Steven Tolleson

Steven Wayne Tolleson

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 185 lb.
• School University of South Carolina
• High School Paul M. Dorman High School
• Debut April 28, 2010
• Final Game May 26, 2015
• Born November 1, 1983 in Spartanburg, SC USA

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Biographical Information

The son of major leaguer Wayne Tolleson, infielder Steven Tolleson made his major league debut with the Oakland Athletics in 2010.

Tolleson hit .425 in high school. As a freshman at the University of South Carolina, he hit .302 and fielded .965. He hit a home run in the 2003 College World Series. In 2004, the sophomore batted .316 and fielded .947 at shortstop despite missing time with injury. He went deep in the 2004 College World Series as well. He hit .280/.351/.340 for the Brewster Whitecaps in that summer's Cape Cod League, easily outhitting teammate Ryan Braun. As a junior in 2005, Steve produced at a .296/.386/.444 rate with 53 runs in 64 games and 20 steals in 23 tries. He made first-team All-Southeastern Conference.

Tolleson was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the fifth round of the 2005 amateur draft. He was signed by scout Ricky Taylor and split the year between the Elizabethton Twins, for whom he hit .321/.457/.571 in 16 games, and the Beloit Snappers, for whom he hit .176/.311/.284 in 31 games.

In 2006, Tolleson played for Beloit (.287/.390/.392 in 47 G) and the Fort Myers Miracle (.268/.353/.408 in 49 G). He also spent two games on a rehab stint with the GCL Twins (2 for 8) after missing almost a month with a fractured left cheek bone.

The Spartanburg, SC native spent the next summer with the Fort Myers Miracle. For Fort Myers, he hit .285/.388/.382 with 27 stolen bases in 37 tries over 132 games, tied Dustin Martin for the team lead with 75 runs scored (tied for 8th in the FSL), and tied Martin for fourth in the Florida State League with 139 hits. He was 6th in the loop in steals and third with 79 walks, 6 behind leader Brian Jeroloman.

Tolleson played for the AA New Britain Rock Cats in 2008, hitting .300/.382/.466 with 9 home runs and 50 RBI in 93 games. He was 10th in the Eastern League in batting average. That fall, he hit .383 for the Phoenix Desert Dogs.

He reached the AAA level with the Rochester Red Wings in 2009 and produced at a .270/.338/.375 in 92 games for them. He also hit .258/.343/.391 in 38 games for New Britain that season.

The Oakland Athletics claimed him off waivers in the offseason. He started 2010 with the Sacramento River Cats and hit .333/.437/.500 in his first 16 games. He was called up by the Oakland Athletics at the end of April, 2010 to replace Edwar Ramirez on the roster and made his major league debut on April 28, going 0 for 2 as a second baseman.

Playing with the Toronto Blue Jays in his final season, on April 24, 2015, he was charged with a rare four-base error when he misplayed a fly ball by Kevin Kiermaier of the Tampa Bay Rays, allowing him to circle the bases.

In addition to his father, his uncle Mike Tolleson and grandfather Jim Tolleson played minor league ball. He is also related to Art Fowler, Rick Adair and Travis Adair.

Related Sites

• Steven Tolleson on mlb.com