For an organization known for spending $150 million annually on its players, a $1 purchase is proving to be one of the best investments the Boston Red Sox have ever made.
That’s all the Major League Baseball team paid to acquire outfielder Daniel Nava, a 2004 graduate of St. Francis High.
Nava’s June 12 MLB debut made highlight reels nationwide, as he slugged a grand slam on his first pitch to help the Red Sox beat the Phillies.
But Nava’s road to the Big Leagues wasn’t quite as glamorous as that first at-bat.
Nava started his baseball career as a 70-pound slap-hitting outfielder at St. Francis in 1998. While Nava contributed to the team in his time at St. Francis, he was never strong enough to make an impact as a batter. As a senior, he batted ninth.
“He was very fluid as a baseball player,” said Chris Bradford, Nava’s coach at St. Francis. “He knew how to play the game, but he just didn’t have the strength.”
Unlike many of his Lancer peers, Nava didn’t experience much of a growth spurt during high school. He carved out a niche on the varsity squad as a strong defensive player, but it seemed unlikely that he would play beyond high school.
“I thought that he had a shot at perhaps playing in college, but it would have to be the right college,” said Bradford, who retired after the 2004 season. “Division I didn’t seem to be within his grasp.”
Determined to buck considerable odds, Nava hoped to walk onto the baseball team at Santa Clara University. He didn’t make it.
But Nava wasn’t about to quit the game. He transferred to the College of San Mateo to resume his baseball career.
Nava grew bigger and stronger at San Mateo – his size finally caught up to his baseball skills. He was named a Junior College All-American.
Nava soon transferred back to Santa Clara and showed he was worthy of playing there this time. As a senior in 2006, Nava won the West Coast Conference batting title.
But that wasn’t enough to get him drafted in the 2006 MLB draft. So Nava signed with the Independent League’s Chico Outlaws, not an organization known for grooming players for Major League success.
If Nava was disappointed with his destination, he seemed to take it out on opposing pitching. He hit .371 for the Outlaws and was named the Independent league’s No. 1 prospect by Baseball America magazine following the 2007 season.
Those stats caught the eyes of Red Sox scouts, who purchased Nava’s contract from the Outlaws for a buck – plus a reported $1,499 if he earned a spot in Boston’s minor league system.
Nava started out with the Single A Lancaster Jets, for which he batted .341 to claim the California League batting crown.
The Redwood City native continued to swing a hot bat in 2009, hitting well above .300 in stops at Single A Salem of the Carolina League and Double A Portland of the Eastern League.
That performance cemented Nava’s status as a legitimate major league prospect. After a strong start at Triple A Portland this year, the 5-foot-10, 200-pound Nava got the call all amateurs dream of.
His MLB debut came at Fenway Park, where his grand slam – from the ninth spot in the order – sparked the Red Sox’s 10-2 home win. The shot to right center field came off Joe Blanton in the second inning.
Nava, who could not be reached for comment, has been a regular fixture in the lineup ever since, batting .370 in eight games.
Nava’s rapid transformation from light hitting outfielder to offensive force has surprised some, but not those who know him.
“I am not surprised, because he is the most disciplined and best work-ethic guy I have ever coached,” said Mark O’Brien, Santa Clara University baseball coach and St. Francis graduate. “He’s an amazing kid.”
And with his skills and remarkable determination, don’t discount the possibility of Nava having more than just a cup of coffee in the big leagues.
“He has a shot,” Bradford said. “He’s a good enough player to play in the major leagues, no doubt about it.”
