Nick Stavinoha
Nicholas Lee Stavinoha is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball from 2008 to 2010 for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Early life
He played football and baseball at Jersey Village High School before attending the University of Houston for football.He later transferred to San Jacinto College and played there for two seasons as a catcher. While at San Jacinto, Stavinoha hit 49 Home Runs and is a member of the Golden Anniversary all 50 Greatest JUCO World Series Participants.
Stavinoha went on to attend Louisiana State University. In 2003, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
He is one of the few players in college baseball to participate in both the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado and also at the NCAA D1 World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
Professional career
St. Louis Cardinals
Stavinoha was drafted by the Houston Astros in 2002, but did not sign. He was drafted again by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 7th round, with the 230th overall selection, of 2005 Major League Baseball draft, and signed.He hit for a.337 average with 16 home runs for the Cardinals' Triple–A affiliate, the Memphis Redbirds in. He hit.261 with 13 home runs in 2007 while stealing seven bases, also at Memphis. He hit.297 with 12 home runs at Double–A Springfield in 2006. That batting average ranked fourth among all Cardinal minor league players that played a full season. In 2005, he hit.344 with 14 home runs in 65 games at Single–A Quad Cities in 2005 as a 23–year–old. He has 55 career minor league home runs. He also has a career average of.304 in the minors.
Stavinoha made his big-league debut on June 22,, as a designated hitter, and getting the first hit of his major league career against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. On November 19, 2010, Stavinoha was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A Memphis. He became a free agent after the 2011 season.