:Garrett Stephenson

{{short description|American baseball player (born 1972)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Garrett Stephenson

|image=

|position=Pitcher

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1972|1|2}}

|birth_place=Takoma Park, Maryland, U.S.

|death_date=

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=July 25

|debutyear=1996

|debutteam=Baltimore Orioles

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=September 17

|finalyear=2003

|finalteam=St. Louis Cardinals

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Win–loss record

|stat1value=39–39

|stat2label=Earned run average

|stat2value=4.55

|stat3label=Strikeouts

|stat3value=408

|teams=

• Baltimore Orioles ({{Baseball year|1996}})
• Philadelphia Phillies ({{Baseball year|1997}}–{{Baseball year|1998}})
• St. Louis Cardinals ({{Baseball year|1999}}–{{Baseball year|2000}}, {{Baseball year|2002}}–{{Baseball year|2003}})

}}

Garrett Charles Stephenson (born January 2, 1972), is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played eight seasons in the majors, from 1996–2003.

Stephenson's father, Rich, pitched briefly in the Pittsburgh Pirates system and the family were observant Mormons. Stephenson played baseball at Linganore High School{{cite news |last1=Baker |first1=Kent |title=Stephenson downshifts for climb |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1995-06-07-1995158130-story.html |accessdate=26 June 2020 |work=Baltimore Sun |date=June 7, 1995}} and later Boonsboro High School in Boonsboro, Maryland and also averaged 24 points per game as a basketball player. His only college scholarship offers for baseball were a half-scholarship offer from BYU and a full ride from Ricks College. He accepted the latter and, after two years at Ricks, he was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 18th round of the 1992 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite news |last1=Eisenbath |first1=Mike |title=Father's Confidence Helps Stephenson Make Majors |url=http://www.mormonstoday.com/000611/S2Stephenson01.shtml |accessdate=26 June 2020 |work=St. Louis Dispatch |publisher=www.mormonstoday.com |date=June 11, 2000}}

Stephenson made his Major League debut with the Orioles on July 25, 1996. He was sent from the Orioles to the Phillies six weeks later on September 4 in a transaction that began when Todd Zeile and Pete Incaviglia were acquired by Baltimore on August 29 and included Calvin Maduro also going to Philadelphia on September 3.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/09/05/johnson-to-use-fifth-starter/d10b615b-531c-4c9c-9c35-bcdaa497e1e8/ Maske, Mark. "Johnson to Use Fifth Starter," The Washington Post, Thursday, September 5, 1996.] Retrieved February 2, 2023.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/08/30/os-trade-for-zeile-incaviglia/7eb98296-6a2e-49bb-aab3-b4a3aa21a3b2/ Maske, Mark. "O's Trade for Zeile, Incaviglia," The Washington Post, Friday, August 30, 1996.] Retrieved February 2, 2023.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1996/09/04/mussina-hedges-on-the-rotation/6cd10283-5e57-438d-807d-da9aff358ed0/ Maske, Mark. "Mussina Hedges on the Rotation," The Washington Post, Wednesday, September 4, 1996.] Retrieved February 2, 2023. In May 2000, Stephenson was named National League Pitcher of the Month{{cite news |title=Griffey homer gets Reds started to victory |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/2000/20000626/recap/stlcin.html |accessdate=26 June 2020 |work=ESPN.com |publisher=ESPN |date=June 26, 2000}} after winning 5 games and posting a 1.42 earned run average.{{cite web |title=Garrett Stephenson 2000 Pitching Splits |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=stephga01&year=2000&t=p#month::none |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |accessdate=26 June 2020 |language=en}}

Stephenson suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in Game 3 of the 2000 National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves. The injury led to him having Tommy John surgery and missing the entire 2001 season.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1893&dat=20030224&id=MagfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UNYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3822,7926811 Southeast Missourian]. February 26, 2003.

Although he did not pitch in the series, Stephenson was sued for allegedly punching a San Francisco Giants fan following a game in the 2002 National League Championship Series. Stephenson and teammates conceded that he confronted and shoved the fan but argued that he threw no punches.{{cite news |last1=Egelko |first1=Bob |title=Giants' fan sues pitcher / Punch alleged after playoff loss |url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Giants-fan-sues-pitcher-Punch-alleged-after-2508267.php |accessdate=26 June 2020 |work=SFGate |date=24 December 2003}}