Jason Stokes was a first baseman

First baseman

First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...

 in the Oakland Athletics

Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....

 and Florida Marlins

Florida Marlins

The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...

 organizations.

As a senior for Coppell High School in Coppell, Texas

Coppell, Texas

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 35,958 people, 12,211 households, and 9,781 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,418.5 people per square mile . There were 12,587 housing units at an average density of 846.6 per square mile...

, he hit 25 home run

Home run

In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...

s, which still stands as the state single-season home run record. Stokes was named the Gatorade

Gatorade

Gatorade is a brand of sports-themed food and beverage products, built around its signature product: a line of sports drinks. Gatorade is currently manufactured by PepsiCo, distributed in over 80 countries...

 U.S. High School Baseball Player of the Year in 2000.

Stokes was drafted in the second round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft

2000 Major League Baseball Draft

-First Round Selections:-Compensation picks:- Background :The Florida Marlins made Adrian Gonzalez of Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, CA the first overall selection in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft...

 by the Florida Marlins. His best season in the minor leagues was in with the Kane County Cougars

Kane County Cougars

The Kane County Cougars are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Kansas City Royals, that plays in the Midwest League. Their home games are played in Geneva, Illinois, about 35 miles west of Chicago....

, where he hit .341 with 27 home runs and 75 runs batted in, earning Stokes the Sporting News minor league player of the year award. Stokes participated in the 2002 All-Star Futures Game

All-Star Futures Game

The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...

 during All-Star Weekend, playing for the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 team. He was ranked as the Marlins number four prospect and "Best Power Prospect" entering the season according to 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...

.

Injuries plagued Stokes' career. His seasons with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes

Albuquerque Isotopes

The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...

 in 2005 and were cut short due to hand and groin injuries. After being traded to the Oakland Athletics organization in early 2007, Stokes played a few games with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats

Sacramento River Cats

The Sacramento River Cats is a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics....

, but again went on the disabled list with a back injury. Due to accumulating injuries, Stokes retired from baseball at the end of the 2007 season.

Attempting a comeback, Stokes signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...

in January, 2010. He participated in spring training with the Tigers but was released on March 31 after suffering a groin injury.