Stephen Drew
Encyclopedia
Stephen Oris Drew is a shortstop
in Major League Baseball
who plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks
. He is the younger brother of Boston Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew and former major leaguer Tim Drew
.
Drew went to Lowndes High School
in Valdosta, Georgia
. Following in the footsteps of his brother, J.D., he played college baseball
at Florida State University
under head coach Mike Martin where he was Baseball America
's Freshman of the Year, and ACC
Rookie of the Year.
in 2006. Drew did very well with the JetHawks batting .389 and 10 home runs. Drew would later be pulled up to Double-A and play for the Tennessee Smokies
. Drew would hit .218 and 4 home runs for the Smokies. He would later be pulled up to Triple-A and play for Tucson.
Drew was selected to the 2006 All-Star Futures Game
.
, Craig Counsell
injured his ribs, prompting the call-up of Drew from the D-Backs Triple-A affiliate, the Tucson Sidewinders
. He made his major league debut on July 15 against the Milwaukee Brewers
. Also making his major league debut that day (for the Brewers), was Tony Gwynn Jr., son of former major leaguer Tony Gwynn
. He would record his first major league hit against the Dodgers in a game against his brother J.D. Drew would finish the season with a .316 Batting Average, 5 HR, and 23 RBI.
In 2007
, Drew had an average season. Hitting .238 with 12 home runs. He would have a career high, 9 stolen bases.
In a game on September 1, , Drew hit for the cycle
against the St. Louis Cardinals
, becoming the first player to do so at Chase Field
. Batting leadoff, Drew singled
in the first inning, tripled
in the third inning, and homered
in the fifth inning against St. Louis Cardinals starter
Joel Pineiro
. He added a ground-rule double in the seventh inning against reliever
Kyle McClellan
. It was the fourth time a player hit for the cycle in the 2008 season. On the same day, Adrián Beltré
of the Seattle Mariners
hit for the cycle. This was the first time that two players hit for the cycle on the same day since 1920. He would finish the season batting .291 and would have a career high 21 home runs.
In 2009
, Drew hit a batting average of .261 with 12 home runs. He would have a career high 12 triples sharing the 2nd most in the league with Michael Bourn
.
On April 5, 2010, on Opening Day, Drew hit an inside-the-park home run
against starter Jon Garland
, becoming the sixth Diamondback to accomplish the feat. Drew would finish the season with a .278 batting average, 15 home runs, and 61 RBI.
In 2011, Drew would miss the first four games of the season for the Diamondbacks because of Abdominal pain
. On July 20, 2011, Drew slid into home plate and fractured his ankle and would miss the rest of the season. He would finish the season with a .252 batting average, 5 home runs, and 45 RBI.
outfielder
J.D. Drew and former major leaguer Tim Drew
. The Drew brothers plus their father are the only trio of first-round siblings ever selected in the Major League Baseball Draft.
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
in 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...
who plays for 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...
. He is the younger brother of Boston Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew and former major leaguer Tim Drew
Tim Drew
Timothy Andrew Drew is a former American Major League Baseball player.-Baseball career:The brother of MLB players J. D. Drew and Stephen Drew, Tim was a pitcher who played for the Cleveland Indians , Montreal Expos , and Atlanta Braves .He was named the Indians' 1999 Minor League Player of the Year...
.
Drew went to Lowndes High School
Lowndes High School
Lowndes High School is a public high school in Valdosta, Georgia, USA. The school is part of the Lowndes school system, which serves Lowndes County except for the city of Valdosta.-History:...
in Valdosta, Georgia
Valdosta, Georgia
Valdosta is the county seat of Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Valdosta Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of 54,518. The Valdosta metropolitan area, according to the 2010 estimate, has a population of 139,588...
. Following in the footsteps of his brother, J.D., he played college baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
under head coach Mike Martin where he was 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...
's Freshman of the Year, and ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
Rookie of the Year.
Minor Leagues
Drew started out in Class A+ with the Lancaster JetHawksLancaster JetHawks
The Lancaster JetHawks are a minor league baseball team of the California League located in Lancaster, California. The team is named for the city's association with the aerospace industry and plays its home games at Clear Channel Stadium...
in 2006. Drew did very well with the JetHawks batting .389 and 10 home runs. Drew would later be pulled up to Double-A and play for the Tennessee Smokies
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies are a Minor League Baseball team based in the Knoxville, Tennessee metropolitan area. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball as of the 2011 season...
. Drew would hit .218 and 4 home runs for the Smokies. He would later be pulled up to Triple-A and play for Tucson.
Drew was selected to the 2006 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...
.
Arizona Diamondbacks
On July 13, 2006, during a game against the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, Craig Counsell
Craig Counsell
Craig John Counsell is a Major League Baseball infielder.Counsell grew up in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, and attended Whitefish Bay High School, where he played baseball. His father worked for the Milwaukee Brewers...
injured his ribs, prompting the call-up of Drew from the D-Backs Triple-A affiliate, the Tucson Sidewinders
Tucson Sidewinders
The Tucson Sidewinders were a minor league baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona. The team, which played in the Pacific Coast League, was the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks major-league club....
. He made his major league debut on July 15 against the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. Also making his major league debut that day (for the Brewers), was Tony Gwynn Jr., son of former major leaguer Tony Gwynn
Tony Gwynn
Anthony Keith "Tony" Gwynn, Sr. , nicknamed Mr. Padre and Captain Video, is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is statistically one of the best and most consistent hitters in baseball history. He played his entire 20-year baseball career for the San Diego Padres...
. He would record his first major league hit against the Dodgers in a game against his brother J.D. Drew would finish the season with a .316 Batting Average, 5 HR, and 23 RBI.
In 2007
2007 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champion – [Boston Red Sox]*Postseason – October 2 to October 28Click on any series score to link to that series' page....
, Drew had an average season. Hitting .238 with 12 home runs. He would have a career high, 9 stolen bases.
In a game on September 1, , Drew hit for the cycle
Hitting for the cycle
In baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, becoming the first player to do so at Chase Field
Chase Field
Chase Field is a baseball stadium located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona and is the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball. It opened in , just in time for the Diamondbacks' first game as an expansion team...
. Batting leadoff, Drew singled
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...
in the first inning, tripled
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
in the third inning, and homered
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...
in the fifth inning against St. Louis Cardinals starter
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
Joel Pineiro
Joel Piñeiro
Joel Alberto Piñeiro is a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball starting pitcher. He is 6'1" tall and weighs 200 pounds. He is right-handed and made his major league debut on August 8, .-Career:...
. He added a ground-rule double in the seventh inning against reliever
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
Kyle McClellan
Kyle McClellan
Kyle William McClellan is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. He attended Hazelwood West High School. After graduating from high school, McClellan was drafted by the St...
. It was the fourth time a player hit for the cycle in the 2008 season. On the same day, Adrián Beltré
Adrián Beltré
Adrián Beltré Pérez is a Major League Baseball third baseman for the Texas Rangers.The youngest player in the National League when he made his major league debut, he has also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , the Seattle Mariners , the Boston Red Sox , and the Texas Rangers . He bats and...
of the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
hit for the cycle. This was the first time that two players hit for the cycle on the same day since 1920. He would finish the season batting .291 and would have a career high 21 home runs.
In 2009
2009 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champions – New York Yankees**American League Champions – New York Yankees**National League Champions – Philadelphia Phillies*Postseason – October 7 to November 4...
, Drew hit a batting average of .261 with 12 home runs. He would have a career high 12 triples sharing the 2nd most in the league with Michael Bourn
Michael Bourn
Michael Ray Bourn is a professional baseball outfielder with the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball. He serves as the Atlanta Braves leadoff hitter. He has also been a member of the United States national baseball team....
.
On April 5, 2010, on Opening Day, Drew hit 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:...
against starter Jon Garland
Jon Garland
Jon Steven Garland is a right-handed starting pitcher, who is currently a free agent.-High school career:At John F...
, becoming the sixth Diamondback to accomplish the feat. Drew would finish the season with a .278 batting average, 15 home runs, and 61 RBI.
In 2011, Drew would miss the first four games of the season for the Diamondbacks because of Abdominal pain
Abdominal pain
Abdominal pain can be one of the symptoms associated with transient disorders or serious disease. Making a definitive diagnosis of the cause of abdominal pain can be difficult, because many diseases can result in this symptom. Abdominal pain is a common problem...
. On July 20, 2011, Drew slid into home plate and fractured his ankle and would miss the rest of the season. He would finish the season with a .252 batting average, 5 home runs, and 45 RBI.
Personal Life
He is the younger brother of Red SoxBoston 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"...
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...
J.D. Drew and former major leaguer Tim Drew
Tim Drew
Timothy Andrew Drew is a former American Major League Baseball player.-Baseball career:The brother of MLB players J. D. Drew and Stephen Drew, Tim was a pitcher who played for the Cleveland Indians , Montreal Expos , and Atlanta Braves .He was named the Indians' 1999 Minor League Player of the Year...
. The Drew brothers plus their father are the only trio of first-round siblings ever selected in the Major League Baseball Draft.
External links
- No.1 - MLN FAB50 Baseball 2006 Rankings - Minor League News