Aaron Rifkin

Aaron Kristopher Rifkin (born March 12, 1979, in Apple Valley, California) is a 6' 3" (192 cm) minor league left-handed first baseman.

Biography

High school and college

He attended Etiwanda High School in Etiwanda, California, and California State University, Fullerton. [ [http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/R/Aaron-Rifkin.shtml Baseball Cube] ]

In 1999, he was a Big West Conference All-Star at DH. In 2001, he hit .300 with 16 home runs, 62 runs scored ,and 60 RBIs in 65 games for the Titans during his senior season. [ [http://www.titansports.org/baseball/2001/stats/teamcume.htm Titan Sports] ]

Minor league career

He was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 54th round (1,479th overall) of the by|1997 draft, and then by the New York Yankees in the 4th round (125th overall) of the by|2001 draft. [ [http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/R/Aaron-Rifkin.shtml Baseball Cube] ]

In 2001, he hit .318 with a .559 slugging percentage in his first pro season for the Staten Island Yankees, was a Short-Season A All-Star first baseman, the Northwest League All-Star first baseman, and the Northwest League Most Valuable Player. [ [http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/R/Aaron-Rifkin.shtml Baseball Cube] ]

In by|2003, he hit 19 home runs with 90 RBIs for the Trenton Thunder in AA. He won the Hamilton Jewelers Fan Favorite Award. [http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3711758]

In by|2004, he hit a career-high 23 home runs for Trenton. In May 2004, he was Player of the Week, hitting .462 (12-for-26) with two doubles and three home runs. [ [http://www.trentonthunder.com/release/zRelease.asp?pYYYYMMDD=20040524 Trenton Thunder Media Release] ]

In December 2004, he was selected by the Seattle Mariners from the Yankees in the Rule 5 draft.

On May 1, by|2005, he was voted PCL Player of the Week. [ [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?n=Aaron%2520Rifkin&pos=1B&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=462378 Minor League Baseball] ]

In December 2005, he was selected by the Chicago Cubs from the Mariners in the Rule 5 draft. The Cubs then traded him to the Colorado Rockies the same month, for a player to be named later.

In by|2006, he began the season on the disabled list after undergoing surgery on his right labrum. [ [http://tulsadrillers.com/team/roster/?id=2311 Tulsa Drillers] ]

In by|2007, he played for the Tulsa Drillers in AA. [ [http://tulsadrillers.com/team/roster/?id=2311 Tulsa Drillers] ] He hit .272 with 14 home runs, and was 5th in the league with 36 doubles and 6th with 76 RBIs. [ [http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/external/brandedstats/t998.html?lid=109&t=l_bat&sid=milb Minor League Baseball] ]

Family

He is married, and has a child. [ [http://tulsadrillers.com/news/drillers/?id=4776 Tulsa Drillers] ]

Notes

External links

* [http://tulsadrillers.com/team/roster/?id=2311 Tulsa Drillers profile]
* [http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=$02878&position=1B Fangraphs stats]
* [http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/R/Aaron-Rifkin.shtml Baseball Cube stats]
* [http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=318&p=8&c=1&nid=1845889 Scout profile]
* [http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/stats/player.php?id=462378 Baseball America profile]
* [http://mariners.scout.com/2/382523.html "Rainiers Notebook: Rifkin Learning the Curve," 5/28/05]
* [http://tulsadrillers.com/news/drillers/?id=4776 "Meet Aaron Rifkin," 6/15/07]