Stephen Drew, Retired


Date of Birth: 3/16/1983
Birthplace: Hahira, Georgia
College: Florida State University

Stephen Drew, retired infielder, started his professional baseball career in the Arizona Diamondbacks' minor league system in 2005. After less than two years in the minor leagues, he was called up to the Diamondbacks in 2006 for 59 games.

In 2007, his first full season in the major leagues, Drew batted .238 with 129 hits, 28 doubles, and 60 RBIs in 150 games. The following season was his best one. He batted .291 with career highs in games played (152), hits (178), doubles (44), and home runs (21) in 2008. On September 1, 2008, he hit for the cycle.

Drew continued to play well in 2009 and 2010, finishing the 2009 season with 139 hits, 29 doubles, and a .261 batting average and the 2010 season with 157 hits, 33 doubles, and a .278 batting average.

In July, 2011, Drew's season ended early when he fractured his ankle. He played in just 86 games that year. He started the 2012 season on the DL and in August, the Diamondbacks traded him to the Oakland Athletics. In 2012, he batted .223 in 40 games with the Diamondbacks and 39 games with the Athletics.

Drew signed a one-year, $9.5 million contract with the Boston Red Sox in December, 2012. In 2013, he batted .253 with 112 hits and 29 doubles in 124 games. On May 20, 2014, he signed again with the Red Sox, this time for $10 million for the 2014 season. Two months later, on July 31, 2014, Drew was traded to the New York Yankees. He finished the 2014 season with just 44 hits, 14 doubles, and a .162 batting average in 39 games with the Red Sox and 46 games with the Yankees.

Drew finished the 2015 season with 77 hits, 17 home runs, 44 RBIs, and a .201 batting average in 131 games. As the Yankees' second baseman in 123 games, he made 267 assists, 59 double plays, 158 putouts, and 7 errors.

Drew signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Washington Nationals on January 6, 2016. He played in 70 games and he batted .266. Defensively, he played 21 games at second base, 12 games at third base, and 12 games at shortstop. In the postseason, he had no hits in 4 at-bats in 4 games.

Drew re-signed with the Nationals on January 26, 2017. He spent most of the 2017 season on the DL, playing in just 46 games with the Nationals. He didn't play in the postseason.

Drew became a free agent on November 2, 2017. He retired on April 2, 2018.

Career batting statistics for Drew through 2017 include:

  • 1,268 games played
  • 1,109 hits
  • 258 doubles
  • 123 home runs
  • 524 RBIs
  • 926 strikeouts to 435 walks
  • .252 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Drew at shortstop through 2017 include:

  • 1,007 games played
  • 2,627 assists
  • 601 double plays
  • 1,348 putouts
  • 86 errors
  • .979 fielding percentage

Personal Life

Drew has two brothers who also played in the major leagues. His brother J.D. played from 1998 through 2011. In 2008, he was named the All Star Game MVP. His other brother, Tim, played in the major leagues from 2000 through 2004. Both of Drew's brothers played with the Atlanta Braves during their time in the majors and J.D. played with the Red Sox for several years.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Stephen Drew
ESPN - Stephen Drew