Ricky Meinhold

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Ricky Meinhold
Lotte Giants – No. 81
Director/Pitching Coach
Born: (1986-03-08) March 8, 1986 (age 35)
St. Louis, Missouri
Bats: Switch
Throws: Left
Teams

Ricky Meinhold (born March 8, 1986) is an American pitching coach, currently of the Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) and who previously served for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Early life[]

Meinhold attended Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Missouri and Westmont High School in Campbell, California. Meinhold attended West Valley College in Saratoga, California from 2004 to 2006 earning an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. From 2006 to 2008, Meinhold attended Drury University in Springfield, Missouri earning an Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology and Exercise Science in December 2008.

Playing career[]

Originally committed to the University of the Pacific in the summer of 2003, Meinhold was forced to de-commit due to coaching changes in the late summer of 2004. He attended West Valley Community College in Saratoga, California from 2004 to 2006. Meinhold then transferred to Drury University, as he played for both the Drury Panthers baseball and basketball teams, graduating in December 2008.[1]

Not being drafted coming out of college by a major league team, Meinhold attended multiple tryouts with affiliated teams and the annual open independent Frontier League tryout, eventually signed by the Gateway Grizzlies on April 29, 2009. However, he would be released on May 17, 2009, having never played for the team. Meinhold began his playing career with the Windy City ThunderBolts after being signed on July 23, 2009. He posted a 4–3 record with a 3.35 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 11 games. His 2010 contract exercise was picked up by the Thunderbolts on December 3, 2009,[2] and was signed to an extension on April 8, 2010. The 2010 season with the Thunderbolts proved poorly for Meinhold as he compiled an 0–2 record and a 5.56 ERA in 16 games. On July 15, 2010, Meinhold was traded to the Grizzlies, and the following day he was signed to a contract extension. His 2010 season with the Grizzlies was a poorer effort as he posted a 1–2 record with an 8.19 ERA. His contract option was picked up by the Grizzlies for the 2011 season but would be released/retired before the 2011 season commenced. [3]

During the winter of 2009, Meinhold played in the Australian Baseball League for the South Australian team for the 2010 Claxton Shield regular season.

Coaching career[]

Lindenwood University[]

Following his playing career, Meinhold volunteered as an assistant coach at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri for the 2011 season.

Coker College[]

After finding his passion as a volunteer assistant at Lindenwood, Meinhold was hired as the pitching coach, recruiting coordinator, and assistant athletic director of administration at NCAA Division II, Coker College, from July 2011 to December 2013, while he was earning his Master of Science in Sports Administration. He graduated in 2013.

St. Louis Cardinals[]

In 2013, Meinhold was hired as a scout and as a coach for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was assigned to the minor-league affiliate Palm Beach Cardinals for the 2014 season.[4] After the 2014 season he was promoted to being a professional major league scout. Combined with his scouting duties, from 2017 to 2019, Meinhold served as the pitching development analyst.

During his time with the Cardinals since April 2016, he also serves at USA Baseball for pitching development and evaluation. A position he still holds since leaving the Cardinals organization. He would later serve as the pitching coach for the 2017 United States national under-18 baseball team.[5]

New York Mets[]

In December 2019, Meinhold was hired by then-GM Brodie Van Wagenen as the minor league pitching coordinator for the New York Mets.[6]

In January 2021, Meinhold was promoted by the Mets as the club's assistant pitching coach serving alongside Jeremy Hefner while retaining the minor league pitching coordinator position.[7]

On September 23, 2021, Meinhold left his position as the assistant pitching coach and minor league pitching coordinator.[8]

Lotte Giants[]

On November 3rd, 2021, Meinhold was hired as director of pitching and pitching coach for the Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO).

References[]

  1. ^ "NY Mets name former Panther Ricky Meinhold assistant pitching coach & minor league pitching coord". drurypanthers.com. January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  2. ^ "Thursday's sports transactions". frontierleague.com. December 3, 2009. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  3. ^ "Archived Transactions (2008-2011)". frontierleague.com. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  4. ^ "Meinhold leaving Coker for pro job". SC Now. February 12, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  5. ^ "USA Baseball Announces 18U National Team". USA Baseball. August 24, 2007. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  6. ^ "Mets hire Ricky Meinhold as minor league pitching coordinator". Newsday. December 21, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  7. ^ "Mets announce 2021 full Major League coaching staff". MLB.com. January 5, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  8. ^ "Ricky Meinhold, Mets assistant pitching coach/minor league coordinator, leaves team for other opportunities: sources". New York Daily News. September 23, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.

External links[]

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