Shannon Stewart (Baseball)
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| Oakland Athletics — No. 24 | |
| Left field | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Major League Baseball debut | |
|---|---|
| September 2, 1995 for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| Selected MLB statistics (through 2006) |
|
| Batting Average | .299 |
| Home Runs | 102 |
| Runs Batted In | 518 |
| Former teams | |
Shannon Harold Stewart (born February 25, 1974 in Cincinnati, Ohio) is a Major League Baseball outfielder who currently is on the Oakland Athletics.
Contents |
[edit] High school career
Shannon Stewart was a three-sport standout in track, baseball, and football at Miami Southridge High School in Cutler Bay, Florida. As a senior, he was an All-Dade County selectee in baseball. As a junior, he was an All-County selectee in football.
[edit] Early career
Shannon Stewart was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1st round (19th pick) of the 1992 amateur draft and made his debut on September 2, 1995. Shannon fluctuated between the Majors and minors over the next several seasons, eventually finding a place in the every day Blue Jay line up by the end of 1997.
[edit] Toronto Blue Jays
Shannon was a catalyst at the top of the Toronto line-up, providing speed and base-stealing ability, as well as some power and clutch-hitting. In every season from 1999 to 2002, Shannon batted .300 or higher and scored over 100 runs. He also showed some unexpected power, belting 21 HRs in 2000.
[edit] Minnesota Twins
Shannon was traded in 2003 to the Minnesota Twins for Bobby Kielty in a move designed to free money from the Blue Jays' payroll. Shannon, now in the thick of a pennant race, was suddenly cast into the limelight. He hit .322 with the Twins, with an OBP of .384. The Twins beat the Chicago White Sox in a closely fought pennant race but were defeated by the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series. Shannon finished 4th in American League MVP voting, a remarkable accomplishment for a lead-off hitter.
[edit] Injuries
After his stellar 2003 season, Stewart suffered from plantar fasciitis problems in both feet, limiting him to 92 games in 2004 and only 44 in 2006. Shannon has sometimes been considered a liability in the field; opposing base runners frequently take bases they might not take if another fielder were playing his position.
[edit] Signing with Oakland
On February 7th, 2007, Stewart and the Oakland Athletics agreed to a one-year deal worth $1 million with a possible extra $1.5 million more in incentives based on playing time.[1]
[edit] Accomplishments
- Career .299 AVG (21st among active players)
- Finished 4th in American League MVP voting (2003)
- 3rd in the American League in steals (1998, 51 steals)
- 4th in the American League in steals (1999, 37 steals)
[edit] Teams
- Toronto Blue Jays (1995-2003)
- Minnesota Twins (2003-2006)
- Oakland Athletics (2007- )
[edit] External link
- Shannon Stewart at:
