Chone Figgins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chone Figgins |
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Figgins with the Seattle Mariners
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| Third baseman / Outfielder / Second baseman | |||
| Born: January 22, 1978 Leary, Georgia, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| August 25, 2002, for the Anaheim Angels | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 13, 2014, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .276 | ||
| Home runs | 35 | ||
| Runs batted in | 403 | ||
| Stolen bases | 341 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Desmond DeChone Figgins, known as "Figgy," is a former professional baseball player from the United States. He was born on January 22, 1978. Chone played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. These included the Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was known as a "utility player." This means he could play almost any position on the field! He played third base, outfield, second base, and shortstop. The only positions he didn't play were catcher, pitcher, and first base.
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Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Chone Figgins was born in Leary, Georgia. His parents, Charles Figgins and Eva Callins, were born on the same day. They even lived next door to each other! When Chone was one year old, his family moved to Brandon, Florida. Both of his parents loved baseball and played competitive softball. Chone went to Brandon High School. There, he played only shortstop on the baseball team.
Starting His Professional Career
Drafted by the Rockies
The Colorado Rockies baseball team chose Figgins in the fourth round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft. They moved him to second base. This was because they had high hopes for another player, Juan Uribe, at shortstop. In July 2001, Figgins was traded to the Anaheim Angels. He was traded for an outfielder named Kimera Bartee.
Playing for the Angels
Chone Figgins made his first appearance in a major league game on August 25, 2002. He entered the game as a pinch runner against the Boston Red Sox. His first hit in the MLB was an RBI single. This happened on September 15, 2002, against the Texas Rangers.
His first full season in the major leagues was in 2004. On May 14, 2004, he had an amazing game. He got 5 hits in 6 tries during a 10-inning game against the Baltimore Orioles. He also hit his first home run in that game.
Becoming a Star Player
Figgins had a fantastic year in 2005. He became the leadoff hitter for the Angels. This happened after David Eckstein left the team. Chone used his incredible speed to steal 62 bases. This was the most in the American League that year! It was also the second-highest number of stolen bases in Angels history. In 2005, he played two different positions in the same game 24 times. He was named co-MVP for the Angels that season, sharing the award with Bartolo Colón.
Before the 2006 season, the Angels signed Figgins to a new contract. He became the fifth Angels player to hit for the cycle on September 16, 2006. This means he hit a single, double, triple, and home run all in the same game! On September 29, 2006, he hit his first career inside-the-park home run. This happened at Angel Stadium. Figgins played shortstop, second base, and all three outfield positions. He became the main third base player for the team.
Breaking Records
In March 2007, Figgins broke two fingers on his throwing hand during a spring training game. He started the season on the disabled list and returned in late April. In June 2007, Figgins set a new Angels team record. He got 53 hits in one month! This broke the old record set by Darin Erstad. On June 18, 2007, he had six hits in a game against the Houston Astros. This included a game-winning triple. This matched an American League record for most hits in a nine-inning game.
On July 15, 2007, Figgins stole his 187th base as an Angel. This broke the club record that had stood for 20 years. The previous record holder was Gary Pettis.
In 2009, Figgins was chosen for his first All-Star Game. He led the American League with 101 walks. He also finished 10th in the voting for the AL MVP award. Figgins stole 42 bases in 2009. However, he was caught stealing 17 times, which was tied for the most in the major leagues.
Moving to Other Teams
Seattle Mariners
On December 4, 2009, Chone Figgins signed a four-year contract with the Seattle Mariners. During spring training in 2010, he moved to second base. His teammate, Jose Lopez, moved to third base. Figgins had a tough year in 2010, batting only .259. However, he still stole 42 bases, just like the year before.
After the 2010 season, Figgins moved back to third base. This was because Jose Lopez left the team. In the middle of the 2011 season, Adam Kennedy took over as the everyday third baseman. Figgins played in only 81 games that year and batted just .188.
To start the 2012 season, Figgins was given a chance to bat leadoff again. The team hoped this would help him play better. However, on May 4, 2012, his manager announced that Figgins would no longer play every day. He finished the 2012 season batting .181 in 66 games. On November 20, 2012, the Mariners decided to release him from the team.
Miami Marlins
On February 8, 2013, Figgins signed a contract with the Miami Marlins. This was a minor league contract, meaning he would play for a team below the major league level. However, he did not make the main team after spring training. He was released on March 20, 2013.
Los Angeles Dodgers
After not playing in 2013, Figgins signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers for 2014. The Dodgers added him to their Major League roster on March 16. He played in 38 games for the Dodgers as a utility player and pinch hitter. He batted .217, but he was good at getting on base. He drew 14 walks in 76 times at bat.
In mid-June, he was placed on the disabled list because of a hip injury. He then spent a long time playing for the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes to recover. The Dodgers released him from the team on August 6, 2014. Figgins was not signed by another team after that.
Retirement
On March 20, 2016, Chone Figgins announced that he was retiring from professional baseball. He signed a special one-day contract with the Angels. This allowed him to officially retire as a player for the team where he had so much success.
Personal Life
As of 2005, his closest friend in baseball was Juan Pierre. Chone's brother, Demetrius, worked as a scout for the Angels. Chone and his wife, Claudia, had a son named Desmond, Jr., in 2015.
See also
In Spanish: Chone Figgins para niños
- List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
- List of Major League Baseball single-game hits leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual stolen base leaders
