| Drew Storen | |
|---|---|
 Storen with the Washington Nationals in 2015 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1987-08-11)August 11, 1987 (age 37) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | |
Batted: Switch Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 17, 2010, for the Washington Nationals | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 1, 2017, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 29–18 |
| Earned run average | 3.45 |
| Strikeouts | 417 |
| Saves | 99 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Drew Patrick Storen (born August 11, 1987) is an American former professionalbaseballrelief pitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theWashington Nationals,Toronto Blue Jays,Seattle Mariners, andCincinnati Reds.[1]
The Nats selected Storen with the 10th overall selection in the2009 MLB draft;[1] he made his MLB debut for Washington in 2010.[1]
Storen attendedBrownsburg High School inBrownsburg, Indiana, where he was teammate of fellow future major league pitcherLance Lynn. Playing for the school's baseball team, Storen had 30wins, 319strikeouts, and a 1.55earned run average (ERA) over his high school career including a 9–0win–loss record as a sophomore in 2005, en route to a Brownsburg State Championship. He was named first-team all-state in 2006 and 2007, as well as all-state honorable mention in 2005 by theAssociated Press, the 2007Hendricks County Flyer Athlete of the Year, three-time first-team All-Hoosier Crossroads Conference selection (2005–2007), first-team All-Metro West three times byThe Indianapolis Star (2005–2007), their Super team in 2006 and 2007 and was their Metro-West High School Player of the Year in 2007. He participated in the 2007 Indiana North-South All-Star Game, and was a state nominee for the 2006 Wendy's High School Heisman Award. He was ranked 49th among the 2007 Top 100 High School prospects byBaseball America.[2]
Storen was drafted by theNew York Yankees in the 34th round of the2007 Major League Baseball draft but did not sign.[1]
Storen enrolled atStanford University to playcollege baseball for theStanford Cardinal.
In 2008, he playedcollegiate summer baseball with theCotuit Kettleers of theCape Cod Baseball League.[3][4] Over two seasons at Stanford, Storen went 12–4 with a 3.64 ERA and 15saves. In 99 innings, he allowed 43runs (40earned), on 87hits, with 23walks, and 116strikeouts. In both seasons he made the First All-Pac-10 Conference team.[2]
The Nationals selected Storen with the tenth overall pick of the2009 MLB draft,[1] which they received as compensation for failure to sign2008 MLB draft first-round pickAaron Crow. Storen, expressing a desire to make it to the majors as quickly as possible, signed with the Nationals the next day.[5] Upon signing, he was assigned to the Class-AHagerstown Suns of theSouth Atlantic League.[6] Storen made an early and strong impact during his time with the Suns, and on July 19 he was called up to the Advanced-APotomac Nationals of theCarolina League.[7] Storen made his first pitching appearance with Potomac on July 21, earning a six outsave, striking out three batters and allowing only one hit.[8] Overall, Storen posted a 1.80 ERA in seven games with Potomac to earn a promotion to theDouble-AHarrisburg Senators of theEastern League. In12+1⁄3 innings with Harrisburg, he did not allow anearned run.[9]
Storen started the 2010 season at Double-A and by the end of April was promoted to theTriple-ASyracuse Chiefs[10] after seven appearances in which he pitched9+1⁄3 innings, allowing only one run, striking out 11 and walking one, earning four saves.[9] He lasted at Syracuse just three weeks, in which he made six appearances allowing just one earned run before getting promoted to the Nationals on May 16.[9][5]
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Storen made his major league debut on May 17, 2010, against theSt. Louis Cardinals, retiring two batters in2⁄3 of an inning.[1][11] Storen recorded his first major league save on August 6, 2010, against theLos Angeles Dodgers.[12] In 2010, he pitched55+1⁄3 innings over 54 games, finishing with a 4–4 record and a 3.58 ERA with five saves.[1]
In 2011, Storen became the team's closer.[13] He pitched75+1⁄3 innings over 73 games, finishing the year with a 6–3 record, with 43 saves, and a 2.75 ERA.[1] He tied for fourth in the MLB in saves.[14]
Before the 2012 season, Storen had surgery to remove a bone chip from his elbow, and missed the first 89 games of the season.[15] He made his season debut on July 19, 2012.[16]Tyler Clippard remained the Nationals' closer after Storen's return,[17] though they shared the role later in the season.[18] In the 2012 regular season, Storen posted a 3–1 win–loss with a 2.37 ERA, 4 saves, and 24 strikeouts over innings.[1]
Storen took on the closer role for the2012 National League Division Series against theSt. Louis Cardinals, in the Nationals' first playoff appearance since the team moved to Washington. He got the save in Game 1[19] and the win in Game 4.[20] In Game 5, Storen took the mound with a 7–5 lead, needing three outs to send the Nationals to theNational League Championship Series. After giving up a leadoff double, he retired the next two batters. He was one strike away from the third out against bothYadier Molina andDavid Freese, but walked both to load the bases.[21] Storen then gave up a two-run single toDaniel Descalso to tie the game.[21] ManagerDavey Johnson elected to have Storen pitch toPete Kozma with the pitcher on deck; Storen allowed a two-run single to Kozma to give the Cardinals a 9–7 lead.[22] The Nationals lost the game 9–7 and were eliminated. Storen's blown save, in which he had the Cardinals down to their final strike on five occasions,[23] was described by teammates as "devastating" and he was said to be in "excruciating" mental pain after the loss;[24] several teammates voiced support for him.[23]
Before the 2013 season, the Nationals signedRafael Soriano to be their closer, a move that Nationals general managerMike Rizzo said had nothing to do with Storen's blown save in Game 5.[24] Storen took on the roles of amiddle relief andsetup man. He was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse in late July following several rough outings.[25][26] Storen returned to the Nationals in July and finished the season strong, with scoreless outings in 18 of his final 21 appearances. In 2013, he posted a 4–2 record, 4.52 ERA, and 58 strikeouts in61+2⁄3 innings pitched.[1]
Storen bounced back in 2014, recording a career-best 1.12 ERA in56+1⁄3 innings pitched. After giving up 31 earned runs in 68 appearances during the previous season, he surrendered just seven in 65 outings during the 2014 campaign.[1]
In Game 2 of the 2014 NLDS against theGiants, Storen was brought in by managerMatt Williams in relief of starterJordan Zimmermann, who had allowed three hits and no runs in the game and had retired the last 20 hitters he faced before walking second basemanJoe Panik with two outs the ninth. Storen allowed two hits, a single toBuster Posey and an RBI double byPablo Sandoval. Storen was credited with a blown save. The game went toextra innings; San Francisco'sBrandon Belt hit a go-ahead home run in the eighteenth inning and the Giants won, 2–1. The Giants later won the series, three games to one.[27]
Storen relinquished his closer role whenJonathan Papelbon was acquired by the Nationals from Philadelphia just before the trade deadline. He struggled as the Nationals' setup man, ending with two disastrous outings against theNew York Mets in early September. After giving up the go-ahead runs on a homer byYoenis Céspedes, Storen slammed a locker in frustration, breaking his thumb and ending his season. He went 2–2 with a 3.44 ERA for the year but was 0–2 with a 9.22 ERA after the Papelbon trade.[28]
On January 8, 2016, Storen was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for outfielderBen Revere and a player to be named later.[29] He avoidedsalary arbitration with Toronto on January 15 when he agreed to a one-year, $8.375 million contract.[30] After posting a 6.21 ERA in33+1⁄3 innings pitched, Storen was designated for assignment on July 24.[31]
On July 26, 2016, Storen was traded to the Seattle Mariners forJoaquín Benoit.[32] The Mariners were Storen's childhood favorite team, as he idolizedKen Griffey Jr.[33] Storen appeared in 19 games for the Mariners, pitching18+1⁄3 innings and attaining a 3-0 record with a 3.44 ERA.[1]
On January 3, 2017, Storen signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds. The contract included an additional $1.5 million in incentives, and a $500,000 assignment bonus if Storen was traded.[34] On April 18, 2017, Storen closed out the ninth inning of a victory over theBaltimore Orioles with animmaculate inning, striking out all three batters on nine total pitches.[35] On September 17, it was announced that Storen would undergoTommy John surgery on his right elbow, ending his 2017 season and causing him to miss the 2018 season.
On February 15, 2019, Storen signed a minor league contract with theKansas City Royals.[36] He was released on June 19, 2019.[37][1]
On January 21, 2020, Storen signed a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.[38][1] Storen did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[39] Storen was released by the Phillies organization on June 28, 2020.
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Storen threw three pitches in roughly equal proportion: a hardfour-seam fastball andtwo-seam fastball that each range from 94 to 98 mph, and a sharpslider from 82 to 86. Right-handed hitters see the slider more often, and left-handed hitters see the two-seamer more often. Storen often relies on the slider with two strikes. On rare occasions, he has used achangeup against lefties.[40]
Drew Storen is the son of sportscasterMark Patrick and Pam Storen and has a sister named Lindsay.[2][41] He is also related to sports executiveMike Storen and his daughter, sportscasterHannah Storm.[42] As of April 2020[update], Storen and his wife, Brittani, have two sons.[43]
