Drew Stubbs
Encyclopedia
Andrew Robert "Drew" Stubbs (born October 4, 1984 in Texarkana, Texas
) is an American Major League Baseball
player for the Cincinnati Reds
. He plays center field.
in the gold medal game against Japan at the 2004 FISU II World University Baseball Championship
in Taiwan
. Stubbs was the Longhorns' co-MVP, named Big 12 co-Player of the Year, and one of five finalists for the Golden Spikes Award
in 2006.
. In his 2006 season at the rookie class Billings Mustangs
, Stubbs batted .256 with six home runs and 24 RBIs in 56 games, including three triples, in 210 at-bats.
Earning a promotion to the Class A Dayton Dragons
(the low A team), he batted .270 with 12 home runs, 43 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases in 129 games, including an 11-game hit streak to start the year. His performance earned him a spot in the Midwest League
All-Star Game. After the season he was named the 10th best prospect in the Midwest League and the 5th best in the Reds' organization by Baseball America
.
In the 2008 season Stubbs started with the Class A Sarasota Reds (the high A team), then was promoted to the Class AA Chattanooga Lookouts
, and finally to the Class AAA Louisville Bats
. In a combined 131 plate appearances, he batted .277 with 7 home runs, 57 RBIs, and 33 stolen bases. His 33 steals led all Reds minor leaguers.
Stubbs represented the U.S. in the 2009 All-Star Futures Game
. As of 2009, he was ranked as the Reds' third best prospect behind first baseman Yonder Alonso
and shortstop Todd Frazier.
Stubbs made his major league debut on August 19, 2009. In his second game, he hit a game-winning home run to beat the San Francisco Giants
. He finished the season with a .267 average, hitting eight home runs. Drew was named to the 2010 Cincinnati Reds roster for opening day, but did not play. He started in center field for the second game of the season.
He hit his first career grand slam on April 9, 2010, against the Chicago Cubs
.
On July 4, 2010, he hit 3 home runs against the Chicago Cubs
.
On July 24, 2011, Stubbs hit a leadoff walk-off home run on the first pitch from Atlanta Braves
reliever Scott Linebrink
to give the Reds a 4–3 win.
As of August 30, 2011, Stubbs had 177 strikeouts in 133 games played for the 2011 season. The record for the most strikeouts in a single season stands at 223 by Mark Reynolds
of the Arizona Diamondbacks
in the 2009 season.
Despite concerns with Stubbs' performance at the plate from a team perspective, he continued to be a productive player for baseball fantasy leagues. He was the 14th ranking center fielder for the 2011 season. His combination of speed with 35 stolen bases, power with 15 home runs, and run scoring ability with 85 runs scored (all as of August 30, 2011) made him a valuable fantasy player. He had a 100% ownership rating in ESPN's fantasy baseball leagues, and maintained this rating for a majority of the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Stubbs joined Mark Reynolds as the only two players in MLB history to strike out 200 or more times in one season.
In 2011, Stubbs led the major leagues with 205 strikeouts, 33 more than Ryan Howard
, who was second in the National League. He was second in the league in stolen bases, with 40.
Texarkana, Texas
Texarkana is a city in Bowie County, Texas, United States. It effectively functions as one half of a city which crosses a state line — the other half, the city of Texarkana, Arkansas, lies on the other side of State Line Avenue...
) is an American 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 Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. He plays center field.
Before professional baseball
Drew Stubbs graduated from Atlanta High School in 2003. He was a three-time All-American in baseball and two-time academic All-American at the University of Texas. He hit a game-winning triple for Team USAUnited States national baseball team
The United States National Baseball team represents the United States in international baseball competition. The United States has won the previous two Baseball World Cups, having lost this title to the Netherlands in 2011, and is currently second in the IBAF World Rankings, behind Cuba.The team...
in the gold medal game against Japan at the 2004 FISU II World University Baseball Championship
World University Baseball Championship
The World University Baseball Championship is an under-23 international college baseball competition sponsored by the International University Sports Federation and sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation , which was first held in 2002 in Italy...
in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. Stubbs was the Longhorns' co-MVP, named Big 12 co-Player of the Year, and one of five finalists for the Golden Spikes Award
Golden Spikes Award
The Golden Spikes Award is awarded annually to the best amateur baseball player. It is awarded by USA Baseball and sponsored by the Major League Baseball Players Association. Though the award can be presented to any amateur player, it has always been given to a college baseball player.-Past...
in 2006.
Professional career
Stubbs was the first round pick (8th overall) of the Cincinnati Reds in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft2006 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 6 and 7. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams.-First Round Selections:...
. In his 2006 season at the rookie class Billings Mustangs
Billings Mustangs
The Billings Mustangs are a minor league baseball team based in Billings, Montana. The Mustangs are the Pioneer League Rookie affiliate of the Major League Cincinnati Reds. The team has been a part of the Pioneer League since 1948 with a five-year gap between 1964 and 1968, and has been affiliated...
, Stubbs batted .256 with six home runs and 24 RBIs in 56 games, including three triples, in 210 at-bats.
Earning a promotion to the Class A Dayton Dragons
Dayton Dragons
The Dayton Dragons are a Class A minor league baseball team from Dayton, Ohio affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds. They play in the Midwest League at Fifth Third Field.The Dragons came to Dayton in 2000...
(the low A team), he batted .270 with 12 home runs, 43 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases in 129 games, including an 11-game hit streak to start the year. His performance earned him a spot in the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
All-Star Game. After the season he was named the 10th best prospect in the Midwest League and the 5th best in the Reds' organization 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 the 2008 season Stubbs started with the Class A Sarasota Reds (the high A team), then was promoted to the Class AA Chattanooga Lookouts
Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
, and finally to the Class AAA Louisville Bats
Louisville Bats
The Louisville Bats, which play in Louisville, Kentucky, are the AAA minor league baseball affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The team, formerly known as the Louisville RiverBats, plays in the International League...
. In a combined 131 plate appearances, he batted .277 with 7 home runs, 57 RBIs, and 33 stolen bases. His 33 steals led all Reds minor leaguers.
Stubbs represented the U.S. in the 2009 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...
. As of 2009, he was ranked as the Reds' third best prospect behind first baseman Yonder Alonso
Yonder Alonso
Yonder Alonso is a Cuban-American baseball first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds.-College:Alonso attended the University of Miami, where he played three seasons for the Hurricanes...
and shortstop Todd Frazier.
Stubbs made his major league debut on August 19, 2009. In his second game, he hit a game-winning home run to beat 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 finished the season with a .267 average, hitting eight home runs. Drew was named to the 2010 Cincinnati Reds roster for opening day, but did not play. He started in center field for the second game of the season.
He hit his first career grand slam on April 9, 2010, against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
.
On July 4, 2010, he hit 3 home runs against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
.
On July 24, 2011, Stubbs hit a leadoff walk-off home run on the first pitch from Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
reliever Scott Linebrink
Scott Linebrink
Scott Cameron Linebrink is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher, who is a free agent. He attended Texas State University.-Career:...
to give the Reds a 4–3 win.
As of August 30, 2011, Stubbs had 177 strikeouts in 133 games played for the 2011 season. The record for the most strikeouts in a single season stands at 223 by Mark Reynolds
Mark Reynolds (baseball)
Mark Andrew Reynolds is a third baseman/first baseman in Major League Baseball who plays for the Baltimore Orioles. He is known both for his power-hitting abilities and for his record-breaking strike out totals...
of 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...
in the 2009 season.
Despite concerns with Stubbs' performance at the plate from a team perspective, he continued to be a productive player for baseball fantasy leagues. He was the 14th ranking center fielder for the 2011 season. His combination of speed with 35 stolen bases, power with 15 home runs, and run scoring ability with 85 runs scored (all as of August 30, 2011) made him a valuable fantasy player. He had a 100% ownership rating in ESPN's fantasy baseball leagues, and maintained this rating for a majority of the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Stubbs joined Mark Reynolds as the only two players in MLB history to strike out 200 or more times in one season.
In 2011, Stubbs led the major leagues with 205 strikeouts, 33 more than Ryan Howard
Ryan Howard
Ryan James Howard is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies. Nicknamed "The Big Piece", Howard stands and weighs . He bats and throws left-handed....
, who was second in the National League. He was second in the league in stolen bases, with 40.