DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers today named Ryan Garko as the club’s Vice President of Player Development, as announced by Tigers Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager, Al Avila.

Garko joins the Tigers organization after spending the previous two seasons on the Major League coaching staff of the Los Angeles Angels, serving as a Coaching Assistant/Instant Replay Coordinator. While with the Angels, Garko focused on the integration of analytics in the clubhouse and dugout, and offensive game planning. Prior to his time with the Angels, Garko was the head coach at the University of the Pacific from 2018-19, where he saw six of his players sign professional contracts during his tenure. He also has experience managing in professional baseball, leading Double A Tulsa for parts of the 2016 and 2017 season. Garko began his coaching career in 2013 as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Stanford University.

Originally selected by the Cleveland Indians in the third round of the 2003 MLB Draft, Garko played six years in the Majors with Cleveland (2005-09), San Francisco (2009) and Texas (2010). Over six big league seasons, Garko hit .275/.347/.434 with 75 doubles, three triples, 55 home runs and 250 RBI. He also played in the Korean Baseball Organization in 2011, helping the Samsung Lions to the KBO Championship.

Garko played collegiately at Stanford, where he was named the 2003 Co-Pac 10 Player of the Year and won the Johnny Bench Award, which is given to the top catcher in the college ranks.

Garko and his wife, Christie, reside in Laguna Niguel, CA with their two children, Olivia and James.