Robert Stock

Robert Anthony Stock (born November 21, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the second round of the 2009 MLB draft. Stock made his major league debut in 2018 with the San Diego Padres, and has also played in MLB for the Boston Red Sox. Listed at 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) and 214 pounds (97 kg), he throws right-handed and bats left-handed.

Robert Stock
Chicago Cubs
Pitcher
Born: (1989-11-21) November 21, 1989
Bellevue, Washington
Bats: Left Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 24, 2018, for the San Diego Padres
Career statistics
(through 2020 season)
Win–loss record2–2
Earned run average4.24
Strikeouts67
Teams

Early life

Stock was born in Bellevue, Washington,[1] grew up in Agoura Hills, California and Westlake Village, California.[2][3] He is Jewish, and grew up attending temple and Hebrew school.[3][4] His parents are Gregg (an engineer) and Randi Stock. He has two brothers, Richard (also a professional baseball player, who has played in the Cleveland Indians organization, as well as in the independent American Association of Independent Professional Baseball and Can-Am League) and Jacob, and two sisters, Sasha and Sabina.[5][6][2][7]

As a 12-year-old, Stock was throwing an 80 mph fastball.[8] In 2002, he threw a no-hitter to lead Agoura to an 11–1 victory over Taiwan in the Pony Baseball's Bronco League World Series (ages 11–12) championship game.[9] Baseball America rated him as the best baseball player of his age in the country when he was 13 years old in 2003 and again in 2004 and 2005.[10][2][11] Stock played for the United States junior national baseball team in 2004 (as the team's youngest player ever and number one pitcher) and 2005.[12][11]

High school and college

Stock attended Agoura High School in Agoura Hills, and played for the school's Agoura High Chargers baseball team as a cleanup-batting catcher and a pitcher.[13] In 2003, his sophomore season, he had a .405 batting average with eight home runs, and on the mound was 5–1 with a 2.85 ERA as batters hit .190 against him.[2][14] In 2004, his junior year, he batted .456 with six home runs and 25 RBIs and caught 70 percent of would-be basestealers.[2] He also had a 5–3 win–loss record and a 2.69 earned run average (ERA) as a pitcher, as his fastball reached 95 miles per hour (153 km/h) and batters hit .218 against him.[2][14] He was named Baseball America's 2005 Youth Player of the Year at 15 years of age (the first time the award was won by a high school underclassman), Los Angeles Times Player of the Year, and All-California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) First Team as he developed a reputation for hitting 400-foot home runs with wood bats.[15][2][12][16][11] He graduated from Agoura a year early, an honor student with a 3.8 GPA and a 1410 SAT score.[2][17][18]

Stock passed up what some felt was a certain first-round selection in the 2007 MLB draft, to instead enroll a year early at the age of 16, in the University of Southern California (USC) in its Resident Honors Program, which allows 30 high school students to enroll a year early, the first athlete to do so in USC history.[3][19][17] He began college while he was still wearing braces.[20] He played college baseball for the USC Trojans as a catcher and a pitcher.[15][3] In three years at USC, Stock had a .263 career batting average, threw out 33.8% of baserunners, and as a pitcher (and sometimes closer, sometimes starter) was 8–7 with a 3.38 ERA and nine saves as opponents batted .228 against him.[2][3] In the summers of 2007 (as the youngest player in the league) and 2008 he played for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where both seasons he was an All Star.[2][21][20]

Professional career

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals selected Stock in the second round, with the 67th overall selection, of the 2009 MLB draft, and he signed for a $525,000 signing bonus.[3][22] In 2009, as a 19-year-old he was both a Topps Short-Season/Rookie All-Star and an Appalachian League All-Star at catcher, as he batted .322/.386/.550 with 7 home runs (tied for third among 2009 Cardinals draft picks) for the Johnson City Cardinals.[5][23][12] Baseball America rated him the 10th-best prospect in the Cardinals organization.[12][24] He played as a catcher until 2011, batting .241 in 680 at bats.

In 2013, the Cardinals transitioned Stock into a full-time pitcher.[15] In 2013, with the Peoria Chiefs in the Midwest League he was 0–1 with a 2.30 ERA, and with the Palm Beach Cardinals in the Florida State League he was 2–0 with a 4.37 ERA.[25] The Cardinals released him on December 20, 2014.[22]

Houston Astros

On March 9, 2015, Stock signed a minor league deal with the Houston Astros organization. He was released by the club on March 31, 2015.

Pittsburgh Pirates

On May 4, 2015, Stock signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He finished 2015 in the Pirates minor leagues, playing for the GCL Pirates, Bradenton Marauders, and Altoona Curve. He elected free agency on November 6, 2015.

New Jersey Jackals

In 2016, Stock signed to play for the New Jersey Jackals of the Can-Am League, an independent baseball league, for whom he was 1–2 with a 2.85 ERA in 60 innings over 52 games (a league record).[5][26] He said he never thought about quitting, not when he was released or even when he was playing independent baseball in New Jersey.[24] Stock said: “Mostly because what else is there that’s better than playing baseball? I played a year of independent baseball, and that’s about as low on the totem pole as you can get but it was one of the best times I’ve had playing baseball. There was no thought about stopping."[24] He recalled that "One offseason, I was living in my parents' basement and I was playing video games and my mother said, 'Go out and do something," and I said, 'Mom, relax. I'm going to play in the Major Leagues someday.'"[27]

Cincinnati Reds

Stock signed with the Cincinnati Reds organization on March 21, 2017.[26] Between Class A-Advanced and Class AA, Stock was 9–5 with a 2.82 ERA in 70 innings in 41 games.[5] He elected free agency on November 6, 2017.

San Diego Padres
2018

The San Diego Padres signed Stock before the 2018 season on November 27, 2017, with a non-roster invitation to spring training included.[28] In spring training, his fastball reached 100 mph.[29] Stock began the 2018 season playing for the San Antonio Missions of the Class AA Texas League, and received a midseason promotion to the El Paso Chihuahuas of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League.[30][27] Between the two teams in 2018, before he was called up to the major leagues, he was 1–0 with 9 saves and a 1.69 ERA in 32 relief appearances over ​37 1⁄3 innings, in which he gave up 22 hits and struck out 42 batters (averaging 10.2 strikeouts per 9 innings).[23]

The San Diego Padres promoted Stock to the major leagues on June 24, 2018, and he made his major league debut that day at 28 years of age, nine years after he was drafted as a catcher.[31] For the 2018 season he was 1–1 with a 2.50 ERA in 32 relief appearances over ​39 2⁄3 innings, in which he struck out 38 batters.[32] He threw 11 of the 12 fastest pitches by San Diego pitchers in 2018.[12] In 2018, he had the second-lowest swing rate for his in-strike-zone sliders of any pitcher in baseball (43.1%), behind only Aroldis Chapman (42.5%).[33]

2019

In the minor leagues in 2019, pitching 25 games for the El Paso Chihuahuas in the Class AAA Pacific Coast League and 2 games for the AZL Padres in Arizona League, he was a combined 3-0 with a 3.86 ERA as he struck out 45 batters in ​30 1⁄3 innings (averaging 13.4 strikeouts per 9 innings).[34]

In 2019 with the Padres, Stock was 1–0 in ten relief appearances with a 10.13 ERA, as he struck out 15 batters in ​10 2⁄3 innings (averaging 12.7 strikeouts per 9 innings).[32] On April 1, 2019, Stock threw a fastball that was timed at 100.6 miles per hour (161.9 km/h), the second-fastest pitch Statcast had ever recorded for a Padre (behind only a 100.8 miles per hour (162.2 km/h) pitch by Jose Dominguez in 2016).[35] Later in the season he was timed at 102 miles per hour (164 km/h).[36] He regularly reaches 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) with his fastball.[37] His season ended three months early, as he suffered a right biceps strain.[32][38] During the season, he threw a four-seam fastball that averaged 98 mph, an 83 mph slider, and an 85 mph changeup.[38][39]

On October 30, 2019, Stock was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies. He was designated for assignment on July 23, 2020.[40]

Boston Red Sox

On July 26, 2020, Stock was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox.[41] He made his first appearance for the Red Sox on August 11, pitching a scoreless ​1 1⁄3 innings against the Tampa Bay Rays.[42] He was optioned to, and recalled from, Boston's alternate training site several times during August and September.[43][44] Overall with the 2020 Red Sox, Stock appeared in 10 games, all in relief, compiling an 0–1 record with 4.73 ERA and 14 strikeouts in ​13 1⁄3 innings pitched.[32] On November 25, 2020, Stock was designated for assignment.[45]

Chicago Cubs

On December 2, 2020, Stock was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs.[46]

Personal life

Stock is married to Sara Stock (nee Krutewicz), whom he met on a blind date when she was on spring break in Palm Beach.[47][48][24][27]

See also

References
  1. "Robert Stock Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  2. "Robert Stock – 2009 Baseball Roster," University of Southern California Official Athletic Site.
  3. Pedro Moura (May 31, 2011). "Where are they now: Robert Stock". ESPN. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  4. Posted by jfine1126 (March 24, 2019). "Interview: The Standout Catcher Who Became a Major League Pitcher – Robert Stock – The Great Rabbino: Jewish Sports Everything". Thegreatrabbino.com. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
  5. "Robert Stock," The Baseball Cube.
  6. Heather Gripp. "Stock's Value Continues To Rise Among Peers; Agoura Star Finalist For Top National Player," Daily News.
  7. Zev Ben Avigdor (February 8, 2013). "Richard Stock, Cleveland Indians prospect". Jewish Baseball News. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  8. David A. Himmelstein. "Rookie of the Month Robert Stock; Agoura High School, Westlake Village, CA," Baseball Coaches.
  9. "Agoura Wins Bronco Baseball Title," Los Angeles Times, August 14, 2002.
  10. Eric Sondheimer (February 19, 2006). "Good From Both Sides of the Plate". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  11. Alan Matthews (March 30, 2006). "2005 Youth Player Of The Year: Robert Stock," Baseball America.
  12. "Robert Stock Stats, Fantasy & News," MLB.com.
  13. Lindsay Berra (October 29, 2008). "Next Teen Titans," ESPN.
  14. "Robert Stock's (Agoura, CA) Baseball Stats," MaxPreps.
  15. Steve Batterson (April 12, 2012). "Stock catching on at pitcher | Midwest League Baseball". Quad City Times. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  16. Gregory J. Tully (2009). Nine College Nines: A Closeup View of Campus Baseball Programs Today, McFarland.
  17. Ramona Shelburne (August 26, 2006). "Robert Stock," Daily News High School Sports Spotlight.
  18. Eric Sondheimer (August 25, 2006). "No Minor Leap; Robert Stock passes on his senior season of baseball at Agoura – and the draft – to enroll early at USC," Los Angeles Times.
  19. Gary Klein (May 27, 2007). "Another USC bonus baby; Stock still should be in high school, but he's finishing freshman season with Trojans". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  20. Matt Gelb (July 27, 2007). "Cape League Extra: Cotuit’s Stock on the rise," Cape Cod Times.
  21. "The Robert Stock Experiment," High School Baseball, March 17, 2008.
  22. Brian Walton (December 24, 2014). "Cards Release Former 2nd-Rounder Robert Stock; A former top draft pick who moved from catching back to pitching never found his groove as a professional," Cardinals Dugout.
  23. "Robert Stock Stats, Highlights, Bio," MiLB.com.
  24. Rob Rains (April 9, 2019). "Robert Stock's eight-year journey finally brought him back to Busch Stadium". ksdk.com. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  25. "Robert Stock Stats & Scouting Report," Baseball America.
  26. Sheldon, Mark (January 20, 2016). "Reds' Robert Stock got noticed with a video". MLB.com. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  27. Lara-Cinisomo, Vincent (May 23, 2018). "Stock on the rise after years of turbulence". MiLB.com.
  28. Dennis Lin (January 8, 2018). "Top prospects highlight Padres' non-roster invitations to spring training". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  29. Jeff Sanders (March 8, 2018). "Stock rising, but Padres' Lyles, Strahm knocked around in loss," The San Diego Union-Tribune.
  30. "Austin Allen hits third Double-A homer". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  31. "Robert Stock came a long way to show he belonged with Padres," The San Diego Union-Tribune.
  32. "Robert Stock Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  33. Ben Clemens (March 18, 2019). "Aroldis Chapman's Other Best Pitch". Fangraphs. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  34. "Robert Stock Minor, Independent & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  35. AJ Cassavell (April 2, 2019). "Fernando Tatis Jr. hits first home run". MLB.com. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  36. David Laurila (July 14, 2019). "Robert Stock Stimulates His Nervous System (And Hits Triple Digits)," Fangraphs.
  37. Acee, Kevin. "Padres send Lyles to DL, call up Stock, Makita for reinforcement". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  38. Zolecki, Todd (October 31, 2019). "Bryan Price named Phillies pitching coach". MLB.com. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  39. "Player Card: Robert Stock". Brooksbaseball.net. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  40. Adams, Steve (July 23, 2020). "Phillies Designate Robert Stock For Assignment, Set Opening Day Roster". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  41. Polishuk, Mark (July 26, 2020). "Red Sox Claim Robert Stock". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  42. "Rays vs Red Sox - Box Score". ESPN.com. August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  43. "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. August 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  44. "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. September 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  45. Adams, Steve (November 25, 2020). "Red Sox Claim Joel Payamps, Designate Robert Stock". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  46. Polishuk, Mark (December 2, 2020). "Cubs Claim Robert Stock". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  47. Jonathan Andrade (July 5, 2018). "Rising Stock," Thousand Oaks Acorn.
  48. "Episode 21, Part 1: Padres Relief Pitcher Robert Stock & His Fiancé Sara Krutewicz," Sideline Sass.
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