Steven Wright was finishing up his senior year at Valley View High School in California when he was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2003. Instead, he enrolled and began playing baseball at the University of Hawaii.

He also played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Cardinals of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he was named a league all-star and helped Orleans to the 2005 league championship.

After three successful years playing for the Rainbows, including a junior season in which he recorded an 11-2 record with a 2.30 ERA, Steven was named a second team All-American, paving the way for him to be on the radar for many teams in the fast approaching major league draft.

Steven did not have to wait long to hear his name called once the 2006 draft got underway. The Cleveland Indians selected him with their second round selection. From 2007 to 2012, he played with the Lake County Captains, Kinston Indians, Akron Aeros, and Columbus Clippers, all affiliates of the Cleveland Indians.

In 2009 the Indians opted to convert Steven into a relief pitcher. Though the territory was new to him, he transitioned with great success. He had a 90-mph fastball, but he turned to the knuckleball as his primary pitch.

During spring training in 2011 the Indians sent long time knuckleball pitcher Tom Candiotti to watch him. Candiotti was impressed and Steven began his full-time transition. Under the tutelage of Candiotti and Charlie Hough, he began to perfect his craft.

Red Sox GM Ben Cherington acquired him from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Lars Anderson, at the trade deadline in 2012. He made one start with Portland before the Sox promoted him to AAA Pawtucket. After four starts with the PawSox, he was added to the Red Sox 40-man roster.

After an injury to Sox relief pitcher Joel Hanrahan in 2013, the Red Sox called Steven up to Boston. The following season, he began the year with the PawSox and after having a 2.76 ERA, he was recalled to Boston in August. In 2015, he started with the Red Sox, but was optioned to Pawtucket to make room for the returning Joe Kelly.

Steven arrived at spring training in 2016, and performed well, sliding into the rotation in the final week of camp when Eduardo Rodriguez landed on the disabled list.

In May, the Sox beat he Rockies and Steven went seven innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits with seven strikeouts. He had to work through the fact that his knuckleball was so unpredictable, it eluded catcher Ryan Hanigan seven times (four on passed balls, three on wild pitches). Hanigan, appeared to be trying to smother it from the start.

Steven struck out six or more batters seven times, tied for third in the AL. After an outing in which he didn't permit a single extra-base hit, opponents now had a .290 slugging percentage against him, third lowest against any AL starter. He had pitched so well, that he was picked to the All-Star Game.

A freak shoulder injury, while diving back to a base as a pinch-runner ended his season in 2017. He had to undergo left knee surgery for a cartilage restoration.

But Steven Wright won’t be remembered for the fact that he was an effective knuckleballer, the last of a dying breed. He unfortunately put a stain on his career by pulling off the daily double of suspensions. In 2018, he was banned for 15 games for violating MLB’s domestic violence policy. A year later, he got popped for 80 games when he tested positive for Human Growth Hormone and was released by the Red Sox in October.

The last great knuckleball pitcher was Tim Wakefield who retired in 2011 followed by R,A Dickey. According to Statcast, only 200 knuckleballs were thrown in 2018, by far the fewest in the pitch-tracking era. Steven Wright threw 114 of them and Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Ryan Feierabend threw 74. Matt Waldron of the San Diego Padres is the only current pitcher to throw the knuckleball.