University of Tennessee Athletics
Baseball
- Title:
- Student Assistant Coach
Former Tennessee lefty Steven Gruver enters his first season as a student assistant coach in 2017. Gruver's responsibilities include assisting in the instruction of the pitching staff and working with the bullpen.
The Ohio native played three seasons at Tennessee (2009-2011) and held a spot in the Volunteers' weekend rotation during his sophomore and junior seasons.
He served as Tennessee's ace during his junior campaign, pitching 95.2 innings, more than twice as many as any other player on the roster. The lefty compiled a 5-7 record and 3.95 ERA in a team-high 14 starts. He also led the squad with two complete games and 84 strikeouts while walking just 28 and holding opposing hitters to a .270 batting average.
In 184.0 total innings of work, Gruver struck out 165 batters and walked just 57. He found success off the field as well, being named to both the SEC Community Service Team and Capital One Academic All-District Team in 2011.
Gruver was drafted in the seventh round (238th overall) by the Minnesota Twins in the 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. He went on to play four seasons with the Twins organization, reaching as high as Class A-Advanced in the Florida State League.
During his professional career, Gruver recorded 17 wins and maintained a 3.17 ERA. He played in 138 games, starting 30, and tallied six saves. Overall, Gruver pitched 312.0 innings and allowed 110 earned runs on 308 hits. He also struck out 234 batters.
Gruver is completing his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology and will graduate in May.
