Stephen Drew Stats & Scouting Report

AB	4403
AVG	.252
OBP	.318
SLG	.423
HR	123

Full name Stephen Oris Drew
Born 03/16/1983 in Hahira, GA
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Florida State
Debut 07/15/2006
Drafted in the 1st round (15th overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2004 (signed for $4,000,000).

View Draft Report

Older brothers J.D. and Tim, both currently in the Braves organization, were first-round picks in the 1997 draft. Atlanta doesn't draft until 71st overall, so the Georgia natives won't all be playing for the home team, because Stephen ranks as the best position player available. J.D. was the top player available in '97, and Stephen offers some similarities in tools, though scouts agree he's more like Todd Walker, though more athletic and better defensively. Stephen is a five-tool player, average across the board but with above-average speed and well-above-average hitting ability. He has fast hands and good plate discipline, and when he's locked in can dominate a game, a series, a week or a month. As a freshman, he missed 25 games with a broken foot and then carried Florida State to a 26-game winning streak. He was hurt again in 2003, tweaking his hamstring in a super-regional against Texas. The injuries have had two effects: Drew has never played extended time with wood bats, and he's taken on some of the makeup questions that dog his brother. Some question whether he has the first-step quickness to play shortstop in pro ball. Stephen hasn't shown much leadership in college, and scouts agree he doesn't play his best all the time--only when he wants to.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The talented trio of Drew brothers (Stephen and older siblings J.D. and Tim) have been drafted a total of four times in the first round--and Stephen almost made it five. The top position player available in the 2004 draft, Drew slipped to Arizona at No. 15 because of his bonus demands. Negotiations dragged into the spring of 2005, and he joined Camden in the independent Atlantic League. He finally signed with Arizona on May 30, minutes before a midnight deadline. Drew agreed to a five-year, $5.5 million major league contract that included a $4 million bonus and another $2 million in easily obtained incentives. His indy league time allowed Drew to hit the ground running at high Class A Lancaster, despite missing two weeks with a nagging hamstring injury. He tired at Double-A Tennessee as his layoff took its toll, but rebounded to hit .337 with six homers in the Arizona Fall League. One scout calls Drew "the perfect combination of baseball tools and baseball skills."He's a middle infielder who's a middle-of-the-order run producer as well. He uses the same setup and has the same picture-perfect swing as his brother J.D., and Drew already has an advanced knowledge of the strike zone. He has the ability to hit for average with power to all fields. His stroke has natural loft and plenty of backspin in its finish. Because he never played in a college summer league or with Team USA, Drew's ability to hit with wood was a question mark, but that issue was eliminated with his strong pro debut. Defensively, Drew has good reactions and soft hands while flashing above-average arm strength. He's a slightly above-average runner, though the hamstring troubles muted his speed. Questions about Drew's makeup and desire lingered throughout his amateur career. His seeming unwillingness to play summer ball in college, as well his constant time off with injuries, left some to wonder if Drew's desire matches his obvious abilities. J.D. has had the same tag in the major leagues. Drew's stoic on-field demeanor is also often interpreted as a lack of fire, though he begged his way back into the lineup with the hamstring problems when the Diamondbacks wanted to shut him down. At the plate, Drew can overadjust to cold streaks, becoming either overly contact-oriented or pull-conscious. He's often lazy in the field, waiting on grounders and flipping throws to first base. He doesn't always show the first-step quickness to stay at shortstop, though he has the athleticism to be an above-average second baseman or center fielder. In just three months, Drew established himself as Arizona's shortstop of the future. However, the anticipated signing of 2005 first-round pick Justin Upton could move Drew to another position in the middle of the diamond. With no obvious candidate at the major league level, he'll get a spring-training opportunity to win the major league starting job unless the Diamondbacks bring in a veteran.

Minor League Top Prospects

Managers were unanimous regarding their feelings about Drew. He displayed the ability to hit consistently and with power, tools that should enable him to play shortstop for the long haul and impeccable makeup--something that had been questioned in the past. "He's certain to be a special player," Round Rock manager Jackie Moore said. "You can tell by looking at him that he's cut from that major league cloth." Drew has a picture-perfect swing and impressive knowledge of the strike zone. His range and speed are slightly above average, while his arm and hands are true plusses. He enhances his defense with his positioning and feel for the game.
Considered the top position player in the 2004 draft, Drew held out for nearly a year before signing a $5.5 million big league contract in May. Coming off a short stint in the independent Atlantic League, Drew hit the ground running, winning league player-of-the-week honors three times during his six-week stay at Lancaster. Despite his long layoff, Drew retained his fluid, natural swing and demonstrated an advanced approach at the plate while showing the ability to hit for both average and power. Normally a plus runner, he was slowed throughout his pro debut with a strained hamstring. Drew's defense left something to be desired. He showed good range at shortstop, but his arm proved to be somewhat short on plays in the hole, and his effort in the field rarely matched his work at hitting. "It almost looked like a nuisance to him at times," one manager said.