Less than a month ago, Adam Stern might have been a thumb away from making the Boston Red Sox. That's when the Londoner attempted to steal second base in a spring training game against the Cincinnati Reds.
When the dust settled, Stern, instead of breaking camp with the Red Sox, had a broken thumb. He is headed for the 15-day disabled list. When he's done rehabilitating the injury, which should take a couple of weeks, he'll spend 20 days in AAA Pawtucket.
As a Rule 5 free agent draft choice, the Red Sox will then have to decide if Stern will be their fifth outfielder or they'll have to offer him back to the Atlanta Braves, the organization from which they drafted Stern, for half the $50,000 draft price.
If Stern comes back from the injury and plays the way he did early in the spring, he will make the major league roster.
Even though Stern has never played higher than AA ball for any extended period, he has assets the Red Sox could use. The 25-year-old has great speed and defensive abilities.
The Red Sox traded outfielder Adam Hyzdu to San Diego Padres 10 days ago, leaving Stern as one of five outfielders on the 40-man roster. He's in good company with Johnny Damon, Trot Nixon, Jay Payton and Manny Ramirez.
"I was hearing good things about how things were going in spring training," Stern said from spring training in Fort Myers, Fla. "They needed someone with speed and good defence to come off the bench.
"The broken thumb is a minor setback. I felt really good and that was the disappointing part. I kept hearing how things were going well and that everyone was happy with what was happening. It's going to be frustrating hearing that stuff. But I had to keep that out of my mind. It's part of playing the game. It was a freak accident."
A story on the Boston Red Sox website quotes Ben Cherington, director of player development: "Due to his speed, ability to play three outfield positions, and developing offensive ability, we felt that he was someone we wanted to be competing for a job in spring training. The fact that he grew up in Ontario contributed to our belief that he still has room for improvement in his game."
Stern, who attended St. Thomas Aquinas high school in London, attended university at Nebraska.
Playing for AA Greenville last year, he stole 27 bases in 37 attempts and batted .322 with 26 doubles, six triples and eight homers. He was also a member of the Canadian Olympic team.
Stern is in full learning mode during his spring training stint. The defending World Series champions are stacked with veterans who can teach someone like him how to survive in the Show.
"They are great guys. I try to pick their brains whenever I can," Stern says. "A veteran team always has a lot of things they can help you out with.
"Whatever I can do to get a little piece of information, I will do it. Whether it's talking to David Ortiz about what it was like when he first came up or Johnny Damon about leading off, I'll get whatever I can."
One of his most expensive lessons came on the play in which he fractured his thumb.
"I think I'm going to have to scratch the head-first slide. Me and Johnny Damon were talking about it the week before it happened. We were going over some things.
"We were talking about what's quicker. While you always feel quicker going head first, he said he wanted to stay around for a lot longer in his career, so he said he was going to go feet first. I guess I didn't take his advice too well."
Stern has been told by general manager Theo Epstein and field manager Terry Francona that he needs to be ready to show what he can do during his 20-day stint in Pawtucket.
Considering how close he is to making it to the bigs, it's a piece of advice he's going to follow to the letter.
