Drew's debut: Better late than never

On the same day that the Arizona Diamondbacks selected Justin Upton with the first overall pick of the 2005 draft, Stephen Drew -- the organization's first-round pick in 2004 -- finally made his Minor League debut.

Drew, who signed a $5.5 million contract on May 30 to avoid having to re-enter the draft, went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles, two walks and two runs scored -- including the game-winner in the top of the ninth -- as the Lancaster JetHawks beat the Bakersfield Blaze, 6-5, Tuesday to remain tied for first in the South division of the California League.

The Diamondbacks took Drew 15th overall after he hit .344 with 17 homers and 56 RBIs at Florida State as a junior, but were unable to reach a deal for nearly a full year. In the meantime, the 22-year-old shortstop had been playing with the Camden Riversharks of the independent Atlantic League, where he was leading the league in batting average (.427), slugging percentage (.744) and on-base percentage (.484). He hit a game-winning grand slam in his final at-bat with the Riversharks.

Drew's course was beginning to look strikingly similar to that of his older brother, J.D., who played three years at FSU, was selected second overall in 1997 by the Phillies, and then played a year in the independent Northern League before re-entering the 1998 draft and eventually receiving more money from the Cardinals, who took him fifth overall.

Their other brother, Tim, was also a first-round pick in the 1997 draft and is now pitching for the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox in the Rockies' organization.