Brandon Drury

Brandon Drury
Drury with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016
Arizona Diamondbacks – No. 27
Utility player
Born: August 21, 1992 Grants Pass, Oregon
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 1, 2015, for the Arizona Diamondbacks
MLB statistics (through 2016 season)
Batting average	.275
Home runs	18
Runs batted in	61
Teams
Arizona Diamondbacks (2015–present)

Brandon S. Drury (born August 21, 1992) is an American professional baseball utility player for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Career

Drury was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 13th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft out of Grants Pass High School in Grants Pass, Oregon, where he primarily played shortstop.^[1][2] He made his professional debut for the Gulf Coast Braves. He finished the year hitting .198/.248/.292 with three home runs over 192 at-bats. In 2011 he played for the Danville Braves.^[3] In 63 games, he hit .347/.367/.525 with eight home runs in 265 at-bats. He was named the MVP of the Appalachian League along with Eddie Rosario.^[4] In 2012, while playing for the Rome Braves, he hit only .229/.270/.333 with six home runs in 445 at-bats.^[5]

On January 24, 2013, Drury, along with Martín Prado, Randall Delgado, Zeke Spruill and Nick Ahmed were traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Justin Upton and Chris Johnson.^[6] He played his first season in the Diamondbacks organization with the South Bend Silver Hawks.^[7] In 134 games, he hit .302/.362/.500 with 15 home runs. He started the 2014 season for the Visalia Rawhide, and in August was promoted to the Double A Mobile BayBears.^[8][9] He had a .299 batting average, 23 home runs and 95 RBI. After the season, Drury was sent to the Arizona Fall League, where he played for the Salt River Rafters.^[10]

Drury was invited to spring training in 2015 and began the year with Mobile.^[11][12] On June 23, he was promoted to the Triple A Reno Aces.^[13] The Diamondbacks called Drury up to the major leagues on September 1, 2015, and he made his debut that day.^[14] Drury collected his first major league hit, a single, off Colorado Rockies pitcher Jon Gray.^[15] Drury hit his first home run on September 22, going deep off of Adam Liberatore of the Los Angeles Dodgers.^[16]

Due to his strong offensive performance, Drury was mentioned as a possible backup outfielder during spring training in 2016.^[17] He became one of the last players to make the Diamondbacks 2016 Opening Day roster.^[18] The Diamondbacks occasionally started Drury in the outfield as well as second and third base to keep his bat in the lineup.^[19] Drury was optioned to the Triple A Reno Aces to clear a roster spot for Shelby Miller on June 19, despite hitting .275/.313/.456 up to that point in the season.^[20][21] The Diamondbacks recalled Drury on June 24, a day after outfielder Socrates Brito had fractured a toe on his right foot.^[22][23]

References

1. Daschel, Nick (June 8, 2010). "Three Oregon high school stars get first-year call in MLB draft". The Oregonian. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
2. Piecoro, Nick (August 26, 2014). "Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Brandon Drury making big strides". Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
3. "Danville Braves Announce 2011 Roster". MILB.com. June 21, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
4. Wild, Danny (August 24, 2011). "Rosario, Drury named Appy's best". MILB.com. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
5. Rallo, Curt (August 15, 2013). "MWL notes: Drury follows the leaders". MILB.com. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
6. "Braves get Justin Upton in big deal". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 24, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
7. Rallo, Curt (April 23, 2013). "Silver Hawks: After a cold start, Drury heating up". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
8. Buchanan, Zach (April 18, 2014). "3B prospect Brandon Drury could be bright spot in Upton trade". Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
9. Hicks, Tommy (August 28, 2014). "Diamondbacks' prospect Brandon Drury comfortable with promotion to Mobile BayBears". Birmingham News. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
10. Pleskoff, Bernie (October 9, 2015). "Scouting Report: Brandon Drury". MLB.com. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
11. Shingleton, Grant (June 12, 2015). "BayBears infielder Brandon Drury wants 'good at-bats'". Birmingham News. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
12. Bloom, Barry M. (March 20, 2015). "Prospect Drury among three optioned to Double-A by D-backs". MLB.com. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
13. Jackson, Josh (July 30, 2015). "Drury doubles three times in five-hit game". MILB.com. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
14. Gilbert, Steve (September 1, 2016). "Drury's audition gives D-backs a good problem". MLB.com. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
15. Manning, Deena (November 4, 2015). "GP's Drury looks back on experience". Grants Pass Daily Courier. Retrieved June 21, 2016 – via Mail Tribune.
16. Humburg, J.D. (September 23, 2015). "Former Oregon prep star Brandon Drury delivers first MLB home run in Diamondbacks win". The Oregonian. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
17. Piecoro, Nick (March 13, 2016). "Brandon Drury might be a Plan B in Diamondbacks' outfield". Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
18. Piecoro, Nick (April 2, 2016). "Brandon Drury slugs his way to Diamondbacks' Opening Day roster". Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
19. Bordow, Scott (April 28, 2016). "Brandon Drury's bat earning him additional playing time". Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
20. Gilbert, Steve (June 19, 2016). "Brito, Miller recalled among flurry of moves". MLB.com. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
21. Piecoro, Nick (June 19, 2016). "D-Backs option Brandon Drury, clear room for Shelby Miller". Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
22. "D-backs place Brito on DL with broken toe, recall Drury". Fox Sports. June 24, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016.
23. Gilbert, Steve (June 24, 2016). "Drury recalled by D-backs as Brito hits DL". MLB.com. Retrieved July 28, 2016.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)