Daniel Nava
Encyclopedia
Daniel James Nava is a professional baseball
outfielder
in the Boston Red Sox
organization. He plays for the Pawtucket Red Sox
of the International League
.
Nava is only the second player in Major League Baseball history to hit a grand slam
on the very first pitch he saw in the majors.
. He played baseball at St. Francis High School
in Mountain View
, California
and received his Psychology degree from Santa Clara University
. He was and 70 pounds (31.8 kg) in his freshman year in high school and grew to and 150 pounds (68 kg) by his senior year.
After an opportunity to walk-on to the Santa Clara University
baseball team, he failed to make the team as a player and became the team equipment manager.
He left Santa Clara after two years because he could no longer afford the tuition. He then enrolled in the College of San Mateo
(junior college). He tried out for the baseball team on the encouragement of an old friend he happened to run into at a gym. While at the College of San Mateo, he became a Junior College All-American. Later Santa Clara wanted him back and eventually offered him a full scholarship. He hit .395 with an on-base percentage of .494 in his lone season with the Broncos, both tops in the West Coast Conference, and earned first-team All-WCC honors. He stole 15 bases without being caught, and he had more walks (31) than strikeouts (29).
of the Golden Baseball League
. The Outlaws cut him after a tryout, only to bring him back a year later to fill a void. In 2007 Nava hit 12 home runs for the Outlaws, with a .371 batting average and a 1.100 OPS. Nava was named the number one independent league prospect by Baseball America
in 2007. Red Sox's assistant director of pro scouting, Jared Porter, recommended the Sox sign Nava from the Chico Outlaws in 2007. The Red Sox paid the Outlaws $1 for the rights to Nava, with an agreement that the Outlaws would receive an additional $1,499 if the Red Sox kept Nava after spring training.
In 2008, he played for low Single-A Lancaster. He hit .341 with 10 home runs and 59 RBI in 85 games. His on-base plus slugging
percentage was .948. In 2009, he hit .339 at high Single-A Salem before being called up to Double-A Portland where he batted .364 with four home runs and an exceptional 25-to-12 walk-to-strikeout ratio. His OPS was .991.
In 2010, Daniel Nava spent two months in AAA. At that time he was quoted as saying "I know I have the talent and the ability, and I can keep playing at the next level," he said. "If I didn't think I could, I would have been like, ‘You know what? There’s no point.’ … I definitely thought I could perform and perform well. That’s why I kept on going. Quitting’s just not much of an option for me."
debut with the Boston Red Sox
on June 12, at Fenway Park
as the starting left fielder against the Philadelphia Phillies
. He was called up to help with the team's outfield situation, with Jacoby Ellsbury
and Jeremy Hermida
on the disabled list and Josh Reddick
optioned to the minor leagues for more playing time. On the first pitch he saw, Nava hit a grand slam
off Phillies pitcher Joe Blanton
into the Red Sox bullpen. Nava is only the fourth player to have hit a grand slam in his first at-bat, joining Bill Duggleby
in , Hermida in and Kevin Kouzmanoff
in . Nava is only the second player, after Kouzmanoff, to do so on the first pitch of his Major League career, and the first player in Major League Baseball history to achieve a grand slam on their first-ever MLB career at-bat, while in interleague play
. He is the tenth player in Red Sox history to hit a home run in his first plate appearance with the club, the last being Darnell McDonald
on April 20, 2010 against the Texas Rangers
. Creighton Gubanich
is the only other player in Red Sox history to hit a grand slam for his first big league hit; however, it was not in Gubanich's first Major League at-bat. Bill LeFebvre
is the only other player in Red Sox history to hit a home run on the first pitch thrown to him in the big leagues, doing so June 10, 1938.
Due to his outstanding debut, Nava continued to start for the Red Sox. On June 17, he had his first three-hit game, two of those hits being doubles, against the Arizona Diamondbacks
. Nava managed to reach base safely in his first 13 MLB games.
Nava was sent back to Pawtucket
on July 22, 2010 to make room for Jeremy Hermida, who came off the DL. He was recalled to Boston on August 2, 2010 to replace Mike Cameron
, who was placed on the DL, then optioned two days later to make room for Jacoby Ellsbury. On August 17, 2010 he was once again recalled back to the team after Ellsbury re-injured his ribs.
He was designated for assignment and removed from the Red Sox 40-man roster on May 20, 2011. He passed through waivers unclaimed and was out-righted back to the Pawtucket Red Sox.
For three years, he left a ticket at every minor league home game for ESPN
sportscaster Erin Andrews
.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
organization. He plays for the Pawtucket Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
.
Nava is only the second player in Major League Baseball history to hit a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
on the very first pitch he saw in the majors.
High school and college baseball
Nava was born in Redwood City, CaliforniaRedwood City, California
Redwood City is a California charter city located on the San Francisco Peninsula in Northern California, approximately 27 miles south of San Francisco, and 24 miles north of San Jose. Redwood City's history spans from its earliest inhabitation by the Ohlone people, to its tradition as a port for...
. He played baseball at St. Francis High School
Saint Francis High School (Mountain View)
Saint Francis High School, founded in 1954 by the Brothers of Holy Cross, is a Roman Catholic, co-educational, college preparatory secondary school located in Mountain View, CA. The Brothers of Holy Cross serve both on the faculty and on the Board of Directors...
in Mountain View
Mountain View, California
-Downtown:Mountain View has a pedestrian-friendly downtown centered on Castro Street. The downtown area consists of the seven blocks of Castro Street from the Downtown Mountain View Station transit center in the north to the intersection with El Camino Real in the south...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and received his Psychology degree from Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
. He was and 70 pounds (31.8 kg) in his freshman year in high school and grew to and 150 pounds (68 kg) by his senior year.
After an opportunity to walk-on to the Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
baseball team, he failed to make the team as a player and became the team equipment manager.
He left Santa Clara after two years because he could no longer afford the tuition. He then enrolled in the College of San Mateo
College of San Mateo
College of San Mateo is a community college in San Mateo, California. It is part of the San Mateo County Community College District....
(junior college). He tried out for the baseball team on the encouragement of an old friend he happened to run into at a gym. While at the College of San Mateo, he became a Junior College All-American. Later Santa Clara wanted him back and eventually offered him a full scholarship. He hit .395 with an on-base percentage of .494 in his lone season with the Broncos, both tops in the West Coast Conference, and earned first-team All-WCC honors. He stole 15 bases without being caught, and he had more walks (31) than strikeouts (29).
Minor League career
When Daniel Nava graduated, he went undrafted and signed with the Chico OutlawsChico Outlaws
The Chico Outlaws are a professional baseball team based in Chico, California, in the United States. The Outlaws are a member of the Western Division of the independent North American League, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
of the Golden Baseball League
Golden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico....
. The Outlaws cut him after a tryout, only to bring him back a year later to fill a void. In 2007 Nava hit 12 home runs for the Outlaws, with a .371 batting average and a 1.100 OPS. Nava was named the number one independent league prospect by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
in 2007. Red Sox's assistant director of pro scouting, Jared Porter, recommended the Sox sign Nava from the Chico Outlaws in 2007. The Red Sox paid the Outlaws $1 for the rights to Nava, with an agreement that the Outlaws would receive an additional $1,499 if the Red Sox kept Nava after spring training.
In 2008, he played for low Single-A Lancaster. He hit .341 with 10 home runs and 59 RBI in 85 games. His on-base plus slugging
On-base plus slugging
On-base plus slugging is a sabermetric baseball statistic calculated as the sum of a player's on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The ability of a player to both get on base and to hit for power, two important hitting skills, are represented. An OPS of .900 or higher in Major League...
percentage was .948. In 2009, he hit .339 at high Single-A Salem before being called up to Double-A Portland where he batted .364 with four home runs and an exceptional 25-to-12 walk-to-strikeout ratio. His OPS was .991.
In 2010, Daniel Nava spent two months in AAA. At that time he was quoted as saying "I know I have the talent and the ability, and I can keep playing at the next level," he said. "If I didn't think I could, I would have been like, ‘You know what? There’s no point.’ … I definitely thought I could perform and perform well. That’s why I kept on going. Quitting’s just not much of an option for me."
Major League career
Nava made his Major LeagueMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
debut with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
on June 12, at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
as the starting left fielder against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. He was called up to help with the team's outfield situation, with Jacoby Ellsbury
Jacoby Ellsbury
Jacoby McCabe Ellsbury ; born September 11, 1983) is an American professional baseball center fielder with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball....
and Jeremy Hermida
Jeremy Hermida
Jeremy Ryan Hermida is an outfielder in Major League Baseball for the San Diego Padres. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed.-Early career:...
on the disabled list and Josh Reddick
Josh Reddick
William Joshua Reddick is an American professional baseball outfielder with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball...
optioned to the minor leagues for more playing time. On the first pitch he saw, Nava hit a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
off Phillies pitcher Joe Blanton
Joe Blanton
Joseph Matthew Blanton is a starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball.-College career:...
into the Red Sox bullpen. Nava is only the fourth player to have hit a grand slam in his first at-bat, joining Bill Duggleby
Bill Duggleby
William James Duggleby , nicknamed "Frosty Bill," was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. He played from 1898 to 1907. He also played two games for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1902 and nine games for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1907...
in , Hermida in and Kevin Kouzmanoff
Kevin Kouzmanoff
Kevin Kouzmanoff is an American professional baseball third baseman who is a free agent.Kouzmanoff had trouble with various sports in high school. He got special help for batting practice, just to learn how to swing a bat for three years, implementing a swing...
in . Nava is only the second player, after Kouzmanoff, to do so on the first pitch of his Major League career, and the first player in Major League Baseball history to achieve a grand slam on their first-ever MLB career at-bat, while in interleague play
Interleague play
Interleague play is the term used to describe regular season Major League Baseball games played between teams in different leagues, introduced in . Before the 1997 season, teams in the American League and National League did not meet during the regular season...
. He is the tenth player in Red Sox history to hit a home run in his first plate appearance with the club, the last being Darnell McDonald
Darnell McDonald
Darnell Tyrone McDonald is an American professional baseball outfielder with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.-Professional career:...
on April 20, 2010 against the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. Creighton Gubanich
Creighton Gubanich
Creighton Wade Gubanich is a retired baseball player who played briefly in the major leagues in 1999 for the Boston Red Sox...
is the only other player in Red Sox history to hit a grand slam for his first big league hit; however, it was not in Gubanich's first Major League at-bat. Bill LeFebvre
Bill Lefebvre
Wilfred Henry "Lefty" Lefebvre played professional baseball from 1938 to 1944 as a pitcher. After graduating from The College of the Holy Cross, he pitched with the Boston Red Sox in 1938 and 1939. After a 4 year absence from the major leagues, Lefebvre played for the Washington Senators in 1943...
is the only other player in Red Sox history to hit a home run on the first pitch thrown to him in the big leagues, doing so June 10, 1938.
Due to his outstanding debut, Nava continued to start for the Red Sox. On June 17, he had his first three-hit game, two of those hits being doubles, against the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
. Nava managed to reach base safely in his first 13 MLB games.
Nava was sent back to Pawtucket
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
on July 22, 2010 to make room for Jeremy Hermida, who came off the DL. He was recalled to Boston on August 2, 2010 to replace Mike Cameron
Mike Cameron
Michael Terrance Cameron is an American professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He has previously played for the Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, and Florida Marlins.Cameron has won 3...
, who was placed on the DL, then optioned two days later to make room for Jacoby Ellsbury. On August 17, 2010 he was once again recalled back to the team after Ellsbury re-injured his ribs.
He was designated for assignment and removed from the Red Sox 40-man roster on May 20, 2011. He passed through waivers unclaimed and was out-righted back to the Pawtucket Red Sox.
Awards
- 2007 Independent Leagues Top Prospect (Baseball America)
- Red Sox ML Player of the Month (Aug/Sep 2009)
Personal life
His father, Don, is a fitness instructor and a coach.For three years, he left a ticket at every minor league home game for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
sportscaster Erin Andrews
Erin Andrews
Erin Jill Andrews is an American sportscaster, journalist, and television personality. As of 2011 she is a co-host of the ESPN entertainment show College GameDay and a contributor for Good Morning America on the ABC network...
.