Jason Stokes
Jason Stokes is a former first baseman who played in the Oakland Athletics and Florida Marlins organizations.
As a senior for Coppell High School in Coppell, Texas, he hit 25 home runs, which still stands as the state single-season home run record. Stokes was named the Gatorade U.S. High School Baseball Player of the Year in 2000.
Stokes was drafted in the second round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Florida Marlins. His best season in the minor leagues was in with the Kane County Cougars, where he hit.341 with 27 home runs and 75 runs batted in, earning Stokes the Sporting News minor league player of the year award. Stokes participated in the 2002 All-Star Futures Game during All-Star Weekend, playing for the United States team. He was ranked as the Marlins number four prospect and "Best Power Prospect" entering the season according to Baseball America.
Injuries plagued Stokes' career. His seasons with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes in 2005 and were cut short due to hand and groin injuries. After being traded to the Oakland Athletics organization in early 2007, Stokes played a few games with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, but again went on the disabled list with a back injury. Due to accumulating injuries, Stokes retired from baseball at the end of the 2007 season.
Attempting a comeback, Stokes signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers in January, 2010. He participated in spring training with the Tigers but was released on March 31 after suffering a groin injury. Later that season, after playing for the independent Grand Prairie AirHogs minor league team for 18 games, Stokes retired. He hit a total of 96 home runs in his minor league career.
