Nate Schierholtz
Encyclopedia
Nathan John Schierholtz (born February 15, 1984 in Reno, Nevada
) is a Major League Baseball
outfielder
for the San Francisco Giants
. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed. Schierholtz commonly bats without batting gloves, one of the few Major Leaguers to do so. Schierholtz is known for his particularly strong and accurate throwing arm.
in Danville, California
, the same high school as former Giants teammate Randy Winn
. Schierholtz was not heavily recruited out of high school and instead decided to play for Chabot College
, a community college
located in Hayward
, California. He played only one season for Chabot, starting at third base
. He batted
.400 with 72 hit
s, 60 RBI
, 18 home run
s, and 45 runs scored
that season. He was the co-MVP of the 2000 junior varsity team with Gregory Fortayon. Famous Danville baseball coach, Don Jons helped him get a recruitment into Chabot College. Matt Jons helped groomed his body into the athletic shape that it is today contributing to his recruitment into Chabot College, as well.
. In , Schierholtz switched from third base
to right field. He excelled at each of his stops in the minor league system, en route to his call up in .
as a defensive replacement. He got his first hit the next night in his first career at-bat. His most notable moment while on the big league club was on June 23, at home against the New York Yankees
, when he blooped a single
into center field
in the bottom of the 13th inning to win the game for the Giants. Despite a .325 batting average
in 40 at-bats, Schierholtz was sent down at the start of July.
Schierholtz was again called up in September , as the Giants' roster expanded.
Schierholtz started the 2009 season as a pinch hitter
. On June 14, 2009, Schierholtz had an inside-the-park home run
, only the fourth in AT&T Park history, in the 3rd inning against the Oakland A's.
The next year, Schierholtz's Giants won the 2010 World Series
. He appeared in 137 games during the regular season, mostly as a pinch-hitter and late-inning defensive substitution
. He received regular playing time throughout the postseason as a replacement for starting outfielder Pat Burrell
. Burrell was one of the best hitters on the Giants, but was a poor defender in the outfield. Whenever the Giants held a lead in the 6th inning or later, manager Bruce Bochy
would remove Burrell from the game and replace him with Schierholtz. This strategy was meant to provide the Giants with the best possible defensive outfield and, thus, the best chance of holding the lead and winning the game. Schierholtz ultimately appeared in 11 of San Francisco's 15 playoff games, accumulating 13 plate appearances and recording an RBI in Game 1 of the World Series against the Texas Rangers.
In 2011 Schierholtz began playing more as a starting Giant, due to a slump by outfielder Pat Burrell
. On July 6, 2011, against the San Diego Padres, Schierholtz recorded his first multi-home run game. In the bottom of the 14th inning of that game, he hit a walk-off home run that secured a 6-5 victory for the Giants. As of Sep 21, 2011 The Giants announce that Schierholtz season may be over due to a broken right foot.
affiliate, the Fresno Grizzlies
when his minor league
season ended as a result of his being selected for the 2008 USA Olympic
Baseball Team. In the sixth inning of a preliminary round game against China
, Schierholtz collided with China backup catcher
Yang Yang at the home plate on a sacrifice fly, a play that resulted in a near brawl between the teams and saw Chinese manager Jim Lefebvre
ejected from the game.
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major 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...
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...
for the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed. Schierholtz commonly bats without batting gloves, one of the few Major Leaguers to do so. Schierholtz is known for his particularly strong and accurate throwing arm.
High school and college
Schierholtz attended San Ramon Valley High SchoolSan Ramon Valley High School
San Ramon Valley High School is a four-year public high school located in the East Bay neighborhood of Danville, California, USA. San Ramon Valley High School is one of the schools in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. It is a National Blue Ribbon school from the Blue Ribbon Schools...
in Danville, California
Danville, California
The Town of Danville is located in the San Ramon Valley in Contra Costa County, California. It is one of the incorporated municipalities in California that uses "town" in its name instead of "city". The population was 42,039 in 2010. Danville is one of the wealthiest suburbs of Oakland and San...
, the same high school as former Giants teammate Randy Winn
Randy Winn
Dwight Randolph Winn is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder. Winn was a switch hitter, and threw right-handed. He played college baseball at Santa Clara University and made his Major League debut in 1998 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...
. Schierholtz was not heavily recruited out of high school and instead decided to play for Chabot College
Chabot College
Chabot College is a community college located in Hayward, California.-Campus:The campus has a 200-seat theatre, a 1,432-seat performing arts center, a full-size planetarium, four major athletic fields, an HD television studio, and an Olympic-class swimming pool.-History:Chabot College was the first...
, a community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
located in Hayward
Hayward, California
Hayward is a city located in the East Bay in Alameda County, California. With a population of 144,186, Hayward is the sixth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area and the third largest in Alameda County. Hayward was ranked as the 37th most populous municipality in California. It is included in...
, California. He played only one season for Chabot, starting at third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
. He batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.400 with 72 hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
s, 60 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, 18 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, and 45 runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
that season. He was the co-MVP of the 2000 junior varsity team with Gregory Fortayon. Famous Danville baseball coach, Don Jons helped him get a recruitment into Chabot College. Matt Jons helped groomed his body into the athletic shape that it is today contributing to his recruitment into Chabot College, as well.
Professional career
Schierholtz was drafted by the Giants in the second round (63rd overall) of the 2003 MLB Draft2003 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2003 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 3 and 4. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams.Source: -First round selections:...
. In , Schierholtz switched from third base
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
to right field. He excelled at each of his stops in the minor league system, en route to his call up in .
Major Leagues
Schierholtz made his major league debut on June 11, 2007, against the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
as a defensive replacement. He got his first hit the next night in his first career at-bat. His most notable moment while on the big league club was on June 23, at home against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, when he blooped a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
into center field
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
in the bottom of the 13th inning to win the game for the Giants. Despite a .325 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
in 40 at-bats, Schierholtz was sent down at the start of July.
Schierholtz was again called up in September , as the Giants' roster expanded.
Schierholtz started the 2009 season as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
. On June 14, 2009, Schierholtz had an inside-the-park home run
Inside-the-park home run
In baseball parlance, an inside-the-park home run, "leg home run", or "quadruple", is a play where a batter hits a home run without hitting the ball out of play.-Discussion:...
, only the fourth in AT&T Park history, in the 3rd inning against the Oakland A's.
The next year, Schierholtz's Giants won the 2010 World Series
2010 World Series
The 2010 World Series was the 106th occurrence of Major League Baseball's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff, played between the American League champion Texas Rangers and the National League champion San Francisco Giants, began on Wednesday, , and ended on Monday, , with the Giants...
. He appeared in 137 games during the regular season, mostly as a pinch-hitter and late-inning defensive substitution
Defensive substitution
A defensive substitution in the game of baseball occurs when a currently non-playing player is placed into the field in place of a starting player, typically due either to injury or the appearance of a pinch hitter...
. He received regular playing time throughout the postseason as a replacement for starting outfielder Pat Burrell
Pat Burrell
Patrick Brian "Pat" Burrell , nicknamed "Pat the Bat," is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He stands tall and weighs . He bats and throws right-handed...
. Burrell was one of the best hitters on the Giants, but was a poor defender in the outfield. Whenever the Giants held a lead in the 6th inning or later, manager Bruce Bochy
Bruce Bochy
Bruce Douglas Bochy is the manager of the San Francisco Giants. Prior to joining the Giants, Bochy had been the manager of the San Diego Padres for twelve seasons. Bochy is the only former Padres player to serve as the team's manager. He has participated in all five postseason appearances in...
would remove Burrell from the game and replace him with Schierholtz. This strategy was meant to provide the Giants with the best possible defensive outfield and, thus, the best chance of holding the lead and winning the game. Schierholtz ultimately appeared in 11 of San Francisco's 15 playoff games, accumulating 13 plate appearances and recording an RBI in Game 1 of the World Series against the Texas Rangers.
In 2011 Schierholtz began playing more as a starting Giant, due to a slump by outfielder Pat Burrell
Pat Burrell
Patrick Brian "Pat" Burrell , nicknamed "Pat the Bat," is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He stands tall and weighs . He bats and throws right-handed...
. On July 6, 2011, against the San Diego Padres, Schierholtz recorded his first multi-home run game. In the bottom of the 14th inning of that game, he hit a walk-off home run that secured a 6-5 victory for the Giants. As of Sep 21, 2011 The Giants announce that Schierholtz season may be over due to a broken right foot.
2008 USA Baseball Olympic Team
In , Schierholtz was batting .314 with fifteen home runs and 65 runs batted in for the Giants' Triple-A Pacific Coast LeaguePacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
affiliate, the Fresno Grizzlies
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
when his minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
season ended as a result of his being selected for the 2008 USA Olympic
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was held from August 13 to August 23. All games were played at Wukesong Baseball Field, a temporary venue constructed at the Beijing Wukesong Culture & Sports Center...
Baseball Team. In the sixth inning of a preliminary round game against China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Schierholtz collided with China backup catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Yang Yang at the home plate on a sacrifice fly, a play that resulted in a near brawl between the teams and saw Chinese manager Jim Lefebvre
Jim Lefebvre
James Kenneth Lefebvre is a former second baseman, third baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. Lefebvre, the 1965 National League Rookie of the Year, was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1962. In 1965, his rookie year, he hit .250 with 12 home runs and 69 RBI...
ejected from the game.