| Robbie Grossman | |||
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Grossman with the Houston Astros
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Houston Astros – No. 19
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: September 16, 1989 Cypress, Texas |
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MLB debut
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| April 24, 2013 for the Houston Astros | |||
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Career statistics
(through May 11, 2015) |
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| Batting average | .241 | ||
| Home runs | 11 | ||
| Runs batted in | 63 | ||
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Teams
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Robert Edward Grossman (born September 16, 1989) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). After attending high school in Texas, Grossman was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2008. He made his MLB debut with the Astros in 2013.
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Early life[edit]
Grossman grew up in Cypress, Texas, where he played four seasons of varsity baseball at Cy-Fair High School between 2005 and 2008. He was a first-team all-district selection as a freshman. In his junior season, the team won the 5A state baseball championship. "He was fun to coach because he worked very hard at practice and looked like he was having the time of his life playing the game. We knew early on as a coaching staff that he was a special player," said a former high school coach, John Pope.[1]
Career[edit]
Considered a possible first round pick, Grossman fell in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft due to his commitment to attend the University of Texas. However, the Pirates selected Grossman in the sixth round of the draft and signed him for an above slot $1 million signing bonus.[2]
In 2010, Grossman played for the Bradenton Marauders of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League (FSL). In 2011, again playing for the Marauders, Grossman became the first minor league player since Nick Swisher in 2004 to score 100 runs and walk 100 times in a season; he also became the first player in the FSL to do so since 1998.[3] He was named Minor League Player of the Year for the Pittsburgh organization.[4]
Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus ranked Grossman as the 76th best prospect in baseball before the 2012 season.[5] The Pirates invited Grossman to spring training in 2012. On July 24, 2012, the Pirates traded him to the Houston Astros along with Rudy Owens and Colton Cain for Wandy Rodríguez.[6] Between Pittsburgh's Class AA affiliate, the Altoona Curve of the Eastern League, and Houston's Class AA team, the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Texas League, Grossman hit .266 with 10 home runs in 131 games.[7]
The Astros promoted Grossman to the major leagues on April 24, 2013, he batted leadoff in his debut.[8] He split time that year between the Oklahoma City Redhawks of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League and the Astros.[7] At one point, Grossman hit safely in 13 consecutive games, a team high that year.[9]
Grossman played in 103 games for the Astros in 2014, hitting for a .233 batting average, six home runs and 37 runs batted in (RBI).[6]
References[edit]
- ^ "Cy-Fair alum impressive in major league debut for Astros". Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District. April 26, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ http://communityvoices.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/sports/bob-smiziks-blog/32002-the-draft-class-of-2008
- ^ Vukovcan, Mike (August 19, 2011). "Robbie Grossman: 100/100 Club".
- ^ McTaggart, Brian (March 9, 2014). "Grossman looks to prove worthy of everyday role". MLB.com. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=16020
- ^ a b "Robbie Grossman Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ a b "Robbie Grossman Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2013/04/24/robbie-grossman-lives-out-lifelong-dream/
- ^ "Astros A to Z: Robbie Grossman". Houston Chronicle. March 7, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
External links[edit]
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- A Successful First Half to Grossman's Second Act