Stephen Randolph

{{about|the baseball player|the American historian and author|Stephen Randolph (historian)}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Stephen Randolph

|image=Stephen Randolph (35688752701) (cropped).jpg

|caption=Randolph at the 2017 Arizona Diamondbacks Alumni Game

|position=Pitcher

|birth_date={{birth date and age|mf=yes|1974|5|1}}

|birth_place=Okinawa, Japan

|bats=Left

|throws=Left

|debutleague=MLB

| debutdate=March 31

| debutyear=2003

| debutteam=Arizona Diamondbacks

|debut2league=NPB

| debut2date = July 25

| debut2year = 2009

| debut2team = Yokohama BayStars

|finalleague=MLB

| finaldate=September 28

| finalyear=2007

| finalteam=Houston Astros

|final2league=NPB

| final2date = August 4

| final2year = 2010

| final2team = Yokohama BayStars

|statleague=MLB

|stat1label=Win–loss record

|stat1value=10–7

|stat2label=Earned run average

|stat2value=5.52

|stat3label=Strikeouts

|stat3value=134

|stat2league=NPB

| stat21label = Win–loss record

| stat21value = 7–11

| stat22label = Earned run average

| stat22value = 3.39

| stat23label = Strikeouts

| stat23value = 142

|teams=

Arizona Diamondbacks ({{mlby|2003}}–{{mlby|2004}})
Houston Astros ({{mlby|2007}})
Yokohama BayStars ({{npby|2009}}–{{npby|2010}})

}}

Stephen LeCharles Randolph (born May 1, 1974) is an American former professional baseball left-handed pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Houston Astros, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yokohama BayStars.

Career

Randolph was selected by the New York Yankees in the 18th round (506th overall) of the 1995 Major League Baseball draft out of the University of Texas, Austin. He spent three seasons in the Yankees farm system, never getting above the High-A level.

On December 15, 1997, Randolph was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft and joined the Diamondbacks' farm system, where he would remain through 2003, playing primarily with the Triple-A Tucson Sidewinders.

Randolph made his Major League debut on March 31, 2003 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, working {{fraction|1|3}} of an inning in relief. He became a regular contributor to the Arizona bullpen in both 2003 and 2004, pitching in 50 games in 2003 and 45 in 2004.

On January 10, 2005, Arizona traded Randolph to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for future considerations. However, the Cubs released him on March 30 at the end of spring training, and he spent the year with the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies of the San Francisco Giants organization and the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs of the Washington Nationals organization. Randolph spent the 2006 campaign with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights in the Chicago White Sox organization.

On January 4, 2007, Randolph signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros{{Cite web|url=http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070104&content_id=1773291&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716085841/http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070104&content_id=1773291&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |title=Astros sign five, announce report dates |access-date=2007-06-28 |author=Alyson Footer |author-link=MLB.com |date=January 4, 2007 |work=MLB.com}}

Randolph was called up to Houston from Triple-A Round Rock April 25 when reliever Rick White was placed on the disabled list (DL) with an oblique strain.{{Cite web|url=http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070426&content_id=1931441&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070430171756/http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070426&content_id=1931441&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 30, 2007 |title=Notes: Biggio inching toward milestone |access-date=2007-06-28 |author=Alyson Footer |author-link=MLB.com |date=April 26, 2007 |work=MLB.com}} He made only two appearances before he was designated for assignment on April 27 to make room for top outfield prospect Hunter Pence. Randolph was recalled from Round Rock June 19 when Brad Lidge went on the DL with an oblique strain,{{Cite web|url=http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070620&content_id=2039441&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070625174934/http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070620&content_id=2039441&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 25, 2007 |title=Notes: Bagwell back in uniform? |access-date=2007-06-28 |author=Alyson Footer |author-link=MLB.com |date=June 20, 2007 |work=MLB.com}}

but was again designated for assignment June 28.{{Cite web|url=http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070628&content_id=2054548&vkey=pr_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707022922/http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070628&content_id=2054548&vkey=pr_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 7, 2007 |title=Astros recall Albers and McLemore |access-date=2007-06-28 |author= |date=June 28, 2007 |work=MLB.com}}

On December 13, 2007, Randolph was among 89 players named in the Mitchell Report on performance-enhancing drug use in baseball. On May 8, 2008, Randolph was traded by the Astros to the Philadelphia Phillies.{{Cite web|title=Odds And Ends: Clemens, Soria, Randolph, Mulder|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/05/odds-and-ends-c-7.html|access-date=May 21, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} He was assigned to the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and became a free agent at the end of the season. Randolph signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on January 11, {{baseball year|2009}} and was assigned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes.

On July 3, 2009, the Dodgers traded Randolph to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for future considerations.{{Cite web|title=Odds And Ends: Dodgers, Chapman, Kepler|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/07/odds-and-ends-9.html|access-date=May 21, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} In two starts for the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers, he struggled to a 10.13 ERA with seven strikeouts over eight innings pitched.

On July 25, 2009, Randolph was sold to the Yokohama BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball.