Jeff Granger
Encyclopedia
Jeffery Adam Granger
Jeffery Adam Granger (born December 16, 1971 in San Pedro, California is a former pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Kansas City Royals
and the Pittsburgh Pirates
.
in Orangefield, Texas
. In 1990, his senior year, he led the Orangefield Bobcats to the state semifinals with a 23-6 record. Also an outstanding hitter, he still holds the Texas state record for longest hitting streak (42 games). In football, he was named the #6 Texas high school prospect in the class of 1990 by the Austin American-Statesman
, and the #2 quarterback overall.
Still owns the Orangefield 400m school record with a sub 50 second performance.
Granger had a record of 16-6 with 251 strikeouts in 220 innings during his first two seasons. In 1993, he broke the Aggie record with 150 strikeouts and broke Roger Clemens
' Southwest Conference career strikeout record. He was the College Station Regional MVP in the College World Series
, and was all-SWC as well as being named a first team All-American. Granger was a finalist for the Golden Spikes award and also pitched for Team USA in international play.
He also played quarterback for the Texas A&M Aggies football
team, and was briefly the starter. Highlights included a 4 TD performance against Tulsa
playing in place of an injured Bucky Richardson
in 1991. Granger engineered two memorable last-minute drives in 1992. After being pulled from the season opening Disneyland Pigskin Classic game against Stanford
for a weak passing performance, he returned to throw a game-trying pass to tight end Greg Schorp
. On a subsequent drive, he scrambled 33 yards to the Cardinal 29 yard line to set up a game-winning field goal by Terry Venetoulias as the Aggies prevailed 10-7. Granger led the Aggies to a 4–0 start that season, and top 5 early season ranking. They were the first team to post 4 wins that year. Later against Texas Tech
, Granger escaped a sack on a third-and-eight at the Raiders' 42-yard line and hit Schorp with a first-down pass that set up another Venetoulias game-winning field goal as time expired.
by the Kansas City Royals
. He was only 21 when he broke into the majors with the Royals in September of that same year after only 7 impressive starts at single-A Eugene
in which he struck out 56 batters in only 36 innings. He began the 1994 Season at AA Memphis
and was called up to the big leagues for two respectable (but not overpowering) starts in May. Although he had dominated at the minor league level, it was clear that he needed some finesse to compliment his impressive velocity, and the Royals kept him at AA Wichita
in 1995. Granger was moved to the bullpen the following season and made a smooth transition, compiling an impressive 2.34 ERA for the AAA Omaha Royals
. Unfortunately, he was once again hit hard in 15 relief appearances for the major league club. In December 1996, Granger was traded by with Jeff Wallace, Joe Randa
, and Jeff Martin to the Pittsburgh Pirates
for Jeff King
and Jay Bell
.
Granger began the 1997 season with the Pirates, but was shelled in 9 relief appearances and sent down to AAA Calgary
, where he struggled for the rest of the season. Unfortunately, it would be his last major league action.
Granger spent the next three seasons struggling in the minor leagues for five different clubs in four different organizations. He even attempted to resurrect his career with the Long Island Ducks
, but ultimately retired from baseball. Although he was a phenomenal two-sport college athlete and was able to play four seasons in the major leagues, unfortunately Granger didn't end up being the major-league All-star that most envisioned him becoming, instead becoming a cautionary tale against rushing players to the major leagues.
Jeffery Adam Granger (born December 16, 1971 in San Pedro, California is a former pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in 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...
who played for the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
and 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
Granger was a star quarterback and pitcher for Orangefield High SchoolOrangefield High School
Orangefield High School is a secondary school in east Belfast, Northern Ireland. Formerly Orangefield Boys' Secondary School and Orangefield Girls' Secondary School, it is now coeducational....
in Orangefield, Texas
Orangefield, Texas
Orangefield is an unincorporated town located in Orange County, in the Beaumont-Port Arthur metro area, about twelve miles east of Beaumont in Orange County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. In 1990, his senior year, he led the Orangefield Bobcats to the state semifinals with a 23-6 record. Also an outstanding hitter, he still holds the Texas state record for longest hitting streak (42 games). In football, he was named the #6 Texas high school prospect in the class of 1990 by the Austin American-Statesman
Austin American-Statesman
The Austin American-Statesman is the major daily newspaper for Austin, the capital city of Texas. It is an award-winning publication owned by Cox Enterprises. The Newspaper places focus on issues affecting Austin and the Central Texas region....
, and the #2 quarterback overall.
Still owns the Orangefield 400m school record with a sub 50 second performance.
College
In two seasons for Texas A&MTexas A&M Aggies
Texas A&M Aggies refers to the students, graduates, and sports teams of Texas A&M University. The nickname "Aggie" is common at land-grant or "Ag" schools in many states. The teams compete in Division I of NCAA sports...
Granger had a record of 16-6 with 251 strikeouts in 220 innings during his first two seasons. In 1993, he broke the Aggie record with 150 strikeouts and broke Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
' Southwest Conference career strikeout record. He was the College Station Regional MVP in 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,...
, and was all-SWC as well as being named a first team All-American. Granger was a finalist for the Golden Spikes award and also pitched for Team USA in international play.
He also played quarterback for the Texas A&M Aggies football
Texas A&M Aggies football
The Texas A&M Aggies football team represents Texas A&M University in college football. The Aggies have competed in the Big 12 Conference since the conference's inception in 1996. They will join the Southeastern Conference in July 2012. Texas A&M football has earned one national title and 18...
team, and was briefly the starter. Highlights included a 4 TD performance against Tulsa
Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Tulsa Golden Hurricane athletics programs include the extramural and intramural sports team of the University of Tulsa. These teams are referred to as the Tulsa Golden Hurricane...
playing in place of an injured Bucky Richardson
Bucky Richardson
John "Bucky" Powell Richardson is a former quarterback for Texas A&M University who went on to play professionally for the NFL's Houston Oilers.-High School and College:...
in 1991. Granger engineered two memorable last-minute drives in 1992. After being pulled from the season opening Disneyland Pigskin Classic game against Stanford
Stanford Cardinal
The Stanford Cardinal is the nickname of the athletic teams at Stanford University.-Nickname and mascot history:Following its win over Cal in the first-ever Big Game in 1892, the color cardinal was picked as the primary color of Stanford's athletic teams...
for a weak passing performance, he returned to throw a game-trying pass to tight end Greg Schorp
Greg Schorp
Greg Schorp is a former tight end for Texas A&M University who went on to play professionally for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, and Jacksonville Jaguars. Schorp won All-Southwest Conference honors in from 1991–93 and was a first-team selection the latter two years...
. On a subsequent drive, he scrambled 33 yards to the Cardinal 29 yard line to set up a game-winning field goal by Terry Venetoulias as the Aggies prevailed 10-7. Granger led the Aggies to a 4–0 start that season, and top 5 early season ranking. They were the first team to post 4 wins that year. Later against Texas Tech
Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Texas Tech Red Raiders are the athletic teams that represent Texas Tech University . The women's basketball team uses the name Lady Raiders; however, the school's other women's teams use the "Red Raiders" name. The university's athletic program fields teams in 15 varsity sports and 30 club sports...
, Granger escaped a sack on a third-and-eight at the Raiders' 42-yard line and hit Schorp with a first-down pass that set up another Venetoulias game-winning field goal as time expired.
Professional career
Granger was drafted in the 1st Round (5th overall pick) of the 1993 MLB Draft1993 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1993 Major League Baseball draft.-Compensation picks:-Other notable players:*Scott Rolen was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2nd round of the 1993 amateur draft....
by the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. He was only 21 when he broke into the majors with the Royals in September of that same year after only 7 impressive starts at single-A Eugene
Eugene Emeralds
The Eugene Emeralds is a minor league baseball team in Eugene, Oregon, United States. They are a short-season Class A team in the Northwest League, and have been a farm team of the San Diego Padres since 2001....
in which he struck out 56 batters in only 36 innings. He began the 1994 Season at AA Memphis
Memphis Chicks
The Memphis Chicks were an American minor league baseball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Chicks were charter members of the Southern Association from 1901 until November 18, 1960, when the club folded and was transferred to Macon, Georgia for 1961.The Chicks suffered a...
and was called up to the big leagues for two respectable (but not overpowering) starts in May. Although he had dominated at the minor league level, it was clear that he needed some finesse to compliment his impressive velocity, and the Royals kept him at AA Wichita
Wichita Wranglers
The Wichita Wranglers were a minor league baseball team based in Wichita, Kansas. The team, which played in the Texas League, was the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major-league club from 1995 to 2007, and of the San Diego Padres from 1987 to 1994. The Wranglers played in...
in 1995. Granger was moved to the bullpen the following season and made a smooth transition, compiling an impressive 2.34 ERA for the AAA Omaha Royals
Omaha Royals
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...
. Unfortunately, he was once again hit hard in 15 relief appearances for the major league club. In December 1996, Granger was traded by with Jeff Wallace, Joe Randa
Joe Randa
Joseph Gregory Salvatore Randa is a former Major League Baseball player. He was primarily a third baseman during his career. His nickname is "The Joker" due to his resemblance to the comic book character in Batman and his ever-present smile, especially during his plate appearances...
, and Jeff Martin to 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...
for Jeff King
Jeff King (baseball)
Jeffrey Wayne King is a former professional baseball player who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Royals.-Career:...
and Jay Bell
Jay Bell
Jay Stuart Bell is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and second baseman who played for the Cleveland Indians , Pittsburgh Pirates , Kansas City Royals , Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets .He played his high school baseball at J.M...
.
Granger began the 1997 season with the Pirates, but was shelled in 9 relief appearances and sent down to AAA Calgary
Calgary Cannons
The Calgary Cannons were a minor league baseball team located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for 18 seasons, from 1985 until 2002. They were a member of the AAA Pacific Coast League and played at Foothills Stadium. The Cannons replaced the Calgary Expos who played in the rookie level Pioneer League...
, where he struggled for the rest of the season. Unfortunately, it would be his last major league action.
Granger spent the next three seasons struggling in the minor leagues for five different clubs in four different organizations. He even attempted to resurrect his career with the Long Island Ducks
Long Island Ducks
The Long Island Ducks is an American professional baseball team based in Central Islip, New York. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
, but ultimately retired from baseball. Although he was a phenomenal two-sport college athlete and was able to play four seasons in the major leagues, unfortunately Granger didn't end up being the major-league All-star that most envisioned him becoming, instead becoming a cautionary tale against rushing players to the major leagues.