Stephen Joseph Fife (born October 4, 1986) is an American former professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

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. He played for the

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(MLB) for the

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and in

Nippon Professional Baseball is a professional baseball league and the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning simply ''Professional Baseball''; outside of Japan, NPB is often referred to as "Japanese baseball". The roots of the league ...

(NPB) for the

Saitama Seibu Lions The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based north of Tokyo in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture. Before 1979, they were based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, in Kyushu. The team is owned by a subsidiary of Seibu Railway ...

Early years

Born and raised in

Boise, Idaho Boise ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Idaho, most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, there were 235,685 people residing in the city. Loca ...

, Fife was a member of Idaho's first-ever team at the

Little League World Series The Little League World Series is an annual baseball tournament for children (primarily boys) aged 10 to 12 years old, held in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Originally called the National Little League Tournament, it was later renamed for th ...

1999 1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons. Events January * January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers. * January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...

. He graduated from

Borah High School Borah High School is a three-year public secondary school in the western United States, located in Boise, Idaho. One of four traditional high schools in the Boise School District, it serves students in grades in the southwest portion of the di ...

in 2005, where he led the Lions to the 5A state title in his senior season, their first since 1981. Fife was also a member of the

American Legion The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is an Voluntary association, organization of United States, U.S. war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It comprises U.S. state, state, Territories of the United States, U.S. terr ...

Boise Senators, winners of the state title (AA) in 2004. He attended

Everett Community College Everett Community College (EvCC) is a public community college in Everett, Washington. EvCC educates more than 19,000 students every year at locations throughout Snohomish County, Washington, with most students and faculty at the main campus in ...

north of

Seattle Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...

and transferred to the

University of Utah The University of Utah (the U, U of U, or simply Utah) is a public university, public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. It was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret (Book of Mormon), Deseret by the General A ...

Salt Lake City Salt Lake City, often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC, is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. It is the county seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in the state. The city is the core of the Salt Lake Ci ...

, where he was a

Mountain West Conference The Mountain West Conference (MW) is a collegiate athletic conference in the Western United States, participating in NCAA Division I. Its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The MW officially began operations on Ja ...

All-Star for the Utes. Following his junior season, Fife was selected by the

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...

in the 3rd round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft.

Playing career

Boston Red Sox

Fife spent 2008 and 2009 in Single–A with the

Lowell Spinners The Lowell Spinners were a baseball team based in Lowell, Massachusetts. From 1996 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's New York–Penn League (NYPL) as the Class A Short Season affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. With Major Leagu ...

Greenville Drive The Greenville Drive are a Minor League Baseball team based in Greenville, South Carolina. They are the High-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox and are a member of the South Atlantic League. They play their home games at Fluor Field at the West E ...

, and

Salem Red Sox The Salem Red Sox are a Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB), based in Salem, Virginia, Salem, an independent city adjacent to Roanoke, Virginia. The team competes at the Single-A level in the Car ...

. In 2010, with the Double–A

Portland Sea Dogs The Portland Sea Dogs are a Minor League Baseball team based in Portland, Maine, playing in the Eastern League (1938–present), Eastern League. Established in 1994, the Sea Dogs are the Double-A (baseball), Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red ...

, he started 26 games and was 8-6 with a 4.75 ERA. He began 2011 with Portland, starting 18 games with an 11-4 record and 3.66 ERA.

Los Angeles Dodgers

On July 31, 2011, Fife was traded (along with Tim Federowicz) to the

in a three-team trade that sent Trayvon Robinson to the

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. The Mariners compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. The team joined the American ...

. In 6 starts with the Dodgers' Double–A affiliate, the

Chattanooga Lookouts The Chattanooga Lookouts are a Minor League Baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team plays its home g ...

, he was 3-1 with a 4.01 ERA. He was added to the 40-man roster after the season to protect him from the

Rule 5 draft The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball (MLB) player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor lea ...

and promoted to the Triple–A

Albuquerque Isotopes The Albuquerque Isotopes are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. They play home games at Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at an ...

to start 2012. Fife was called up to the majors for the first time on July 17, 2012 to make a spot start against the

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...

in place of the injured Chad Billingsley. He pitched six innings, allowing only one run while inducing 11 ground ball outs and left the game with the lead, only to get a no decision when the bullpen blew the game in the eighth. He was optioned back to the Isotopes after the game. After one start with the Isotopes, he returned to the Dodgers after

Nathan Eovaldi Nathan Edward Eovaldi ( ; born February 13, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers (baseball), Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Mar ...

was traded. He made two more starts with the Dodgers on July 27 and August 1 before returning to the minors after the team acquired Joe Blanton. In 24 starts (and 1 relief appearance) with the Isotopes, Fife was 11-7 with a 4.66 ERA. He was later recalled to the Dodgers in September and made two more starts. In his 5 total starts with the Dodgers in 2012, he was 0-2 with a 2.70 ERA. Fife picked up his first career win on June 3, 2013, in a spot start against the

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...

. He again split the season between Albuquerque and Los Angeles. With the Dodgers, he made 10 starts (and appeared in 2 games out of the bullpen) with a 4-4 record and 3.86 ERA. In the 2014 season, he made one appearance for the Dodgers, starting a game on May 4 against the

Miami Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League East, East Division. The ...

. He allowed four runs in six innings in that game. He also started nine games for the Isotopes (and appeared in relief twice). He was 2-2 with a 7.01 ERA before going to the DL with a sore arm. On August 13, 2014, he underwent

Tommy John surgery Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, sometimes referred to as Tommy John surgery is a surgical graft procedure where the ulnar collateral ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with either a tendon from elsewhere in the patient's body, ...

, ending his season. On October 13, 2014, he was outrighted to the minor leagues and removed from the 40 man roster.

Chicago Cubs

On December 11, 2015, the

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...

signed Fife to a minor league contract. Fife spent the 2016 season with the Triple–A

Iowa Cubs The Iowa Cubs are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. They are located in Des Moines, Iowa, and are named for their Major League Baseball (MLB) affiliate. T ...

, where he posted an 0-2 record with a 4.61 ERA and 25 strikeouts. He elected free agency following the season on November 7, 2016.

Miami Marlins

On December 13, 2016, Fife signed a minor league contract with the

. He was released on June 16, 2017.

Saitama Seibu Lions

Fife signed with the

soon after his release from the Marlins.

Cleveland Indians

On February 8, 2018, Fife signed a minor league contract with the

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...

organization. In 20 games (17 starts) for the Triple–A

Columbus Clippers The Columbus Clippers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They are located in Columbus, Ohio, and are named for speedy Merchant ship, merch ...

, he logged a 5–7 record and 6.80 ERA with 56 strikeouts across 86 innings of work. Fife elected free agency following the season on November 2.

Scouting report

Fife is an extreme groundball pitcher throughout his minor league and major league career. Fife relies on a

two-seam fastball A two-seam fastball is a pitch in baseball and softball. It is a variant of the straight fastball. The pitch has the speed of a fastball and can also include late-breaking action caused by varying the pressure of the index and middle fingers on t ...

, which he throws between . He also throws a curveball at and a changeup at .

References

External links

, o
NPBUtah Utes baseball
– Stephen Fife
Everett Community College Athletics
– Stephen Fife * {{DEFAULTSORT:Fife, Stephen 1986 births Living people Águilas del Zulia players American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela Albuquerque Isotopes players 21st-century American sportsmen American expatriate baseball players in Japan Arizona League Cubs players Arizona League Dodgers players Baseball players from Idaho Chattanooga Lookouts players Columbus Clippers players Estrellas Orientales players American expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic Greenville Drive players Iowa Cubs players Los Angeles Dodgers players Lowell Spinners players Major League Baseball pitchers New Orleans Baby Cakes players Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers Portland Sea Dogs players Rancho Cucamonga Quakes players Saitama Seibu Lions players Salem Red Sox players Salt River Rafters players Utah Utes baseball players