .310 (31x100) against lefthanded pitchers in the Eastern League and .297 (79x266) with righties on the mound.

• Saw action in three games during the Eastern League playoffs for the SeaWolves, hitting .286 (4x14) with a run scored and double.

• Named the eighth-best prospect in the Tigers organization following the season by Baseball America.

Combined to hit .241 with 15 home runs and 68 RBI between Single A West Michigan and Lakeland in 2003 ...third among all Tigers minor leaguers in RBI and fourth in home runs.

• Opened the season with West Michigan, hitting safely in 13 of his 16 games with the Whitecaps.

• Hit safely in eight of his final nine games with West Michigan April 14-22, batting .400 (14x35) with 11 runs scored, six doubles, three home runs and 11 RBI.

• Tied for fifth in the Midwest League during April with three home runs and he finished seventh with a .351 batting average (20x57).

• Promoted to Lakeland on April 23...fifth in the Florida State League with one home run every 27.08 at-bats.

• Drove in a season-best four runs May 6 versus Fort Myers...equaled the season high at Jupiter on May 21.

• Garnered Florida State League Player of the Week honors for May 19-26 after hitting .429 (9x21) with nine runs scored, two doubles, a home run and four RBI in seven games.

• Collected a season-high five hits June 2 at Fort Myers.

• Belted three home runs during June, tied for fifth-most in the Florida State League.

• Batted .325 (13x40) over a 14-game stretch July 5-22, scoring eight runs and collecting two doubles, two triples and 11 RBI.

• Fared better against lefthanders in the Florida State League, hitting .324 (24x74)...batted .191 (48x251) for Lakeland versus righties.

• Named the 11th-best prospect in the Tigers organization following the season by Baseball America.

Sidelined for the first three months of the 2002 season due to a right hip strain.

• Joined the Gulf Coast League Tigers on July 8 to begin a rehab assignment ... hit safely in six straight games for the Tigers July 10-16, batting .429 (9x21) with four runs scored, three doubles, a triple, home run and four RBI.

• Activated from the disabled list and sent to West Michigan on July 17.

• Posted a season-best eight-game hitting streak July 17-25, batting .355 (11x31) with five runs scored, three doubles, a triple, two home runs and eight RBI.

• Established season highs with three hits, two home runs and four RBI against Fort Wayne on August 10.

• Hit .248 (31x125) against righties in Midwest League action, compared to .080 (2x25) versus lefthanders.

• In three games during the Midwest League playoffs, he hit .214 (3x14) with a double and two RBI.

• Named the 25th-best prospect in the Tigers organization following the season by Baseball America.

Assigned to the Gulf Coast League Tigers after being selected by Detroit in the fifth round of the June 2001 draft.

• Struggled in his 19 games with the Tigers, batting .155, before being promoted to Single A Oneonta on July 18.

• Named to Baseball America’s short-season all-star squad after leading Oneonta with 17 doubles, eight home runs and 42 RBI.

• Led the New York-Penn League with eight triples and finished third with 33 extra-base hits...tied for the lead among all league third basemen with 23 errors.

• Drove in a season-best four runs on July 21 versus Vermont...matched the high twice the remainder of the season: August 3 at Williamsport and August 21 at Hudson Valley.

• Tallied a season-high four hits on July 22 against Vermont.

• Earned New York-Penn League Player of the Week honors for July 16-22, batting .500 (9x18) with four runs scored, three doubles, a triple, two home runs and seven RBI in four games.

• Hit safely in 26-of-28 games August 3-September 1, batting .417 (45x108) with 16 runs scored, 12 doubles, six triples, five home runs and 29 RBI...included in the 28-game stretch was a 10-game hitting streak August 3-13 and 13-game hitting streak August 18-September 1 -- hit .415 (17x41) with nine runs scored, four doubles, two triples, three home runs and 11 RBI during the 10-game hitting streak and .500 (24x48) with six runs scored, seven doubles, four triples, two home runs and 14 RBI during the 13-game hitting streak.

• Garnered New York-Penn League Player of the Week honors for a second time August 20-26...batted .600 (15x25) with three runs scored, four doubles, a triple, home run and nine RBI in seven games during the week.

• Selected as the Tigers Minor League Player of the Month for August after batting .402 (45x112) with 16 runs scored, 12 doubles, six triples, five home runs and 29 RBI in 29 games.

• Named to Baseball America’s College First-Year All-Star squad and was rated as having the second-best debut of all junior college players by the publication.

• Named the 12th-best prospect in the New York-Penn League and 18th-best prospect in the Tigers organization following the season by Baseball America.

PERSONAL/MISCELLANEOUS

He and his wife Suzanne reside in Balm, FL during the off-season.

• Did not sign after being selected in the 18th round by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the June 1999 draft out of Durant High School in Dover, FL.

• Played with Grand Canyon in the Arizona Fall League following the 2004 season, hitting .250 (17x68) with 17 runs scored, three doubles, four home runs and eight RBI in 21 games.

• His brother, Johnny, plays in the Tampa Bay Rays organization.

• Recommended/signed by Steve Nichols for the Tigers.

CAREER HIGHS
Hits: 4 - 7/25/07 at CWS
Home Runs: 2 - 7/25/07 at CWS
RBI: 7 - 7/25/07 at CWS
Stolen Bases: 1 (four times) - last, 9/5/07 vs. CWS
Hitting Streak: 6 - 7/29-8/7/07

TWO HOME RUN GAMES (1)
July 25, 2007 at Chicago White Sox

08/09/2007 3:52 PM ET
Notes: Raburn turns heads in callup
Thames returns from Toledo; Monroe struggling at the plate
By Tim Robinson / Special to MLB.com

DETROIT -- After a couple of short callups, Ryan Raburn is making the most of his latest stint in the Major Leagues.

"I got a taste for it before, and I liked it," Raburn said.

The Tigers have liked his production (.358 average, three homers in 53 at-bats going into Thursday) and versatility. He has emerged as a spot starter both in the outfield and at second base, where he replaced Placido Polanco on Tuesday.

Although Raburn had a good Spring Training, he took his demotion to Toledo in stride.

"I just tried to do what I could do in Toledo," he said. "I had a great year last year and [a callup] didn't happen."

When Raburn arrived, he got a pep talk from third-base coach Gene Lamont.

"Gene told me I have to give them a reason to stick around," Raburn said. "[He told me,] 'You've got to run into walls. You've got to take chances, smart chances, and play hard.'"

Manager Jim Leyland has noticed.

"He's aggressive on the bases, in the outfield and at the plate," he said. "He's been a nice little player for us."

Raburn is enjoying both his role and his new surroundings.

"Playing before 40,000," he said of Comerica Park, "is a lot better than playing in Minor- League parks."

Thames returns: Marcus Thames, who went 3-for-8 with a home run in games at Toledo on Tuesday and Wednesday, was at first base for the Tigers on Thursday against Tampa Bay left-hander Scott Kazmir.

"They got a lefty pitching, and that's one of the ways we were going before he left," Leyland said. "So if he's back and ready to go, then that's the way we're going to go."

It was Thames' first game since he injured a hamstring making a catch on July 18 at Minnesota.

Still struggling: Craig Monroe, whose average was at .220 going into Thursday, was in the starting lineup.

"We're trying to get him going," Leyland said. "We need him to get going."

But Leyland also said the return of Thames and the emergence of Raburn might cut into Monroe's playing time if his hitting woes continue.

"I'm going to play the guy who's doing the job. It's that simple," Leyland said. "There's no secret to it. Whoever's doing the job is playing. No tricks to that. That's the way it's been since Day 1 in baseball."

Baby boom: Brandon Inge was out of Thursday's lineup to be with his wife, Shani, who was scheduled to give birth.

The child will be their second.

Omar Infante started at third in place of Inge.

Packed park: Although Thursday's game was delayed 28 minutes by rain, the Tigers expected to pass the 2 million mark in attendance for the third consecutive season and the 10th time overall. It's the first time the Tigers have passed 2 million in attendance three seasons in a row.

Up next: The Tigers host the A's in a rematch of last year's American League Championship Series as Jordan Tata (1-1, 3.75 ERA) takes on Oakland's Joe Blanton (9-8, 3.71) at 7:05 p.m. ET on Friday at Comerica Park.

Tim Robinson is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.