Steve Pearce (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Steven Wayne Pearce (born April 13, 1983 in Lakeland, Florida
) is a Major League Baseball
player for the Pittsburgh Pirates
.
and posted a career .400 batting average
.
Pearce was selected twice in the MLB Draft, but did not sign; taken in the 45th round in the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft
by Minnesota
and in the 10th round in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
by Boston
. He played two seasons (2004–05) of NCAA baseball at the University of South Carolina
and led the Gamecocks in batting average, home run
s and RBI
both years and hit 42 home runs in his two seasons with USC to become the first player in school history to reach the 40-homer plateau that quickly.
As a senior in 2005, he hit .358 with 21 home runs and 63 RBI and was a Second-Team All-SEC selection, a Baseball America Second-Team All-American and the NCBWA District IV Player of the Year. Pearce was named to the watch lists for both the Golden Spikes Award (USA Baseball's top amateur baseball player) and the Dick Howser Trophy (top collegiate baseball player) prior to the 2005 season. As a transfer junior in 2004, he hit .346 with 21 home runs and 70 RBI to lead the Gamecocks to their third consecutive appearance in the College World Series and was named USC's Rookie of the Year and was selected to both the NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team and the College World Series All-Tournament Team. He set a South Carolina school record with a 1.000 fielding percentage
(416 PO, 22 A, 0 E) in 50 games at first base.
He played for the Cotuit Kettlers of the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2004 and hit .275 with one home run. Pearce transferred to South Carolina after playing two seasons (2002–03) at Indian River Community College
(Fla.) leading Indian River in batting average both seasons and combined to hit 17 home runs.
.
, then onto the AA Altoona Curve
, AAA Indianapolis Indians
. During his 2007 run in the minors, Pearce hit 31 home runs. Pearce the made his Major League debut for the Pirates on September 1 against the Milwaukee Brewers
. He would then go on to play 23 games with the Pirates.
In 2009, he failed to make the Pirates starting day roster after spring training
and began the year at Triple-A. With the recent addition of outfield prospects in the organization, Pearce was moved back to playing first base. He was recalled on June 20. Pearce joined the Pirates on July 23 to become the starting first baseman following the trade of Adam LaRoche
. He ended a poor 2009 season with 13 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs, 16 runs batted in, 1 stolen base, to go along with a .206 average, .296 on base percentage, .370 slugging percentage, in just 165 at bats.
Pearce has started the 2010 season with the Indianapolis Indians, but was eventually called up by the Pirates due to his .345 batting average for the Indians.
and left field.
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
) 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...
player for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
.
High school and college career
Pearce is a 2001 graduate of Lakeland High School (Fla.), where he was a four-year letterman in baseballBaseball
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...
and posted a career .400 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 :...
.
Pearce was selected twice in the MLB Draft, but did not sign; taken in the 45th round in the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft
2003 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:...
by Minnesota
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
and in the 10th round in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
2004 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
by Boston
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"...
. He played two seasons (2004–05) of NCAA baseball at the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
and led the Gamecocks in batting average, 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 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...
both years and hit 42 home runs in his two seasons with USC to become the first player in school history to reach the 40-homer plateau that quickly.
As a senior in 2005, he hit .358 with 21 home runs and 63 RBI and was a Second-Team All-SEC selection, a Baseball America Second-Team All-American and the NCBWA District IV Player of the Year. Pearce was named to the watch lists for both the Golden Spikes Award (USA Baseball's top amateur baseball player) and the Dick Howser Trophy (top collegiate baseball player) prior to the 2005 season. As a transfer junior in 2004, he hit .346 with 21 home runs and 70 RBI to lead the Gamecocks to their third consecutive appearance in the College World Series and was named USC's Rookie of the Year and was selected to both the NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team and the College World Series All-Tournament Team. He set a South Carolina school record with a 1.000 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
(416 PO, 22 A, 0 E) in 50 games at first base.
He played for the Cotuit Kettlers of the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2004 and hit .275 with one home run. Pearce transferred to South Carolina after playing two seasons (2002–03) at Indian River Community College
Indian River Community College
Indian River State College is a state college based in Fort Pierce, Florida which serves the counties of Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee and St. Lucie. It has branch campuses in Okeechobee, St. Lucie West in Port St...
(Fla.) leading Indian River in batting average both seasons and combined to hit 17 home runs.
Professional career
Pearce was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 8th round of the June 2005 Major League Baseball Draft2005 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
.
2007
Pearce began the 2007 season with the Prirates' A affiliate, the Lynchburg HillcatsLynchburg Hillcats
The Lynchburg Hillcats are a minor league baseball team in Lynchburg, Virginia. They are a Class High-A team in the Carolina League, and currently are a farm team of the Atlanta Braves. They had been a farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1995, with the Cincinnati Reds fulfilling the final...
, then onto the AA Altoona Curve
Altoona Curve
The Altoona Curve are a minor league baseball team based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, named after nearby Horseshoe Curve . The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club...
, AAA Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
. During his 2007 run in the minors, Pearce hit 31 home runs. Pearce the made his Major League debut for the Pirates on September 1 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...
. He would then go on to play 23 games with the Pirates.
2008-2010
In 2008, Pearce spent the majority of the year in Indianapolis, but made several appearances for the Pirates. On September 2, he was recalled again when the rosters expanded.In 2009, he failed to make the Pirates starting day roster after spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
and began the year at Triple-A. With the recent addition of outfield prospects in the organization, Pearce was moved back to playing first base. He was recalled on June 20. Pearce joined the Pirates on July 23 to become the starting first baseman following the trade of Adam LaRoche
Adam LaRoche
David Adam LaRoche , is a Major League Baseball first baseman. In 2011, the Washington Nationals signed him to a two-year deal...
. He ended a poor 2009 season with 13 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs, 16 runs batted in, 1 stolen base, to go along with a .206 average, .296 on base percentage, .370 slugging percentage, in just 165 at bats.
Pearce has started the 2010 season with the Indianapolis Indians, but was eventually called up by the Pirates due to his .345 batting average for the Indians.
2011
2011 marked the first time in his career that Pearce won a roster spot with the Pirates straight out of spring training. He's never spent Opening Day in the major leagues. He obtained a .283 batting average during spring training and had 5 doubles among his 13 hits. More importantly, he increased his versatility by working at two new positions, third baseThird 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...
and left field.