Ryan Lavarnway is a former Major League Baseball catcher, currently working as a broadcaster for the Colorado Rockies. Over his fifteen-year career, Ryan represented eight different teams in the Major Leagues, including the 2013 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox. He also proudly represented Israel internationally in both the World Baseball Classic and the Olympics, which earned him recognition in the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.
Ryan began his journey to the majors as a standout at Yale University. In 2007, he became the NCAA batting champion by hitting an impressive .467 and set a new Ivy League record with a 25-game hitting streak. He also holds the Ivy League all-time career home run record with 34.
Drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2008, Ryan quickly established himself as a powerful hitter, being named to multiple minor league All-Star teams and earning Minor League Offensive Player of the Year twice.
After his big-league debut in 2011, Ryan continued to excel on the field, setting multiple MLB and franchise records. Internationally he earned MVP recognition for his play in the World Baseball Classic and was honorary captain during the Olympic Games.
Ryan Lavarnway is a dynamic speaker with a wealth of experience to draw upon. He brings a unique perspective to his public speaking engagements, combining his passion for baseball with his journey and experiences. He is an engaging and entertaining speaker who connects with his audience on a personal level, leaving a lasting impact on all who hear him speak.
Speaking Topics-
"Why Not Me? Why Not Now?"
Ryan Lavarnway’s speech is a testament to perseverance and the power of believing in yourself. He shares his journey, from being a late bloomer in baseball to achieving his dream of playing in the big leagues. Ryan emphasizes the importance of having a positive attitude and embracing mantras such as “Why not me?” and “Why not more?” to overcome challenges and reach our goals.
One of the most inspiring moments in his speech is when Ryan talks about being sent down to the minors eight days after making his major league debut. He compares getting demoted back to the minor leagues to getting fired from your dream job. Despite this setback, Ryan never gave up and continued to work hard to get back to the majors.
Throughout his speech, Ryan emphasizes the importance of having a support system, including a coach or mentor, peers, and family. He highlights the different roles these individuals play, from pushing one to take risks to analyzing those risks and providing support no matter what.
You do not have to be a sports fan to enjoy and benefit from Ryan’s entertaining and inspiring presentation. It is a great reminder to never give up, overcome challenges, and always believe in yourself.
Ryan spoke with my leadership team and shared his stories about achieving greatness through outlook, resiliency, and the importance of social connections. This message was right on the mark! I continued to get overwhelming positive feedback and gratitudes from the sales managers throughout the day thanking me for bringing him to speak with the team He left the team inspired and more connected with their purpose and work. His speaking style is very engaging and authentic, helping the audience to be comfortable and instantly connected to his story. Somehow even though none of us have been pro athletes before, he made his experience relatable and applicable to day to day front line business managers. He also provided actionable and simple tools for each of us to take away. I give my highest recommendations for Ryan. 5 stars!
Ryan spoke with my leadership team and shared his stories about achieving greatness through outlook, resiliency, and the importance of social connections. This message was right on the mark! I continued to get overwhelming positive feedback and gratitudes from the sales managers throughout the day thanking me for bringing him to speak with the team He left the team inspired and more connected with their purpose and work. His speaking style is very engaging and authentic, helping the audience to be comfortable and instantly connected to his story. Somehow even though none of us have been pro athletes before, he made his experience relatable and applicable to day to day front line business managers. He also provided actionable and simple tools for each of us to take away. I give my highest recommendations for Ryan. 5 stars!