Current Contract:
Signed through 2007.

Became a Cardinal:
Signed as free agent on December 1, 2006.

2006 Season:
Ludwick signed with the Detroit Tigers for the 2006 season. He was assigned to Triple-A Toledo where he hit .266 with 26 home runs and 82 RBI.

Career Notes:
Ludwick was originally signed as the second-round selection of the Oakland A’s in 1999. After putting up good power numbers in Single-A and Double-A in 2000 and 2001, he moved to Texas in the Carlos Pena trade in 2002. That year, Ludwick made his big-league debut for the Rangers and was the organization’s seventh-ranked prospect in 2003.

In July of 2003, after playing most of the season in Triple-A, Ludwick moved to the Cleveland Indians in another trade, this one for outfielder Shane Spencer. His 162 major league at-bats that season would be a career high.

The right-handed hitter missed considerable time in 2004 and 2005 due to knee, shoulder and wrist woes, especially struggling the latter year after making the Indians out of Spring Training. Ludwick moved to the Detroit Tigers system in 2006. His career MLB line is .237/.299/.426 (BA/OBP/SLG) in 334 at-bats.

MISC:
Ryan's older brother, Eric, pitched for the Cardinals in 1996 and 1997 before heading to Oakland as part of the Mark McGwire trade.

Photo: MLB Photos