Aaron Fultz

Infobox MLB player
name = Aaron Fultz


width = 150
caption =
team = Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions
number = 46
position = Pitcher
birthdate = birth date and age|1973|9|4
birthplace = city-state|Memphis|Tennessee
bats = Left
throws = Left
debutdate = April 5
debutyear = 2000
debutteam = San Francisco Giants
statyear = 2008 season
stat1label = Win-Loss
stat1value = 25-15
stat2label = Earned run average
stat2value = 4.26
stat3label = Strikeouts
stat3value = 394
teams =
*San Francisco Giants (by|2000–by|2002)
*Texas Rangers (by|2003)
*Minnesota Twins (by|2004)
*Philadelphia Phillies (by|2005–by|2006)
*Cleveland Indians (by|2007)
*Uni-President Lions (by|2008–present) (CPBL)

Richard Aaron Fultz (born September 4, 1973 in city-state|Memphis|Tennessee) is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who currently plays for the Uni-President Lions of Taiwan's CPBL.

Drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 6th round of the by|1992 amateur draft, Fultz spent the first three seasons of his Major League career with them (mlby|2000–mlby|2002), compiling a 10-5 record in 167 games played (181.2 innings pitched). From there, he began his career as a journeyman pitcher, trying to find his niche out of someone's bullpen. For the Texas Rangers (mlby|2003), he had little success, with only a 1-3 record and an earned run average just above 5.00. His next stop was the Minnesota Twins, for whom he had a .500 record (3-3), but an ERA still above 5.00. In the mlby|2005 season, he settled into his role as the left-handed specialist in the bullpen of the Philadelphia Phillies and promptly proceeded to toss career numbers, posting a 4-0 record and an ERA of 2.24. Fultz was then re-signed by Philadelphia to a one-year contract for the mlby|2006 season.

Fultz was signed by the Cleveland Indians to a one-year contract before the mlby|2007 season. The contract also included a club option for mlby|2008. Fultz worked as a left-handed specialist in 2007, appearing in 49 games and going 4-3 with a 2.92 ERA.

Before the 2008 season, Fultz's club option was picked up by the Indians. Yet on March 24, 2008, it was announced that Fultz would not be making the team after a poor spring. He put up an 11.88 ERA in seven games and gave 14 runs on 16 hits in 8 1/3 innings. [cite news |last=Castrovince |first=Anthony |title=Indians eat Fultz's option |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080324&content_id=2454682&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle |work=MLB.com |date=2008-03-24 |accessdate=2008-03-25 ] The following day, Fultz was designated for assignment and was released on March 28.

On March 29, 2008, Fultz signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers, but asked to be released by the team less then 3 weeks after signing the contract because he wasn't called up to the team.

On May 6, 2008, Fultz signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies but was released in June. He subsequently signed with the Somerset Patriots of the independent Atlantic League. On July 20, Fultz made a start for the Patriots against the Bridgeport Bluefish and allowed 5 runs in the 1st inning. He settled down in the following innings allowing just 1 run in the 4th but was saddled with the loss. On September 9, 2008, Fultz's contract was purchased by Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions of Taiwan's CPBL. [ [http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080909/SPORTS0104/809090348/1096/sports01 "Patriot's Fultz leaves team for Taiwan"] . September 9, 2008, "MyCentralNewJersey.com". Retrieved on September 11, 2008.]

Personal

Fultz is a 1991 graduate of Munford High School (TN) where he won a state championship in his senior season. He attended North Florida Junior College. He also gives time and effort in support of Garth Brooks' Teammates for Kids.

Fultz has three children, two son's Kale 03/31/1994 and Aaron (A.J.) 04/19/1998, and one daughter, Chloe 02/02/2006.

References

External links

*baseball-reference|id=f/fultzaa01
* [http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=150269 MLB.com player info page]