Hunter Renfroe

Hunter Renfroe

Renfroe with the Lake Elsinore Storm in 2014
San Diego Padres – No. 71
Outfielder
Born: (1992-01-28) January 28, 1992
Jackson, Mississippi
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 21, 2016, for the San Diego Padres
MLB statistics
(through 2016 season)
Batting average .371
Home runs 4
Runs batted in 14
Teams

Dustin Hunter Renfroe (born January 28, 1992) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He attended Mississippi State University, where he played college baseball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The Padres selected Renfroe in the first round of the 2013 MLB draft.

Career

Renfroe was raised in Crystal Springs, Mississippi. He attended Copiah Academy in Gallman, Mississippi, where he played for the school's baseball team.[1]

Selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 31st round of the 2010 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft, Renfroe did not sign. He enrolled at Mississippi State University, where he played college baseball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.[2] On April 15, 2013, he was named the Southeastern Conference Player of the Week.[3] He has also been named to the Golden Spikes Award watchlist[4] and was the 2013 recipient of the C Spire Ferriss Trophy, given to the best college baseball player in Mississippi.[5] From 2011 - 2012, Renfroe played for the Bethesda Big Train of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League, where he broke the Big Train record for most runs, home runs, runs batted in, slugging percentage, and total bases in a season in 2012.[6] Renfroe's number "11" was retired by the Big Train in 2012 and sits high above the field on a light post in left center field where many of his home runs eventually landed.

Renfroe was considered among the best prospects available in the 2013 MLB draft.[7] The San Diego Padres selected Renfroe in the first round, with the 13th overall selection.[8] Renfroe agreed to a $2,678,000 signing bonus[9] and began his professional career with the Eugene Emeralds of the Class A-Short Season Northwest League.[10] After participating in the Northwest League's all-star game, and registering the game-winning hit, the Padres promoted him to the Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Class A Midwest League in August.[11]

Renfroe began the 2014 season with the Lake Elsinore Storm of the Class A-Advanced California League.[12] In 69 games for Lake Elsinore, Renfroe had a .295 batting average, 16 home runs, and 52 runs batted in. He was promoted to the San Antonio Missions of the Class AA Texas League.[13] Renfroe played in the 2014 All-Star Futures Game.[14] After the season, the Padres assigned Renfroe to the Arizona Fall League to continue his development.[15] Renfroe began the 2015 season with San Antonio, and received a promotion in August to the El Paso Chihuahuas of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League.[16] He played in 21 games for El Paso.[17] For the season, Renfroe had a .272 average with 20 home runs and 78 RBIs, including a .333 average and six home runs with 24 RBIs with El Paso.[18]

The Padres invited Renfroe to spring training in 2016.[17] He opened the 2016 season with El Paso.[19][20] He won the 2016 Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player Award.[21] Following the 2016 Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game, the Padres promoted Renfroe to the major leagues on September 21.[22] He made his first plate appearance as a pinch hitter that same night, getting intentionally walked by Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Edwin Escobar.

Personal

Renfroe married Courtney Elizabeth Beach on December 5, 2015, in their hometown of Crystal Springs.[16][23]

References

  1. "HR = Hunter Renfroe = home runs". The Clarion Ledger. April 22, 2010. Retrieved May 15, 2013. (subscription required)
  2. "Copiah County Courier, CA's Hunter Renfroe has risen to the top for MSU Bulldogs". Copiahcountycourier.com. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  3. Mississippi. "Baseball: Mississippi State's Hunter Renfroe named SEC Player of the Week | gulflive.com". Blog.gulflive.com. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  4. Bonner, Michael (May 2, 2013). "Hunter Renfroe named to Golden Spikes midseason watch list | Mississippi State sports". Blogs.clarionledger.com. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  5. "Copiah County Courier, 5-14 Renfroe named Ferriss finalist". Copiahcountycourier.com. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  6. "Bethesda Big Train Records". Bigtrain.org. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  7. Talty, John (April 18, 2013). "Money Man: MLB prospect Renfroe has been Mississippi State's top producer". Clarion Ledger. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  8. "Padres pick college slugger in Round 1 | padres.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. June 6, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  9. Perry, Dayn. "Padres sign first-round pick Hunter Renfroe". CBSSports.com. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  10. Jeff Roper (July 16, 2013). "Hunter Renfroe Eugene Emeralds". Djournal.com. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  11. Jeff Roper (August 7, 2013). "Hunter Renfroe headed to Fort Wayne". Djournal.com. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  12. Landon Negri. "BASEBALL: Lake Elsinore Storm release roster | Sports Southern California". PE.com. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  13. "Missions' Hunter Renfroe a natural on the field — and in the outdoors". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  14. "Renfroe, Guerrero get wide-eyed at Futures Game". MLB.com. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  15. "Turner, Renfroe highlight AFL selections". U-T San Diego. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  16. 1 2 Heneghan, Kelsie (August 20, 2015). "Renfroe blasts off in Triple-A debut: Padres top prospect collects three hits, including homer, four RBIs". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  17. 1 2 Lin, Dennis (February 17, 2016). "Renfroe, Schumaker among Padres' non-roster invitees: Padres invite 19 to major league spring training". The San Dieg Union-Tribune. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  18. Bonner, Michael (February 11, 2016). "Renfroe eager to emerge from crowded Padres outfield". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  19. "Chihuahuas' Renfroe awarded Most Valuable Player". MILB.com. September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  20. Cassavell, AJ (September 21, 2016). "Padres to add several prospects to roster". MLB.com. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  21. "Miss Beach and Renfroe planning December 5 service". North Side Sun. October 27, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
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