Craig Stansberry
Encyclopedia
Craig Leo Stansberry is a Major League Baseball
third baseman
who is currently in the San Diego Padres
organization. As of the end of the 2009 season, he is the only player in Major League Baseball history to have been born in Saudi Arabia.
Although he was born in Saudi Arabia, Stansberry only lived there for about a month. His father spent three years there working for a building materials company.
Stansberry attended Plano High School
in Texas
and went on to play one year at Rice University
in which he hit
.309 with six home run
s and 56 RBI
in 70 games. He also helped the Owls
win the College World Series
championship in his only year at Rice. He was then drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates
in the 5th round (135th overall) in the Major League Baseball draft, and then signed by scout Tom Barnard. After four seasons in the Pirates organization, he was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres on December 20, 2006.
Stansberry began the season for the Portland Beavers
, the Padres Triple-A team. He was called up on August 25, 2007, when everyday second baseman Marcus Giles
went on the disabled list
. He was batting .273 with 14 home runs and ten steals
in 124 games for the Beavers at the time of his call-up. Stansberry made his major league debut on that same day as a pinch hitter
. He singled
in his first major league at bat
off Philadelphia Phillies
relief pitcher
J. C. Romero.
In October 2009, Stansberry was granted free agency, but re-signed with the Padres, spending the 2010 season back with the Beavers. On September 1, 2010, Stansberry broke the record for most games played with the Portland Beavers. He ended the 2010 season with 531 games played with Portland.
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...
third baseman
Third 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...
who is currently in the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
organization. As of the end of the 2009 season, he is the only player in Major League Baseball history to have been born in Saudi Arabia.
Although he was born in Saudi Arabia, Stansberry only lived there for about a month. His father spent three years there working for a building materials company.
Stansberry attended Plano High School
Plano Senior High School
Plano Senior High School is a public secondary school in Plano, Texas, USA, serving students in grades 11–12. The school is part of the Plano Independent School District, with admission based primarily on the locations of students' homes...
in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and went on to play one year at Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
in which he hit
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 :...
.309 with six 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 56 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...
in 70 games. He also helped the Owls
Rice Owls
The Rice University athletic teams are known as the Rice Owls. The name comes from the owls in Rice's crest.Rice participates in NCAA Division I athletics and is part of Conference USA. Rice was a member of the Southwest Conference until its breakup in 1996. Rice then joined the Western Athletic...
win the College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
championship in his only year at Rice. He was then drafted by 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...
in the 5th round (135th overall) in the Major League Baseball draft, and then signed by scout Tom Barnard. After four seasons in the Pirates organization, he was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres on December 20, 2006.
Stansberry began the season for the Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
, the Padres Triple-A team. He was called up on August 25, 2007, when everyday second baseman Marcus Giles
Marcus Giles
Marcus William Giles is a former Major League Baseball player. He played second base and batted right-handed. His older brother, Brian Giles, was an outfielder who also played in the Major Leagues.-Career:...
went on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
. He was batting .273 with 14 home runs and ten steals
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
in 124 games for the Beavers at the time of his call-up. Stansberry made his major league debut on that same day as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
. He 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 his first major league at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
off Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
relief pitcher
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...
J. C. Romero.
In October 2009, Stansberry was granted free agency, but re-signed with the Padres, spending the 2010 season back with the Beavers. On September 1, 2010, Stansberry broke the record for most games played with the Portland Beavers. He ended the 2010 season with 531 games played with Portland.