Skip Schumaker

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

**Skip Schumaker**

St. Louis Cardinals — No. 55
Outfield
Born: February 3, 1980 (1980-02-03) (age 28)
Bats: Left	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
June 8, 2005 for the St. Louis Cardinals
Selected MLB statistics (through May 12, 2008)
Batting average	.293
Home runs	5
Runs batted in	34
Teams
St. Louis Cardinals (2005-present)

Jared Michael "Skip" Schumaker (born February 3, 1980 in Torrance, California) is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals.

[edit] Biography

Schumaker graduated from Aliso Niguel High School^[1] before a short, two-year career at the University of California, Santa Barbara. In 2001, his only year with regular playing time, Schumaker had 100 total hits for a batting average of an even .400, while achieving 41 RBI. During this year, he was selected in the 5th round of the amateur draft by the Cardinals, and elected not to return to college for a final year.

Schumaker spent the remainder of 2001 with the short-season New Jersey Cardinals, and in 2002 he had 158 hits for the Potomac Cannons. His minor-league career advanced from Single-A in 2003, when he was promoted to the Tennessee Smokies, where he spent two full seasons. A .316 batting average in 2004 was enough to give him a shot with the Cardinals during spring training in 2005.

After spending the first two months of the season in Memphis, Schumaker made his major-league debut on June 8 against the Boston Red Sox at Busch Stadium. Schumaker entered the game as a pinch-hitter for the pitcher, Chris Carpenter, and was struck out by David Wells. Schumaker remained with the club until June 14, failing to pick up a hit in five at bats.

Schumaker was given a second spell in St. Louis on injury cover on August 10, and picked up his first major-league hit two days later in a pinch-hit appearance against the Chicago Cubs. He returned to Memphis following the August 14 game, with one hit in his eight games as a major-league hitter. On September 8, 2005, Schumaker went over into the stands and made a great catch [1]. Schumaker hit his first Major League home run on April 5, 2006, in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Schumaker had his most successful season in 2007, batting .333 in 177 at bats. His 2007 success and a strong spring training won him the starting left field position and the leadoff spot on Opening Day, 2008.

Schumacker has some skills that make him a capeable leadoff hitter as the Cardinals skipper Tony LaRussa has had him play many times in that spot in 2008. Skip also has a very nice throwing arm, and has made some good plays in the outfield defensively especially in center field.