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| Nationals’ Stephen Drew makes the most of his post-injury opportunity | Nationals’ Stephen Drew makes the most of his post-injury opportunity |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| VIERA, Fla. — Stephen Drew had just finished his junior season at Florida State as the consensus top college shortstop in the country when the Arizona Diamondbacks selected him in the first round of the 2004 MLB draft. | VIERA, Fla. — Stephen Drew had just finished his junior season at Florida State as the consensus top college shortstop in the country when the Arizona Diamondbacks selected him in the first round of the 2004 MLB draft. |
| At the time, Baseball America called him “the best position player available” in a draft that eventually included the selection of Neil Walker, Hunter Pence, Dustin Pedroia and Ian Desmond, among other future big leaguers. Mike Rizzo, the Diamondbacks’ farm director at the time, remembered his 15th overall pick as “a five-tool player.” | |
| But the Stephen Drew who signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Washington Nationals this offseason is not the same player Rizzo knew then, his career redirected by one painful slide, his role redefined by its aftermath. | But the Stephen Drew who signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Washington Nationals this offseason is not the same player Rizzo knew then, his career redirected by one painful slide, his role redefined by its aftermath. |
| [Baker wants Nats to improve hitting with runners on base] | |
| “Before he got hurt,” Rizzo said, “He was one of the better shortstops in the game.” | “Before he got hurt,” Rizzo said, “He was one of the better shortstops in the game.” |
| On July 21, 2011, Drew was a proven starting shortstop, the Diamondbacks’ all-time leader in triples, and coming off the 2010 season in which he hit .278 with 15 home runs. In the fourth inning of a game against the Brewers, Drew charged home after a base hit — despite getting a stop sign from Diamondbacks third base coach Matt Williams. He slid, and his right foot snagged on Milwaukee catcher Jonathan Lucroy. The rest of his body continued its momentum, leaving his ankle facing the wrong way, and leaving Drew to pull it forward again. | On July 21, 2011, Drew was a proven starting shortstop, the Diamondbacks’ all-time leader in triples, and coming off the 2010 season in which he hit .278 with 15 home runs. In the fourth inning of a game against the Brewers, Drew charged home after a base hit — despite getting a stop sign from Diamondbacks third base coach Matt Williams. He slid, and his right foot snagged on Milwaukee catcher Jonathan Lucroy. The rest of his body continued its momentum, leaving his ankle facing the wrong way, and leaving Drew to pull it forward again. |
| “I don’t know if you ever really get over an injury like that,” Nationals Manager Dusty Baker said. | “I don’t know if you ever really get over an injury like that,” Nationals Manager Dusty Baker said. |
| Drew did not produce as much after he returned in late June 2012, a season split between Arizona and Oakland. In 2013, his first full season after the injury, he hit .253 in 124 games with the Red Sox as Boston won the World Series. The Yankees switched him from shortstop to second base for 34 games the next season, and he hit 17 home runs as he played most of 2015 at second. | |
| “For a couple years, [the injury] really set back his development,” Rizzo said. “He was coming off an extremely good year. I think it affected his speed early on and his mobility.” | “For a couple years, [the injury] really set back his development,” Rizzo said. “He was coming off an extremely good year. I think it affected his speed early on and his mobility.” |
| Rizzo brought Drew in this offseason as a low-cost insurance policy, a rare strong middle infield defender who also carries left-handed power. Danny Espinosa or Trea Turner will likely be the starting shortstop for most of this year. Daniel Murphy will play second base. Drew, Rizzo said, can play every day at either of those spots, if necessary. Baker has played Drew at unfamiliar corner infield spots this spring, too. | Rizzo brought Drew in this offseason as a low-cost insurance policy, a rare strong middle infield defender who also carries left-handed power. Danny Espinosa or Trea Turner will likely be the starting shortstop for most of this year. Daniel Murphy will play second base. Drew, Rizzo said, can play every day at either of those spots, if necessary. Baker has played Drew at unfamiliar corner infield spots this spring, too. |
| “At this stage in his career, he’s utility,” Baker said. “That’s what utility kind of encompasses.” | “At this stage in his career, he’s utility,” Baker said. “That’s what utility kind of encompasses.” |
| Drew had never played first base before, though he has played four innings there this spring. He has also played four innings at third base, where he has played four regular season games in his career. | Drew had never played first base before, though he has played four innings there this spring. He has also played four innings at third base, where he has played four regular season games in his career. |
| “I’m getting reps everywhere, and that’s fine with me. I want to be able to help the team,” Drew said. “ . . . I think it gives more versatility in my role, which is not a bad thing. You never know how many years you’ve got left, but if this can justify keeping me on, I see reason to keep doing it.” | “I’m getting reps everywhere, and that’s fine with me. I want to be able to help the team,” Drew said. “ . . . I think it gives more versatility in my role, which is not a bad thing. You never know how many years you’ve got left, but if this can justify keeping me on, I see reason to keep doing it.” |
| Beyond production, beyond a proven utility option, Drew provides the experience and knowledge that comes with growing up in a baseball family — his older brother, J.D., played 14 major league seasons. Drew is known as a positive clubhouse presence, a willing mentor to younger players. | Beyond production, beyond a proven utility option, Drew provides the experience and knowledge that comes with growing up in a baseball family — his older brother, J.D., played 14 major league seasons. Drew is known as a positive clubhouse presence, a willing mentor to younger players. |
| [How a Nationals bullpen hopeful became a published author] | |
| “I want them to understand the game doesn’t last forever,” Drew said. “You want it to last forever, but it doesn’t.” | “I want them to understand the game doesn’t last forever,” Drew said. “You want it to last forever, but it doesn’t.” |
| Rizzo says Drew can still throw like he used to, still hit for power, and still has the “huge baseball IQ” he did when he drafted him. He turns 33 Wednesday, and he walks around the field and Space Coast Stadium with quiet purpose, often seen working out, seen more often heading for the batting cage. Drew said he is willing to measure success less by numbers now, and “more in this clubhouse,” where little things such as moving runners or making a key defensive play gain the kind of appreciation big numbers earn outside of it. | |
| “You just never know what will happen in your career. Hopefully you don’t get hurt, but it happens,” Drew said. “This is what I got dealt. How do you handle adversity? How do you go about your business and still go on through the day? [The injury] was a big moment. Looking back, I’m thankful I’m still playing because it was that bad. That’s the way I look at the game now.” | “You just never know what will happen in your career. Hopefully you don’t get hurt, but it happens,” Drew said. “This is what I got dealt. How do you handle adversity? How do you go about your business and still go on through the day? [The injury] was a big moment. Looking back, I’m thankful I’m still playing because it was that bad. That’s the way I look at the game now.” |