Steve Pearce, Infield

Date of Birth: 4/13/1983
Birthplace: Lakeland, Florida
College: University of South Carolina

Steve Pearce, infielder, was drafted first by the Minnesota Twins in 2003 but he opted for college. A year later, he was drafted by the Red Sox but he again chose college. He was a top player in college and in 2005, he finally decided to sign with the team that drafted him, the Pittsburgh Pirates. He played in the Pirates' minor league system from 2005 through 2011, playing in just 185 games with the Pirates from 2007 through 2011.

In December, 2011, Pearce signed a minor league contract with the Twins but he never played with them. They released him on March 27, 2012 and two days later, he signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees.

After just a few months in their minor league system, the Yankees traded Pearce to the Baltimore Orioles on June 2, 2012. He lasted less than two months and 28 games with the Orioles before they designated him for assignment on July 21, 2012. A week later, he was claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros.

Pearce played in 21 games with the Astros before they traded him back to the Yankees. After 12 games with them, the Yankees designated him for assignment on September 25, 2012. Four days later, the Orioles decided they again wanted Pearce so they claimed him off waivers on September 29th. He finished the 2012 season with a .239 batting average in 61 games with three teams (Orioles, Astros, Yankees). In 2013, he batted .261 in 44 games with the Orioles.

Pearce had his best season in 2014. He played in a career high 102 games and he finished with 99 hits, 26 doubles, 21 home runs, 49 RBIs, and a .293 batting average. He didn't do well, however, in the postseason, finishing with just 4 hits, 1 double, 1 RBI, and a .148 batting average in 27 at-bats in 7 games.

Pearce played in 92 games with the Orioles in 2015. He finished the season with 64 hits, 15 home runs, 40 RBIs, and a .218 batting average. Defensively, he played 28 games at first base, 18 games at second base, 41 games in left field, and 8 games in right field.

Pearce signed with the Tampa Bay Rays on January 28, 2016. He returned to the Orioles for the third time in a trade made on August 1, 2016. He finished the 2016 season with 76 hits, 13 doubles, 13 home runs, 35 RBIs, and a .288 batting average in 60 games with the Rays and 25 games with the Orioles. Defensively, he played 40 games at first base, 15 games at second base, 2 games at third base, 7 games in left field, and 6 games in right field.

On December 5, 2016, Pearce signed a two-year, $12.5 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. He finished the 2017 season with 79 hits, 17 doubles, 13 home runs, 37 RBIs, 68 strikeouts to 27 walks, and a .252 batting average in 92 games. Defensively, as a left fielder in 85 games, he made 132 putouts and 2 errors.

The Rays traded Pearce to the Boston Red Sox on June 28, 2018. He finished the 2018 season with 61 hits, 14 doubles, 42 RBIs, and a .284 batting average in 26 games with the Rays and 50 games with the Red Sox. Defensively, he played 34 games at first base and 15 games in the outfield.

Pearce had a strong postseason in 2018. He won the World Series MVP award after hitting two home runs in Game 5. In 38 at-bats in 13 games, he had 11 hits, 2 doubles, 4 home runs, 11 RBIs, and a .289 batting average. He struck out 8 times and walked 9 times.

Pearce became a free agent on October 29, 2018. Less than a month later, on November 16th, he re-signed with the Red Sox. He spent time on the DL in 2019 with a calf injury and with low back strain. He batted .180 in 29 games.

Pearce became a free agent on October 31, 2019. He hasn't played professional baseball since 2019.

Career batting statistics for Pearce through 2019 include:

• 766 games played
• 572 hits
• 131 doubles
• 91 home runs
• 303 RBIs
• 509 strikeouts to 240 walks
• .254 batting average

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Steve Pearce
ESPN - Steve Pearce