By Craig Lynch
When last we saw Ryan Court he played with the Iowa Cubs in 2018. Court, a native of Elgin, played baseball at Dundee-Crown High School. He toiled in minor league baseball for seven years for three organizations.
He started this season in Arizona with the Chicago Cubs, but he was released in Spring training. After a stint with the Sugarland Skeeters, an independent baseball league team, the Seattle Mariners called and Court signed.
“I was in Tacoma (Wash.) and we were playing in Reno,” Court, 31, said. “That was cool because Reno was affiliated with the Diamondbacks, the team that drafted me.”
Finally, his dream came true. “Tim Lopes got hurt and (Seattle) needed a guy, so the Mariners called me up,” Court said. Court’s first big league at-bat came against the Detroit Tigers this season. “I didn’t get a hit, but I did crush a line drive right at the left fielder.”
Court, an infielder who grew up a Cubs fan, finally got to play in Wrigley Field. On Labor Day he stepped into the batter’s box as a pinch-batter and struck out to end the game.
“It was cool having my friends and family there,” he said. When asked how many were there to see him he said, “I can’t count.”
The Cubs beat the Mariners, 6-1, the day after Labor Day. Court started in left field and reached base twice, including a single in the fourth inning. Through Sunday his batting average was .208 on five hits in 24 at bats, including one home run and five runs batted in.
Last week he was sent outright to Seattle’s Triple-A team in Tacoma, Wash. and later designated for assignment.
Court’s father, John Court, was an accomplished athlete at East Aurora High School. His grandfather, Art Court, was head football coach at East Aurora, 1955-1960.
Ryan Court was asked if he ever thought about giving up his dream. “The thought passed through my mind,” he said. “I didn’t know if there would be a light at the end of the tunnel (to reach the major leagues).” Court said some of his ex-Cub teammates greeted him when he played in Wrigley Field. “I thank the Cubs and (manager) Joe Madden for all they did for me.”