Fred Lewis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fred Lewis |
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Lewis with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
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| Left fielder | |||
| Born: December 9, 1980 Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S. |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: September 1, 2006, for the San Francisco Giants | |||
| NPB: March 29, 2013, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| MLB: October 2, 2012, for the New York Mets | |||
| NPB: August 16, 2013, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .266 | ||
| Home runs | 27 | ||
| Runs batted in | 136 | ||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .268 | ||
| Home runs | 4 | ||
| Runs batted in | 20 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Frederick Deshaun Lewis (born December 9, 1980) is an American former professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder. Fred Lewis made his first big league appearance on September 1, 2006. This was with the San Francisco Giants. He is also the cousin of another former Major League outfielder, Matt Lawton.
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Early Life and Sports
Fred Lewis grew up in Wiggins, Mississippi. He graduated from Stone High School in 1999. There, he was a star athlete in three different sports. He played basketball, football, and baseball.
After high school, he went to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. He continued to play both football and baseball there. In 2001, the Montreal Expos drafted him for baseball. However, Fred decided not to sign with them. Instead, he chose to attend Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He played baseball for Southern University.
Professional Baseball Journey
Starting in the Minor Leagues
Fred Lewis was drafted again in 2002 by the San Francisco Giants. He began his professional career with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. This is a team in the minor leagues. He quickly became an All-Star in the Northwest League. He led the league with a .322 batting average. This means he got a hit in more than 32% of his turns at bat.
In 2003, Fred played for the Hagerstown Suns. He was very fast and stole 30 bases. This was the second-highest number in the Giants' minor league system. He also scored 61 runs for his team. He was known for getting on base often, even if he didn't get a hit.
Later, he played for the Norwich Navigators. Fans there loved to cheer his name loudly. Fred would even invite some of the loudest fans to join him for "Fred Lewis' Pancake Breakfasts."
Time with the San Francisco Giants
Fred Lewis joined the San Francisco Giants in September 2006. In his very first game, he got a hit in each of his first three times at bat. This was a great start to his Major League career.
On May 13, 2007, Fred achieved something special. He hit for the cycle in a game against the Colorado Rockies. This means he got a single, a double, a triple, and a home run all in the same game. It was only his 16th game in the major leagues! He was one of the few players to hit his first career home run as part of a cycle.
Fred hit his first grand slam on June 1, 2007. A grand slam is a home run hit when all three bases are occupied, scoring four runs. He hit another grand slam on July 4. This made him the first player in San Francisco Giants history to hit two grand slams in his first season.
In 2008, Fred Lewis hit a "Splash Hit" at AT&T Park. This is when a home run ball lands directly in the water beyond the right-field wall. He was also the first left-handed batter to get four hits in one game against the famous pitcher Randy Johnson. Fred was also known for stealing home base, which is a very exciting and risky play in baseball.
Playing for Other Teams
On April 16, 2010, Fred Lewis was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. He played well for them, often batting first in the lineup. He had a .276 batting average with the Blue Jays.
In 2011, Fred signed a contract with the Cincinnati Reds. He played one season with them. After that, he briefly signed with the Cleveland Indians in 2012, but was released before the season started.
Later in 2012, Fred Lewis signed with the New York Mets. He played 18 games for them before becoming a free agent.
Playing in Japan and Independent Leagues
In November 2012, Fred Lewis decided to play baseball in Japan. He signed a one-year deal with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Nippon Professional Baseball.
After his time in Japan, Fred played for several independent baseball teams. These teams are not part of Major League Baseball. He played for the Lancaster Barnstormers and the Bridgeport Bluefish in 2014. In 2015 and 2016, he played for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.
Personal Life
Fred Lewis was born shortly after Hurricane Frederic hit his home state of Mississippi. That's how he got his name!
He has a son named Kaleb, who was born around 2002 or 2003. In 2019, Fred opened his own business. It's a daiquiri shop located in Gulfport, Mississippi.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
Images for kids
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Lewis with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
