Dernell Stenson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dernell Stenson |
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: June 17, 1978 LaGrange, Georgia |
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| Died: November 5, 2003 (aged 25) Chandler, Arizona |
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| debut | |||
| August 13, 2003, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 28, 2003, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .247 | ||
| Home runs | 3 | ||
| Runs batted in | 13 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Dernell Renauld Stenson (June 17, 1978 – November 5, 2003) was an American professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds. An outfielder is a player who fields in the outer part of the baseball field. Dernell batted and threw with his left hand.
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Dernell Stenson's Baseball Journey
Dernell was the youngest of eight children. His father, James Stenson, worked as a lumberjack. Dernell was a star baseball player at LaGrange High School in LaGrange, Georgia. This was the same high school attended by another MLB outfielder, Mike Cameron.
Baseball scouts from the Boston Red Sox noticed Dernell's talent. They chose him in the third round of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft. This draft is where professional teams pick young players.
Climbing Through the Minor Leagues
Dernell quickly moved up through the lower minor leagues. These are leagues where players develop their skills before reaching the MLB. He eventually reached Triple-A, which is the highest level of the minor leagues.
He played for the Red Sox's team in Pawtucket for parts of four seasons. After that, he left the Red Sox organization.
Making it to the Major Leagues
For the 2003 season, Stenson signed with the Cincinnati Reds. He played very well in the minor leagues that year. For example, he batted .306 with 14 home runs and 76 RBIs in 101 games. He played for the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts.
Because of his great performance, the Reds called him up to the Major Leagues in September. He played in 37 games, mostly as a left or right fielder. He had a batting average of .247 with three home runs.
Playing in the Arizona Fall League
After the 2003 season, Dernell was chosen to play in the Arizona Fall League (AFL). This league is for top minor league prospects. He played for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the AFL.
Sadly, Dernell Stenson passed away while playing in the AFL. The league stopped playing for two days after his death.
Dernell Stenson's Legacy
In 2004, the Arizona Fall League created the Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award. This award goes to a player who shows great determination and humility. It honors Dernell's spirit.
His jersey number, 26, was also retired by the Chattanooga Lookouts. This means no other player on that team will wear his number again.
See also
- List of baseball players who died during their careers
Images for kids
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Dernell Stenson
