Jordan Schafer

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Jordan Schafer

| image = Jordan Schafer on July 29, 2014.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Schafer with the Atlanta Braves

| number =

| position = Center fielder

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|9|4}}

| birth_place = Hammond, Indiana, U.S.

| bats = Left

| throws = Left

|debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = April 5

| debutyear = 2009

| debutteam = Atlanta Braves

|finalleague=MLB

|finaldate=May 10

|finalyear=2015

|finalteam=Minnesota Twins

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .228

| stat3label = Home runs

| stat3value = 12

| stat4label = Runs batted in

| stat4value = 85

| stat5label = Stolen bases

| stat5value = 103

| teams =

Atlanta Braves ({{mlby|2009}}, {{mlby|2011}})
Houston Astros ({{mlby|2011}}–{{mlby|2012}})
Atlanta Braves ({{mlby|2013}}–{{mlby|2014}})
Minnesota Twins ({{mlby|2014}}–{{mlby|2015}})

}}

Jordan James Schafer (born September 4, 1986) is an American former professional baseball center fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros, and Minnesota Twins.

Baseball career

=Atlanta Braves=

Schafer was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the third round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft out of Winter Haven High School.{{cite news|last1=Dorado|first1=Juan|last2=Lezotte|first2=Dave|title=Jordan Schafer Joins Gwinnett on Rehab Assignment|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-55757514|access-date=August 8, 2014|publisher=Minor League Baseball|date=August 3, 2013}} In April {{baseball year|2008}} he was suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball after being accused of HGH use.{{cite news|last1=Crasnick|first1=Jerry|title=Braves prospect Schafer suspended 50 games for HGH use|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3336898|access-date=August 8, 2014|work=ESPN.com|date=April 9, 2008}} He was the first player to be suspended by Major League Baseball's Department of Investigations.{{cite news|title=Braves' Schafer denies using HGH|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3859231|access-date=August 8, 2014|work=ESPN.com|date=January 25, 2009}}

Schafer was named the Braves' starting center fielder for the 2009 season on April 3, 2009,{{cite news|title=Braves set 2009 Opening Day roster|url=http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090403&content_id=4119154&vkey=pr_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814133544/http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090403&content_id=4119154&vkey=pr_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 14, 2016|access-date=January 11, 2016|work=MLB.com|date=April 3, 2009}} despite never having played at a higher level than Double-A.{{cite news|last1=O'Brien|first1=David|title=Why Schafer? Why do pitchers lose velocity?|url=http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/atlanta-braves/2013/mar/19/heres-why-braves-might-keep-schafer/|access-date=January 11, 2016|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=March 19, 2013}} He made his major league debut on April 5, 2009, becoming the 99th player in Major League Baseball history to hit his first career home run in his first major league at-bat, off Brett Myers of the Philadelphia Phillies.{{cite news|last1=Bowman|first1=Mark|title=Schafer homers in first career at-bat|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090405&content_id=4133640&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|access-date=August 8, 2014|work=MLB.com|date=April 6, 2009}} He finished the game 2 for 3, with the home run, a single, an intentional walk, and a strikeout.{{cite news|title=Braves 4, Phillies 1 - Boxscore|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2009_04_05_atlmlb_phimlb_1|work=MLB.com|date=April 5, 2009}}

On June 2, 2009, Schafer was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett Braves after batting only .204 with 63 strikeouts in 167 at-bats.{{cite news|last1=Bowman|first1=Mark|title=Braves send struggling Schafer to Minors|url=http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/5104308|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084137/http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/5104308|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2016|access-date=January 11, 2016|work=MLB.com|date=June 2, 2009}} He was called back up to the major league team on May 24, 2011.{{cite news|title=Jordan Schafer could return Sunday|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=6626350|access-date=August 8, 2014|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=June 4, 2011}}

=Houston Astros=

File:JordanJamesSchaferAstro.JPG]]

On July 31, 2011, Schafer was traded with Juan Abreu, Paul Clemens, and Brett Oberholtzer to the Houston Astros in exchange for Michael Bourn.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110731&content_id=22558026&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb |website=MLB.com |title=Braves fill leadoff void, acquire Astros' Bourn |last=Bowman |first=Mark |date=July 31, 2011 |access-date=March 14, 2014}}

On April 29, 2012, Schafer was ejected from a game by umpire Marvin Hudson after disputing an out call on an attempted steal.{{cite web|title=Ejection 014: Marvin Hudson (1)|url=http://www.closecallsports.com/2012/04/ejection-014-marvin-hudson-1.html|publisher=Close Call Sports|access-date=April 30, 2012}}

=Atlanta Braves (second stint)=

On November 1, 2012, the Atlanta Braves reacquired Schafer from the Astros via waivers.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/11/01/schafer-is-back-but-not-to-replace-bourn/ |title=Schafer is back, but not to replace Bourn |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |first=David |last=O'Brien |date=November 1, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103160558/http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-braves-blog/2012/11/01/schafer-is-back-but-not-to-replace-bourn/ |archive-date=November 3, 2012 }} Schafer was placed on the disabled list on July 4, 2013, with a stress fracture in his ankle.{{cite news|last1=Rogers|first1=Carroll|title=MRI reveals stress fracture for Schafer|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/mri-reveals-stress-fracture-for-schafer/nYpZj/|access-date=August 2, 2014|publisher=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=July 12, 2013}} In 94 games for Atlanta in 2013, he batted .247/.331/.346 with three home runs, 21 RBI, and 22 stolen bases.

Schafer played in 63 games for the Braves in 2014, hitting .163/.256/.213 with two RBI and 15 stolen bases. He was designated for assignment by the Braves on August 1, 2014.{{cite news|last1=Bowman|first1=Mark|title=Schafer designated for assignment after Deadline|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/atl/jordan-schafer-designated-for-assignment-after-non-waiver-trade-deadline?ymd=20140801&content_id=87440598&vkey=news_atl|access-date=August 2, 2014|work=MLB.com|date=August 1, 2014}}

=Minnesota Twins =

File:Jordan Schafer attempts to rob a home run.jpg]]

Schafer was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins on August 3, 2014.{{cite news|title=Twins claim OF Schafer off waivers from Braves|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=11303960|access-date=August 4, 2014|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=August 3, 2014}} He played in 41 games for Minnesota, slashing .285/.345/.362 with one home run, 13 RBI, and 15 stolen bases. Schafer was named the Twins' 2015 Opening Day center fielder. In 27 contests, he hit .217/.250/.261 with no home runs and five RBI. The team released Schafer on June 18 to make room for an influx of outfield prospects.{{Cite web | url=http://blogs.twincities.com/twins/2015/06/19/twinsights-bad-fit-caused-twins-to-release-jordan-schafer | title=Bad fit caused Twins to release Jordan Schafer}}

=Los Angeles Dodgers=

Schafer signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on January 13, 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/dodgers-699801-hatcher-season.html|title=Dodgers reach agreement with reliever Chris Hatcher, add Jordan Schafer|first=Bill|last=Plunkett|work=Orange County Register|date=January 13, 2016|access-date=January 14, 2016}} The Dodgers converted him to a pitcher and assigned him to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League.{{cite web|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/drillers/drillers-roster-set-for-season-opener/article_a341df89-92ef-511f-bbf1-24fa588b93db.html|title=Drillers' roster set for season opener|work=Tulsaworld.com|first=Barry|last=Lewis|date=April 4, 2016|access-date=April 4, 2016}} He performed well enough that he was selected to participate in the mid-season Texas League All-Star Game.{{cite web|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/drillers/texas-league-all-star-game-filled-with-drillers/article_a4bdd429-3faf-5d2a-ab47-514f6682101b.html|title=Texas League All-Star Game filled with Drillers|work=Tulsa World|first=Barry|last=Lewis|date=June 28, 2016|access-date=June 28, 2016}} He pitched in 31 games for Tulsa, six for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers and another three for the Arizona League Dodgers. Overall, he was 1–1 with a 4.93 ERA in 49 {{fraction|1|3}} innings.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.cgi?id=schafe001jor|title=Jordan Schafer Register Statistics & History|work=Baseball Reference}} Schafer elected free agency following the season on November 7.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2016|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2016/|access-date=July 25, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 8, 2016 |language=en}}

=St. Louis Cardinals=

On December 12, 2016, Schafer signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.{{cite news|last1=Hummel|first1=Rick|title=Cardinals get Fryer back, sign four other players|url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinals-get-fryer-back-sign-four-other-players/article_f74619d9-8a7b-50aa-940a-66ca08edc9fc.html|access-date=March 15, 2017|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=December 13, 2016}} He joined the team for spring training, during which, on March 14, 2017, it was announced that Schafer would undergo surgery on his left elbow.{{cite news|title=Cardinals pitcher Jordan Schafer to have elbow surgery Friday|url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/18908480/st-louis-cardinals-pitcher-jordan-schafer-headed-elbow-surgery|access-date=March 15, 2017|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=March 14, 2017}} He missed the entire season.

Invited to spring training in 2018, he was among six cut to minor-league camp on March 4.{{cite web |url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/birdland/cardinals-cut-six-give-schafer-a-chance-to-make-call/article_7fde4beb-4377-5d6a-b96c-27f429b15481.html |title=Cardinals cut six, give Schafer a chance to make call on pitching |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |date=March 4, 2018}} He was released on March 12.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/jordan-schafer-released-by-cardinals/|title=Jordan Schafer: Released by Cardinals|work=cbssports.com|date=March 19, 2018|access-date=March 19, 2018}}

=San Francisco Giants=

On April 3, 2018, Schafer signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/giants-jordan-schafer-lands-milb-deal-with-giants/|title=Giants' Jordan Schafer: Lands MiLB deal with Giants|date=3 April 2018 |publisher=cbssports.com|access-date=April 3, 2018}} In 7 games for the Triple–A Sacramento River Cats, he compiled a 5.68 ERA with 9 strikeouts across {{fraction|6|1|3}} innings pitched. Schafer was released by the Giants organization on June 9.{{cite news |last1=Eddy |first1=Matt |title=Minor League Transactions: June 8–15 |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-transactions-june-8-15/ |access-date=May 30, 2019 |work=Baseball America |date=June 18, 2018}}