Meet the Instructor: Ryan Basham
Ryan was a 3-time All-State selection at Lowell High School (Lowell, IN) during his prep career. His career batting average is among the top 5 all-time in the state of Indiana. He went on to play for 3 years at Michigan State University. As a two-time All-Big Ten selection and two-time team MVP, Ryan was then drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 29th round in 2006.
After an injury kept him from playing in the Blue Jays organization, Ryan played 5 years of independent professional baseball. He spent time with the Florence Freedom (Florence, KY), the Joliet Jackhammers (Joliet, IL), and the Windy City Thunderbolts (Crestwood, IL). During his professional career, Ryan was named the 2007 Frontier League Rookie of the Year and 2009 Frontier League All-Star Game MVP. His professional career stats include a .285 batting average, 453 hits, 50 home runs, and 102 doubles.
Ryan began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Hanover Central High School (Cedar Lake, IN) during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. He then spent 2011 and 2012 as the hitting and outfield coach for Robert Morris University – Chicago (NAIA). In 2011, the Eagles won a conference title, finished 2nd in the CCAC in team batting average and home runs, and 1st in RBI. In 2012, the Eagles once again finished 2nd in batting average and home runs and 2nd in RBI in their conference.
Basham has been providing private hitting instruction for over a decade, which has afforded him the opportunity to work with thousands of baseball and softball hitters of all ages and skill levels. In this time, he has also had the privilege of working alongside and learning from many talented coaches and instructors. His instruction career began at Dave Griffin’s Baseball School in Griffith, IN. There he worked alongside the facility’s owner, Dave Griffin, currently the head coach at Purdue Northwest (NCAA D2). He has also worked alongside the Chicago Cubs Director of Hitting, Justin Stone, as well as former Major Leaguers John Cangelosi, Dean Anna, and the legendary Bo Jackson at the Bo Jackson Elite Sports Dome in Lockport, IL.
After moving with his family to the Indianapolis area in 2013, Ryan was employed by Roundtripper Sports Academy in Westfield, IN, for 3 years as a hitting instructor and head coach for their 15U Indiana Mustangs teams. In 2016, Ryan opened his own training location, Basham Baseball, in Whitestown, IN. Also in 2016, he joined the Indy Titans as a head travel baseball coach at the high school level, where he has coached ever since. Ryan is an OnBaseU Certified instructor.
