Rafael Furcal

Infobox MLB player


width = 250
caption=Furcal (left) with the Dodgers in 2008
name=Rafael Furcal
position=Shortstop
team=Los Angeles Dodgers
number=15
bats=Switch
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1977|10|24
Loma de Cabrera, Dominican Republic
debutdate=April 4
debutyear=2000
debutteam=Atlanta Braves
statyear=June 14, 2008
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.287
stat2label=Runs scored
stat2value=788
stat3label=Stolen bases
stat3value=259
stat4label=Home Runs
stat4value=83
teams=
*Atlanta Braves (by|2000-by|2005)
*Los Angeles Dodgers (by|2006-present)

Rafael Antoni Furcal [cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6404|title=ESPN - Rafael Furcal Stats, News, Photos - Los Angeles Dodgers - MLB Baseball|accessdate=2007-09-16|publisher=ESPN] (born October 24, 1977 in Loma de Cabrera, Dominican Republic), [cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/f/furcara02.shtml|title=Rafael Furcal Statistics|accessdate=2007-09-16|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com] nicknamed "Fookie", is a shortstop in Major League Baseball who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Early career

Furcal attended Jose Cabrera High School and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Atlanta Braves on November 9, 1996.

He began his professional career as a second baseman with the Gulf Coast Braves in 1997. The following season, with the Danville Braves he hit .328 and stole a league record 60 bases in only 66 games. He was named Danville's Player of the Year and Appalachian League All-Star Second Baseman.

In 1999, he switched to short stop and joined the Macon Braves in "A" ball and hit .337 with 73 stolen bases in 83 games. He was transferred to the advanced "A" team in Myrtle Beach and hit .293 for them with 23 steals in 43 games. He led all of minor league baseball with 96 steals total. He was named to Baseball America's first team All-Star team and the South Atlantic League All-Star team. In addition, he was the Braves Minor League Player of the Year, the South Atlantic League Most Outstanding Prospect and a Class A All-Star.

Major league career

An injury to Braves shortstop Walt Weiss prior to the by|2000 season led to Furcal improbably making the jump from "A" ball to the Major League roster. He made his Major League debut on April 4, 2000 against the Colorado Rockies, getting 2 hits in 4 at-bats. His first hit was against Rockies pitcher Rolando Arrojo.

Furcal went on to hit .295 with 40 stolen bases for the Braves and won the National League Rookie of the Year Award that year.

He missed most of the by|2001 season because of a dislocated left shoulder, suffered while stealing second base in a July 6 game at Boston.

Returned to the starting lineup in 2002 and tied a modern Major League record with three triples in a game on April 21 against Florida.

Furcal completed an unassisted triple play for the Braves against the St. Louis Cardinals on August 10, 2003. It was the 12th in baseball history. In the fifth inning, the shortstop caught pitcher Woody Williams' liner with the runners moving in a hit and run attempt, stepped on second base to retire catcher Mike Matheny and tagged Orlando Palmeiro before he could return to first. [cite web|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/news/2003/08/10/unassisted_tripleplay_ap/|title=Braves' Furcal turns rare unassisted triple play|accessdate=2007-08-20|publisher=SI.com] Still, at the end of the year he led all Major League shortstops with 31 errors, and had the lowest fielding percentage among them (.959).

Selected to the National League All-Star Team as a reserve in 2003.

On the Braves, Furcal was a valued leadoff hitter due to his speed and ability to get on base. Furcal is regarded as one of the best basestealers in baseball. He is an accomplished bunter, once bunting the ball past Robin Ventura for a double in 2001. Furcal has one of the strongest throwing arms in the league and is known for spectacular defensive plays mixed with occasional mental lapses on easy plays.

In his final season with the Braves, he violated probation on a drunken driving charge, and was ordered to serve 21 days in jail. In an unusual arrangement, the beginning of the jail term was contingent upon the Braves' situation on the playoffs. Once the Braves were eliminated from post-season action, Furcal served his time. [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1900422]

On December 7, 2005, Furcal signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers for three years and $39 million. In September by|2006 Furcal was selected as the inaugural winner of the Roy Campanella Award, given to the Dodgers player who best exemplifies the spirit and leadership of the late Hall of Fame catcher. The award was voted on by only his fellow teammates.

In May 2007, he became one of only five Major League players to get 4 hits in 3 consecutive games.

In April 2008, he posted a .381 batting average, the best start in his career.

Controversy

When Furcal was in the minors, his listed birth year varied by as many as four years. Some sources report his date of birth in 1977, 1978 and 1980, among other dates. This stems from the fact that many Dominican players acquired forged birth certificates with the aim of appearing younger, and thus enhancing their status as prospects, or with the aim of appearing older so as to sign professional contracts before the MLB mandated age of 16.

It has been alleged that Furcal was under 16 when he was signed. After September 11, 2001, Furcal and many other Dominican players came under increased scrutiny due to heightened security concerns, and were forced to update their immigration information. Furcal's status as a top prospect was not damaged by this, but many other players whose information was revealed as fraudulent were released.

ee also

* List of Major League Baseball triples champions
* Players from Dominican Republic in MLB

References

External links

succession box
title = Baseball America Rookie of the Year
years = by|2000
before = Carlos Beltran
after = Albert Pujols
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