Ryan Beaird joins Sioux City as a true rookie right-handed pitcher following a four-year collegiate career split between the University of Texas San Antonio and Tarleton State. After his lone season at Tarleton in 2025, he pitched with the St. Cloud Rox of the Northwoods League, going 5-2 with a 2.67 ERA, 36 strikeouts, and one save across 30.1 innings in 18 relief outings. At Tarleton, he made 13 appearances and posted a 1-4 record with a save in 27 innings. Before that, he spent three seasons at UTSA, appearing in 57 games with 13 starts and tallying 94 strikeouts with an 8-5 record. His best year came in 2023 when he went 4-2 with a 4.50 ERA over 34 innings. He also pitched in several summer leagues, including stops with Seguin in the Texas Collegiate League and Thunder Bay and San Luis Obispo in the Northwoods and California Collegiate Leagues.

Originally from Indianapolis but raised in Austin, Texas, Beaird was a standout at Reagan High School where he earned unanimous All-District honors, Rawlings Perfect Game All-American recognition, and threw two no-hitters as a senior in 2020. A two-sport athlete, he also helped Reagan football to a state semifinal appearance and was part of baseball teams that reached both the state semifinals and finals. His family boasts strong athletic ties: his uncle Brad played baseball at UTSA, his father Damon played at Odessa College and USC Aiken, his grandfather Rick played basketball at Southern Illinois, and his grandfather Jacques Demers famously coached the Montreal Canadiens to the 1993 Stanley Cup before serving as a Canadian senator.