Stephen Randolph
Encyclopedia
Stephen LeCharles Randolph (born May 1, 1974 in Okinawa
, Japan
) is an American
left-handed
pitcher
formerly in Major League Baseball
but now for the Yokohama BayStars
of NPB.
Randolph was selected by the New York Yankees
in the 18th round of the 1995 MLB Draft
out of the University of California-Santa Barbara. He spent three seasons in the Yankees farm system, never getting above "A" ball.
In late 1997 he was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks
in the minor league phase of the Rule V Draft and joined the Diamondbacks farm system, where he would remain through 2003, primarily with the Tucson Sidewinders
.
He made his Major League debut on March 31, 2003 for the Diamondbacks against the Los Angeles Dodgers
, working 1/3 of an inning in relief. He became a regular contributor to the Arizona bullpen in both 2003 and 2004, pitching in 50 games in 2003 and 45 in 2004.
In January, 2005, Arizona traded him to the Chicago Cubs
but the Cubs released him at the end of spring training and he spent the 2005 season with minor league affiliates of the San Francisco Giants
and Washington Nationals
and the 2006 season with the Charlotte Knights
in the Chicago White Sox
organization.
On January 4, 2007, he signed a minor league deal with the Houston Astros
and was called up to Houston from Triple-A Round Rock
April 25 when reliever
Rick White was placed on the disabled list
(DL) with an oblique strain. He made only two appearances before he was designated for assignment
on April 27 to make room for top outfield
prospect
Hunter Pence
. He was recalled from Round Rock June 19 when Brad Lidge
went on the DL with an oblique strain,
but was again designated for assignment June 28.
On December 13, 2007, he was among 89 players named in the Mitchell Report
on performance-enhancing drug use in baseball.
On May 8, 2008, Randolph was traded by the Astros to the Philadelphia Phillies
. He was assigned to the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs
and became a free agent at the end of the season. He signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers
in January and was assigned to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes
. On July 3, the Dodgers traded him to the Kansas City Royals
. On July 25, 2009 Randolph was sold to the Yokohama BayStars
.
Okinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
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...
formerly 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...
but now for the Yokohama BayStars
Yokohama BayStars
The are a professional baseball team in the Japanese Central League. Home field is the Yokohama Stadium, located in central Yokohama. The clubhouse is located near the stadium....
of NPB.
Randolph was selected by the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in the 18th round of the 1995 MLB Draft
MLB Draft
The First-Year Player Draft, also known as the Rule 4 Draft, is Major League Baseball's primary mechanism for assigning amateur baseball players, from high schools, colleges, and other amateur baseball clubs, to its teams. The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings, with...
out of the University of California-Santa Barbara. He spent three seasons in the Yankees farm system, never getting above "A" ball.
In late 1997 he was selected by 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 minor league phase of the Rule V Draft and joined the Diamondbacks farm system, where he would remain through 2003, primarily with the Tucson Sidewinders
Tucson Sidewinders
The Tucson Sidewinders were a minor league baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona. The team, which played in the Pacific Coast League, was the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks major-league club....
.
He made his Major League debut on March 31, 2003 for the Diamondbacks against the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, working 1/3 of an inning in relief. He became a regular contributor to the Arizona bullpen in both 2003 and 2004, pitching in 50 games in 2003 and 45 in 2004.
In January, 2005, Arizona traded him to 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...
but the Cubs released him at the end of spring training and he spent the 2005 season with minor league affiliates of 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....
and Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
and the 2006 season with the Charlotte Knights
Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a minor league baseball team representing Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox of the American League...
in the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
organization.
On January 4, 2007, he signed a minor league deal with the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
and was called up to Houston from Triple-A Round Rock
Round Rock Express
The Round Rock Express is a class Triple-A Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team in Round Rock, Texas, owned by RSR Sports and founded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The team is affiliated with the Texas Rangers, for whom Nolan Ryan serves as the president and...
April 25 when reliever
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...
Rick White was placed 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:...
(DL) with an oblique strain. He made only two appearances before he was designated for assignment
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
on April 27 to make room for top outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
prospect
Prospect (sports)
In sports, a prospect is any player whose rights are owned by a professional team, but who has yet to play a game for the team, or isn't established with the team yet. Prospects can sometimes be assigned to farm teams...
Hunter Pence
Hunter Pence
Hunter Andrew Pence is a Major League Baseball outfielder with the Philadelphia Phillies. Pence stands tall and weighs . He bats and throws right-handed.-Early life:...
. He was recalled from Round Rock June 19 when Brad Lidge
Brad Lidge
Bradley Thomas "Brad" Lidge is a reliever who is currently a free agent. Nicknamed "Lights Out", he is the all-time leader in strikeouts per nine innings among pitchers with at least 200 appearances in their career...
went on the DL with an oblique strain,
but was again designated for assignment June 28.
On December 13, 2007, he was among 89 players named in the Mitchell Report
Mitchell Report (baseball)
The Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of an Independent Investigation into the Illegal Use of Steroids and Other Performance Enhancing Substances by Players in Major League Baseball, informally known as the "Mitchell Report", is the result of former Democratic United States Senator from Maine...
on performance-enhancing drug use in baseball.
On May 8, 2008, Randolph was traded by the Astros to the 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...
. He was assigned to the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a minor league baseball team that plays in the International League. The IronPigs are the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The team plays their home games at Coca-Cola Park, which is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania...
and became a free agent at the end of the season. He signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in January and was assigned to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
. On July 3, the Dodgers traded him to 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...
. On July 25, 2009 Randolph was sold to the Yokohama BayStars
Yokohama BayStars
The are a professional baseball team in the Japanese Central League. Home field is the Yokohama Stadium, located in central Yokohama. The clubhouse is located near the stadium....
.