Hunter Renfroe

Dustin Hunter Renfroe (born January 28, 1992) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the San Diego Padres and Tampa Bay Rays.

For the American football player, see Hunter Renfrow.

Hunter Renfroe
Renfroe with the San Diego Padres in 2018
Boston Red Sox
Outfielder
Born: (1992-01-28) January 28, 1992
Crystal Springs, Mississippi
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 21, 2016, for the San Diego Padres
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Batting average.228
Home runs97
Runs batted in226
Teams

Renfroe received a scholarship to Mississippi State University, where he played college baseball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The Padres selected Renfroe in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2016, and was traded to Tampa Bay before the 2020 season.

Early life

Hunter Renfroe was born and raised in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, to parents Todd and Tammy. He attended Copiah Academy in Gallman, Mississippi, where he played for the school's baseball team.[1]

Career

Amateur career

The Boston Red Sox selected Renfroe in the 31st round of the 2010 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft, but he did not sign. He enrolled at Mississippi State University, where he played college baseball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.[2] On April 15, 2013, he was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week.[3] He was also named to the Golden Spikes Award watchlist[4] and was the 2013 recipient of the C Spire Ferriss Trophy, given to the best college baseball player in Mississippi.[5] From 2011 - 2012, Renfroe played for the Bethesda Big Train of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League, where he broke the Big Train record for most runs, home runs, runs batted in, slugging percentage, and total bases in a season in 2012.[6] Renfroe's number "11" was retired by the Big Train in 2012 and sits high above the field on a light post in left center field where many of his home runs eventually landed.

San Diego Padres

Renfroe was considered among the best prospects available in the 2013 MLB draft.[7] The San Diego Padres selected Renfroe in the first round, with the 13th overall selection.[8] Renfroe agreed to a $2,678,000 signing bonus[9] and began his professional career with the Eugene Emeralds of the Class A-Short Season Northwest League.[10] After participating in the Northwest League's all-star game and registering the game-winning hit, the Padres promoted him to the Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Class A Midwest League in August.[11]

Renfroe with the Lake Elsinore Storm in 2014

Renfroe began the 2014 season with the Lake Elsinore Storm of the Class A-Advanced California League.[12] In 69 games for Lake Elsinore, Renfroe had a .295 batting average, 16 home runs, and 52 runs batted in. He was promoted to the San Antonio Missions of the Class AA Texas League.[13] Renfroe played in the 2014 All-Star Futures Game.[14] After the season, the Padres assigned Renfroe to the Arizona Fall League to continue his development.[15] Renfroe began the 2015 season with San Antonio and received a promotion in August to the El Paso Chihuahuas of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League.[16] He played in 21 games for El Paso.[17] For the season, Renfroe had a .272 average with 20 home runs and 78 RBIs, including a .333 average and six home runs with 24 RBIs with El Paso.[18]

The Padres invited Renfroe to spring training in 2016.[17] He opened the 2016 season with El Paso.[19][20] He won the 2016 Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player Award.[21] Following the 2016 Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game, the Padres promoted Renfroe to the major leagues on September 21.[22] He made his first plate appearance as a pinch hitter that same night, getting intentionally walked by Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Edwin Escobar.[23] He batted .371 in 11 games for San Diego.[24]

Renfroe made the Padres' Opening Day roster in 2017 as the starting right fielder.[25] On August 19, Renfroe was optioned to El Paso due to his declining performance in reaching base.[26] He was recalled to the majors on September 18 after the end of the Triple-A season.[27] Renfroe finished the 2017 season with a batting line of .231/.284/.467 and 26 home runs with 117 starts in right field. Renfroe began the 2018 season primarily starting only against left-handed pitching, but picked up more starts after Wil Myers got injured. He led the Padres in home runs in 2018 with 26.

Tampa Bay Rays

On December 6, 2019, Renfroe, Xavier Edwards, and a player to be named later were traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Tommy Pham and Jake Cronenworth.[28] In a shortened 2020 season, Renfroe slashed .156/.252/.393 with eight home runs and 22 RBIs over 42 games.[29] On November 20, 2020, Renfroe was designated for assignment.[30] On November 25, 2020, Renfroe became a free agent.[31]

Boston Red Sox

On December 14, 2020, Renfroe signed a one-year, $3.1 million contract with the Boston Red Sox.[32]

Personal life

Renfroe married Courtney Beach on December 5, 2015, in their hometown of Crystal Springs.[16][33]

References
  1. "HR = Hunter Renfroe = home runs". The Clarion Ledger. April 22, 2010. Retrieved May 15, 2013. (subscription required)
  2. "Copiah County Courier, CA's Hunter Renfroe has risen to the top for MSU Bulldogs". Copiahcountycourier.com. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  3. Mississippi. "Baseball: Mississippi State's Hunter Renfroe named SEC Player of the Week | gulflive.com". Blog.gulflive.com. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  4. Bonner, Michael (May 2, 2013). "Hunter Renfroe named to Golden Spikes midseason watch list | Mississippi State sports". Blogs.clarionledger.com. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  5. "Copiah County Courier, 5-14 Renfroe named Ferriss finalist". Copiahcountycourier.com. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  6. "Bethesda Big Train Records". Bigtrain.org. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  7. Talty, John (April 18, 2013). "Money Man: MLB prospect Renfroe has been Mississippi State's top producer". Clarion Ledger. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  8. "Padres pick college slugger in Round 1 | padres.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. June 6, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  9. Perry, Dayn. "Padres sign first-round pick Hunter Renfroe". CBSSports.com. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  10. Jeff Roper (July 16, 2013). "Hunter Renfroe Eugene Emeralds". Djournal.com. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  11. Jeff Roper (August 7, 2013). "Hunter Renfroe headed to Fort Wayne". Djournal.com. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  12. Landon Negri. "BASEBALL: Lake Elsinore Storm release roster | Sports Southern California". PE.com. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  13. "Missions' Hunter Renfroe a natural on the field — and in the outdoors". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  14. "Renfroe, Guerrero get wide-eyed at Futures Game". MLB.com. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  15. "Turner, Renfroe highlight AFL selections". U-T San Diego. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  16. Heneghan, Kelsie (August 20, 2015). "Renfroe blasts off in Triple-A debut: Padres top prospect collects three hits, including homer, four RBIs". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  17. Lin, Dennis (February 17, 2016). "Renfroe, Schumaker among Padres' non-roster invitees: Padres invite 19 to major league spring training". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  18. Bonner, Michael (February 11, 2016). "Renfroe eager to emerge from crowded Padres outfield". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  20. foxsports (May 3, 2016). "Prospect Hunter Renfroe continues to put up numbers". FOX Sports. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  21. "Chihuahuas' Renfroe awarded Most Valuable Player". MILB.com. September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  22. Cassavell, AJ (September 21, 2016). "Padres to add several prospects to roster". MLB.com. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  23. AP 1:29 a.m. ET September 22, 2016 (September 22, 2016). "Padres' Renfroe intentionally walked in major league debut". Usatoday.com. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  24. "Padres roster review: Hunter Renfroe". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  25. "Padres set opening-day roster, option Cory Spangenberg to El Paso". The San Diego Union-Tribune. April 1, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  26. Lin, Dennis (August 19, 2017). "Padres option struggling Hunter Renfroe to El Paso". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  27. Sanders, Jeff (September 18, 2017). "Renfroe, Jankowski return with Padres' final call-ups". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  28. "Padres Acquire OF Tommy Pham and INF/RHP Jake Cronenworth From Tampa Bay Rays". MLB.com. December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  29. https://www.wsmv.com/sports/national_sports/al-champion-rays-designate-hunter-renfroe-for-assignment/article_81feed55-b414-54eb-859a-32c15c3607ca.html
  30. Adams, Steve; Franco, Anthony (November 20, 2020). "Rays Designate Hunter Renfroe For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com.
  31. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/hunter-renfroe-brian-ogrady-become-free-agents.html
  32. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/30519465/boston-red-sox-sign-hunter-renfroe-1-year-deal
  33. "Miss Beach and Renfroe planning December 5 service". North Side Sun. October 27, 2015. Archived from the original on February 25, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
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