Craig Stansberry

Craig Leo Stansberry

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 185 lb.
• Schools North Central Texas College, Rice University
• High School Plano High School
• Debut August 25, 2007
• Final Game July 10, 2009
• Born March 8, 1982 in Dammam Saudi Arabia

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Biographical Information

Craig Stansberry was the first major league player born in the Middle East, unless you count Jeff Bronkey, born in Afghanistan. His father had worked for a building materials company in Saudi Arabia for three years and Craig was born during that time. A month later, the family left the country.

Stansberry spent two years in junior college after high school (helping his college to the NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series title in 2001), then one year at Rice University. At Rice, he hit .309/.390/.434 as the regular third baseman for the 2003 College World Series champions. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fifth round of the 2003 amateur draft. Stansberry was known for solid defensive play all around the infield but his bat was somewhat of a question mark. He was signed by scout Tom Barnard and made his pro debut that summer.

In 2003, Craig hit .307/.370/.434 with the Williamsport Crosscutters. In 2004, he moved up to the Hickory Crawdads and hit .286/.377/.417, showing good production in his first full season in the minors. He stole 20 bases in 28 tries and moved from third to second, where he fielded .983. He led South Atlantic League second basemen in fielding percentage.

In 2005, Stansberry batted .351/.430/.564 in 24 games with the Lynchburg Hillcats of the Carolina League and was quickly promoted to AA, where he had a .238/.314/.470 line for the Altoona Curve. He stole 14 bases in 19 tries, whiffed 114 times in 421 AB, legged out 11 triples and smacked 18 home runs as contact was his biggest problem. He was second in the Eastern League in triples, two behind Wayne Lydon.

Craig was added to Pittsburgh's Major League roster in 2006 and attended major league spring training. Baseball America rated him the team's #12 prospect. Stansberry returned to Altoona and batted .258/.345/.465, where he was being miscast as a #2 hitter despite relatively unimpressive OBPs and good power. He was promoted to the Indianapolis Indians and the 24-year-old only managed a .223/.345/.340 line in his AAA debut, only hitting 3 homers in 197 AB. Overall, he hit 28 doubles and stole 18 bases in 24 tries on the year. He spent the fall with the Grand Canyon Rafters, struggling with a .128/.263/.192 line in Arizona Fall League play.

Stansberry was designated for assignment on December 18th to make room for new signee Yoslan Herrera. Infielders Brian Bixler and Brent Lillibridge were rising prospects in the system who were seen as having higher ceilings. The San Diego Padres claimed him off waivers. Stansberry played for the World team in the 2007 Futures Game, replacing German Duran at second base and going 0 for 1. He hit .273/.370/.446 with 33 doubles, 14 homers and 83 runs in 124 games for the Portland Beavers.

In late August of 2007, Stansberry was called up to San Diego when Marcus Giles was injured. He debuted as a pinch-hitter for Rob Mackowiak, who had pinch-hit for Doug Brocail; Stansberry got the call when J.C. Romero entered to face Mackowiak. Stansberry singled to right field in his first MLB at-bat.

Sources: Altoona Curve site, MLB.com, Minorleaguebaseball.com, 2004-2006 Baseball Almanacs, 2003 college stats from the baseballcube.com, unofficial Pirates email list