Steve Ellsworth
Encyclopedia
Steven Clark Ellsworth is the son of Dick Ellsworth
and is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher who played for the Boston Red Sox
in 1988.
Towering over most of his teammates at 6'8" tall (and 220 pounds), this right-hander attended Bullard High School in Fresno, California
. He then went on to attend Cal State Northridge and Fresno City College
.
He was drafted twice in 1980, once by the Minnesota Twins
in the seventh round and once by the Cleveland Indians
in the third round. He didn't sign either time. He was drafted by the Red Sox in the first round of the 1981 draft, 9th overall. This time, he did sign. His professional career started off bumpy-he appeared in only one professional game that year, with the low-A Elmira Pioneers
, of the New York-Penn League. In that one game, he gave up two runs in one inning pitched, while walking two and striking out zero.
Between 1981 and 1988, he was used both as a starter and a reliever in the minors. In 1983 with the Winston-Salem Red Sox, he went 13-8 with a 3.29 ERA in 164+ innings as a starter. In 1986 with the Pawtucket Red Sox
, he went 6-2 with a 3.36 ERA in 83 innings of work as a reliever.
On April 7, 1988 at the age of 27, he made his Major League debut. He pitched two innings that game, giving up 8 hits and 5 earned runs. He struck out two, but still earned a loss. The rest of his career didn't fare him too well either-overall, he went 1 and 6 with a 6.75 ERA in 36 innings. He gave up seven home runs, walked 16 and struck out 16. He also hit one batter and threw one wild pitch. Perhaps the best start of his career was his second-on April 16, 1988, he gave up only one run while striking out five in seven innings against the Texas Rangers
. Even though he pitched well that game, he still got the loss. His only win came on April 21 against the Detroit Tigers
.
In the field, he made no errors for a fielding percentage
of 1.000.
Ellsworth played his final game on July 8, 1988. Like so many other first rounders, he never quite lived up to the hype.
Dick Ellsworth
Richard Clark Ellsworth is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies , Boston Red Sox , Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers . Ellsworth batted and threw left-handed. He is the father of Steve Ellsworth...
and is a former 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...
pitcher who played for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
in 1988.
Towering over most of his teammates at 6'8" tall (and 220 pounds), this right-hander attended Bullard High School in Fresno, California
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
. He then went on to attend Cal State Northridge and Fresno City College
Fresno City College
Fresno City College is a community college in Fresno, California. Established in 1910, it was the first community college in California and the second in the nation...
.
He was drafted twice in 1980, once by the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in the seventh round and once by the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
in the third round. He didn't sign either time. He was drafted by the Red Sox in the first round of the 1981 draft, 9th overall. This time, he did sign. His professional career started off bumpy-he appeared in only one professional game that year, with the low-A Elmira Pioneers
Elmira Pioneers
The Elmira Pioneers are an amateur baseball team based in Elmira, New York. They currently compete in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, a wood bat collegiate summer baseball league. Prior to the 2006 baseball season, the team was a professional ballclub with a rich history of league...
, of the New York-Penn League. In that one game, he gave up two runs in one inning pitched, while walking two and striking out zero.
Between 1981 and 1988, he was used both as a starter and a reliever in the minors. In 1983 with the Winston-Salem Red Sox, he went 13-8 with a 3.29 ERA in 164+ innings as a starter. In 1986 with the Pawtucket Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
, he went 6-2 with a 3.36 ERA in 83 innings of work as a reliever.
On April 7, 1988 at the age of 27, he made his Major League debut. He pitched two innings that game, giving up 8 hits and 5 earned runs. He struck out two, but still earned a loss. The rest of his career didn't fare him too well either-overall, he went 1 and 6 with a 6.75 ERA in 36 innings. He gave up seven home runs, walked 16 and struck out 16. He also hit one batter and threw one wild pitch. Perhaps the best start of his career was his second-on April 16, 1988, he gave up only one run while striking out five in seven innings against the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. Even though he pitched well that game, he still got the loss. His only win came on April 21 against the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
.
In the field, he made no errors for a fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
of 1.000.
Ellsworth played his final game on July 8, 1988. Like so many other first rounders, he never quite lived up to the hype.
Other information
- He earned $62,500 in 1988.
- He wore number 28.
- He currently resides in Clovis, CaliforniaClovis, CaliforniaClovis is a city in Fresno County, California, United States, northeast of Fresno. The population is estimated to be 97,218 as of September, 2011. Clovis is located northeast of downtown Fresno, at an elevation of 361 feet .-History:...
.