Jordan Schafer
From BR Bullpen
Jordan J. Schafer
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 6' 1", Weight 200 lb.
- High School Winter Haven High School
- Debut April 5, 2009
- Born September 4, 1986 in Hammond, IN USA
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[edit] Biographical Information
Jordan Schafer was a top prospect entering 2008 but a drug suspension tarnished his reputation early in the year. He made his major league debut with the Atlanta Braves on Opening Day 2009.
Schafer was a two-way high school stat. He hit .478 and slugged .957 as a senior. He stole 50 bases and scored 52 runs in 92 AB. He was 11-0 on the mound with a 0.71 ERA, striking out 140 in 76 innings while allowing 12 walks and 39 hits. Baseball America named him as a second-team high school All-American utility player alongside Buster Posey and behind only Colby Rasmus and Zach Putnam. The Atlanta Braves picked Schafer in the third round of the 2005 amateur draft.
Jordan made his professional debut with the GCL Braves, hitting only .203/.256/.352 in 49 games. He stole 13 bases to lead his team but was thrown out running six times.
Schafer hit .240/.293/.376 for the 2006 Rome Braves. Two positives were seven triples (second to Quentin Davis among Atlanta minor leaguers) and his defense (.993 fielding percentage, 10 outfield assists). He led South Atlantic League outfielders in putouts. Baseball America named him the best defensive outfielder in the SAL that year.
Schafer went from middling prospect to top prospect status in 2007. He batted .372/.441/.636 in 30 games for Rome and .294/.354/.477 with 34 doubles, 70 runs, 8 triples and 19 steals (in 30 tries) in 106 contests for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. He led Braves minor leaguers in runs (86), hits (176), total bases (290), doubles (49) and slugging (.513). He led the affiliated minors in hits and was third in doubles behind Zachary Daeges and Delwyn Young. Baseball America rated him as the best defensive outfielder in the Carolina League and as having the best outfield arm in that circuit. He made the league All-Star team, joining Mitch Einertson, Jose Duarte and Brad Corley in the outfield. He ranked 4th in the Carolina League in average trailing Billy Hart, Einertson and Matt Rogelstad. Baseball America named him as the best prospect in the Carolina League, followed by Chris Marrero, Elvis Andrus, Max Ramirez and Wes Hodges.
When the Braves let Andruw Jones go via free agency, Schafer was projected as the long-range answer in center field.
Schafer hit .324 in the Arizona Fall League and was named to the AFL All-Prospect team. He then batted .316 in spring training and Bobby Cox said he would have been the Atlanta center fielder if they didn't have Mark Kotsay.
Schafer started 2008 just 1 for 11 for the Mississippi Braves. He then was suspended for 50 games by Major League Baseball for his use of Human Growth Hormone. He finished the season with a line of .269/.383/.471 in 84 games and made no outfield errors. Baseball America rated him as the #13 prospect in the Southern League.
He then made the Braves roster in spring training of 2009 and was the starting center fielder for the Major League Baseball opener against the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies on April 5. He hit a home run off Brett Myers in his first at-bat and went 2 for 3 overall with an intentional walk in Atlanta's 4-1 win.
[edit] Sources
- 2006-2009 Baseball Almanacs
- MILB.com
[edit] Miscellaneous
Of all the players who hit a home run in their first plate appearance, Schafer was the only one to do it on Opening Day against the defending champions.
