Robert Stock

Robert Anthony Stock (born November 21, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago Cubs, and in the KBO League for the Doosan Bears. He pitched for the Israeli national baseball team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

The St. Louis Cardinals selected Stock in the second round of the 2009 MLB draft as a catcher. After transitioning into a pitcher, Stock made his MLB debut in 2018 with the Padres. After playing for San Diego in 2019, he played for the Red Sox in 2020 and the Cubs and Mets in 2021, before joining Doosan in the 2022 season. Listed at and , he throws right-handed and bats left-handed.

Early life Stock was born in Bellevue, Washington, and grew up in Agoura Hills and Westlake Village, California. His parents are Gregg, an engineer, and Randi Stock. He has two brothers, Richard, who also played professional baseball, and Jacob, and two sisters, Sasha and Sabina.

As a 12-year-old, Stock threw an fastball. In 2002, he threw a no-hitter to lead Agoura to an 11–1 victory over Taiwan in the Pony Baseball's Bronco League World Series (ages 11–12) championship game. Baseball America rated him as the best baseball player of his age in the country when he was 13 years old in 2003, repeating that ranking again in 2004 and 2005. Stock played for the United States junior national baseball team in 2004, as the team's youngest player ever and number one pitcher, and 2005. In 2003, his sophomore season, he had a .405 batting average with eight home runs, and as a pitcher, he had a 5–1 win–loss record with a 2.85 earned run average (ERA). as batters hit .190 against him. In 2004, his junior year, he batted .456 with six home runs and 25 runs batted in (RBIs) and caught 70 percent of would-be base stealers.

Stock passed up what some felt was a certain first-round selection in the 2007 MLB draft, to instead enroll a year early at the age of 16, at the University of Southern California (USC) in its Resident Honors Program, which allows 30 high school students to enroll a year early. He was the first athlete in USC history to participate in Resident Honors. He played college baseball for the USC Trojans as a catcher and a pitcher.

Professional career St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals selected Stock as a catcher in the second round with the 67th overall selection of the 2009 MLB draft. He signed for a $525,000 signing bonus. In 2009, as a 19-year-old, he was both a Topps Short-Season/Rookie All-Star and an Appalachian League All-Star at catcher, as he batted .322/.386/.550 with seven home runs, tied for third among 2009 Cardinals draft picks, for the Johnson City Cardinals. In 2013, with the Peoria Chiefs in the Midwest League, he logged an 0–1 record with a 2.30 ERA, and with the Palm Beach Cardinals in the Florida State League he was 2–0 with a 4.37 ERA. Stock pitched to a 2–3 record with one save and a 4.12 ERA in 35 relief appearances split between Peoria and Palm Beach in 2014. The Cardinals released him on December 20, 2014. On May 4, Stock signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He pitched in relief in 12 minor league games, primarily for the Single–A Bradenton Marauders with two games for the rookie–level Gulf Coast League Pirates, and three late-season games for the Double–A Altoona Curve. He elected free agency on November 6. Between the High-A Daytona Tortugas and the Double-A Pensacola Blue Wahoos, Stock was 9–5 with two saves and a 2.82 ERA in 70 innings in 41 relief appearances.

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres signed Stock to a minor league contract on November 27, 2017, with a non-roster invitation to spring training included. In spring training, his fastball reached 100 mph on a few pitches. Stock began the 2018 season playing for the San Antonio Missions of the Double-A Texas League, and received a midseason promotion to the El Paso Chihuahuas of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. With the Padres in 2018, he was 1–1 with a 2.50 ERA in 32 relief appearances over innings, in which he struck out 38 batters.

In 2019 with the Padres, Stock was 1–0 in ten relief appearances with a 10.13 ERA, as he struck out 15 batters in innings (averaging 12.7 strikeouts per 9 innings). Later in the season he was timed at . He regularly reached with his fastball. His season ended three months early, as he suffered a right biceps strain. During the season, he threw a four-seam fastball that averaged 98 mph, an 83 mph slider, and an 85 mph changeup.

In the minor leagues in 2019, pitching 25 games for the El Paso Chihuahuas and 2 games for the AZL Padres in Arizona League, he was a combined 3–0 with a 3.86 ERA as he struck out 45 batters in innings (averaging 13.4 strikeouts per 9 innings).

On October 30, 2019, Stock was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies. He was designated for assignment on July 23, 2020, just before the start of the shortened 2020 season.

Boston Red Sox On July 26, 2020, Stock was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox. He made his first appearance for the Red Sox on August 11, pitching a scoreless innings against the Tampa Bay Rays. He was optioned to, and recalled from, Boston's alternate training site several times during August and September.

On September 1, 2020, after a fan posted on Twitter "I implore you all to put on the Red Sox game, they have this dude Robert Stock pitching, and he looks like he's twice-divorced and completely given up on life. I can't stop watching him. It's transfixing," his wife responded on Twitter: "0 times divorced, but if he keeps walking the lead-off batter, I’ll consider filing." Overall with the 2020 Red Sox, Stock appeared in 10 games, all in relief, compiling an 0–1 record with 4.73 ERA and 14 strikeouts in innings pitched. On November 25, Stock was designated for assignment.

Chicago Cubs On December 2, 2020, Stock was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs. On February 28, 2021, Stock was designated for assignment by the Cubs. On March 3, Stock cleared waivers and was outrighted to the Triple-A Iowa Cubs; he was also invited to Spring Training as a non-roster invitee. On June 16, Stock was selected to the active roster. Stock was optioned to Iowa on June 17 after allowing five runs in four innings against the New York Mets, struggling with command and walking six batters. With Iowa, he posted an 0–3 record with a 4.12 ERA as in innings he struck out 25 batters while walking four.

New York Mets On June 22, 2021, Stock was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets and optioned to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets. On July 7, 2021, he started the second game of a double-header against the Milwaukee Brewers, pitching the first four innings. Stock was placed on the 60-day injured list on July 23 after suffering a right hamstring strain. Stock made 3 starts for the Mets, going 0–2 with an 8.00 ERA and 9 strikeouts. With Syracuse, in four starts he was 1-0 with a 2.87 ERA.

Doosan Bears On January 4, 2022, Stock signed a one-year, $500,000 contract with the Doosan Bears of the KBO League. Stock started 29 games for Doosan, logging a 9–10 record and 3.60 ERA with 138 strikeouts in 165 innings pitched. He became a free agent after the season.

Milwaukee Brewers On January 26, 2023, Stock signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. He began the year pitching for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. In 11 games (4 starts), he struggled to an 0–3 record and 8.22 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 23 innings of work. He threw a no-hitter against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on July 18. In 16 starts for Long Island, Stock registered a 9–4 record and 4.40 ERA with 92 strikeouts across innings pitched.

Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos On February 13, 2024, Stock signed with the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos of the Mexican League. In 19 starts for Dos Laredos, he posted a 9–4 record and 3.38 ERA with 104 strikeouts, second-most in the Mexican League, across innings pitched, with the lowest rate of home runs per nine innings pitched (0.2) in the league. He came in fifth in the voting for pitcher of year in the Mexican Baseball League, won by Trevor Bauer.

Naranjeros de Hermosillo Stock next played for Naranjeros de Hermosillo in the Mexican Pacific Winter League. In the 2024-25 winter league season, he was 10-2 with a 1.60 ERA, as in innings he gave up 53 hits and struck out 78 batters over 14 starts. He became the first Naranjeros pitcher to win the pitching Triple Crown.

Boston Red Sox (second stint) On January 14, 2025, Stock signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox, with an invitation to spring training. After two scoreless appearances for the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, Boston added Stock to their active roster on April 7. He tossed two innings against the Toronto Blue Jays that day, allowing one run on three hits with one walk. Stock was designated for assignment by Boston the following day. He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Worcester on April 10. On June 7, the Red Sox added Stock back to their active roster. He allowed two runs in of an inning pitched against the New York Yankees on June 8, and was designated for assignment the following day. Stock was sent outright to Worcester after clearing waivers on June 11. For the season with Worcester, in 2025 he was 5-4 with 3.92 ERA, as in 19 games (15 starts) he pitched 85 innings in which he struck out 96 batters.

New York Mets (second stint) On November 25, 2025, Stock signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets. On March 8, 2026, it was announced that Stock would require surgery to address arterial thoracic outlet syndrome. Upon returning to health, he recorded a 2.91 ERA with 31 strikeouts across eight appearances (six starts) for the High–A Brooklyn Cyclones and Triple–A Syracuse Mets. That day, in the third MLB start of his career, Stock pitched a career-high five innings against the Miami Marlins. He gave up one run, on three hits and no walks.

Team Israel

Stock played for Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He earned one save and made one start, taking the loss.

He was expected to pitch for Israel in the 2026 World Baseball Classic but was removed from the roster prior to the tournament due to shoulder discomfort.

Personal life Stock is married to Sara Stock (née Krutewicz), whom he met on a blind date when she was on spring break in Palm Beach while Stock was in the area for Cardinals spring training.