| Chone Figgins | |
|---|---|
 Figgins with the Seattle Mariners | |
| Third baseman /Outfielder /Second baseman | |
| Born: (1978-01-22)January 22, 1978 (age 47) Leary, Georgia, U.S. | |
Batted: Switch Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 25, 2002, for the Anaheim Angels | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 13, 2014, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .276 |
| Home runs | 35 |
| Runs batted in | 403 |
| Stolen bases | 341 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Desmond DeChone Figgins (/ˈʃɒn/;SHAWN; born January 22, 1978), nicknamed "Figgy",[1] is an American former professionalbaseballutilty player. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim,Seattle Mariners, andLos Angeles Dodgers.
Figgins debuted with the Angels in 2002, winning theWorld Series that fall while serving exclusively as apinch runner. He led theAmerican League in stolen bases in 2005 and was an All-Star in 2009, also leading the American League inwalks. That winter, he signed a four-year contract with the Mariners. However, Seattle released him after three years. He briefly returned to the majors with the Dodgers in 2014.
Figgins played primarilythird base during his best seasons with the Angels, but played all positions exceptcatcher,pitcher, andfirst base. He played regularly in center field early in his MLB career and was primarily a second baseman with Seattle.
Figgins was born inLeary, Georgia to Charles Figgins and Eva Callins, who had been born on the same day and lived next door to each other in Leary. When Figgins was a year old, his father moved the family toBrandon, Florida. Both of his parents played competitive slow-pitchsoftball and were avid baseball fans. He attendedBrandon High School where he played only shortstop.[2]
TheColorado Rockies drafted Figgins in the fourth round of the1997 Major League Baseball Draft and moved him to second base because the team had greater expectations forJuan Uribe at shortstop. In July 2001, he was traded to theAnaheim Angels for outfielderKimera Bartee.[2]
Figgins made his major league debut as apinch runner on August 25, 2002, against theBoston Red Sox. His first hit was an RBI single to right field offAaron Myette of theTexas Rangers on September 15, 2002. He was exclusively a pinch runner in the postseason, appearing in 6 games as the Angels won theWorld Series. He scored four times, stole one base, and was 1-for-1 in his only at bat.[3] His first full season in the majors was 2004. On May 14, 2004, he went 5-for-6 in a 10 inning game against theBaltimore Orioles and hit his first home run offKurt Ainsworth of the Orioles. His breakout year came in 2005, when he was moved toleadoff hitter after original leadoff hitterDavid Eckstein signed with theSt. Louis Cardinals. He used his speed tosteal an American League-high 62 bases,[4] the second-most in Angels history. That year, he played two positions in the same game 24 times. He was named team co-MVP of the 2005 season for the Angels, along withBartolo Colón.
Prior to the 2006 season, the Angels signed Figgins to a three-year, $10.5-million deal. He had been eligible for salaryarbitration.[5] Figgins became the fifth Angel tohit for the cycle on September 16, 2006, atthe Ballpark in Arlington.[6] Against theOakland Athletics on September 29, 2006, he hit his first careerinside-the-park home run atAngel Stadium. Along with third base, Figgins also playedshortstop,second base, and all threeoutfield positions. Although he was initially considered for the center field job in 2006, the Angels decided to moveDarin Erstad back to the position. Figgins became the starter at third base.[7] With Erstad on thedisabled list for much of the season, however, Figgins saw more time incenter field.
On March 21, 2007, in aspring training game against theArizona Diamondbacks, Figgins suffered two broken fingers on his throwing hand while attempting to field a ground ball hit byConor Jackson. He began the season on thedisabled list and did not return till the end of April.[8] In June 2007, Figgins recorded an Angels team-record 53hits in a month, breaking the record set by Darin Erstad in April 2000. With six hits on June 18, 2007, against theHouston Astros, including a walk-offtriple, Figgins matched theAmerican League (AL) record for most hits in a nine-inning game. On July 15, 2007, Figgins stole his 187th base as an Angel, breaking the 20-year-old club record previously held byGary Pettis, who was in attendance that day as a coach for the visitingTexas Rangers.
In 2009, Figgins was selected to his onlyAll-Star Game.[9] He finished the season with an AL-best 101walks and finished 10th inAL MVP voting. Although Figgins stole 42 bases, he was caught 17 times – tied for the most in the majors.[10]
On December 4, 2009, it was reported that Figgins and theSeattle Mariners agreed to a four-year contract worth approximately $36 million.[11] During spring training for the 2010 season, Figgins was converted to second base, moving teammateJosé López to third. Figgins had his worst year to date in 2010, batting just .259, though he did match his previous season stolen base total of 42. Following the season, Figgins converted back to third base, due to the departure of Lopez. Halfway through the 2011 season, he was replaced byAdam Kennedy as the everyday third baseman. In only 81 games, with only 288 at bats, Figgins finished the season batting only .188.
To begin the 2012 season, Figgins was allowed the opportunity to bat leadoff for the Mariners in the hopes that the return to the spot in the lineup where he thrived during his time with the Angels would jump start his bat. On May 4, managerEric Wedge announced that Figgins would no longer be an everyday player. He ended the 2012 season batting .181 with 166 at bats in 66 games and was designated for assignment by the Mariners on November 20, 2012.[12]
On February 8, 2013, he signed a minor league contract with theMiami Marlins.[13] However, he did not make the team out of spring training and was released on March 20.[14]
After sitting out the 2013 season, Figgins signed a minor league contract with theLos Angeles Dodgers for 2014.[15] The Dodgers purchased his contract on March 16 and added him to the major league roster. In 38 games with the Dodgers, he appeared as a utility player/pinch hitter and hit .217, though he had a .373OBP due to drawing 14 walks in 76 plate appearances.[4] He was placed on the disabled list in mid-June with a hip injury and then spent an extended time with the Triple-AAlbuquerque Isotopes on a rehab assignment. Figgins wasdesignated for assignment by Los Angeles on August 6.[16] The Dodgers asked for unconditional release waivers on August 13. Figgins was not signed by another team.[4]
On March 20, 2016, Figgins announced his retirement from professional baseball. He signed a one-day contract with the Angels in order to retire with the team.[17]
Figgins was on the2020 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot, receiving no votes.[18][19]
Figgins said in 2005 that his closest friend in baseball wasJuan Pierre.[2]
Figgins' brother, Demetrius, worked as ascout for the Angels.[20]
Figgins is married, and their son was born in 2015.[21]
| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Hitting for the cycle September 16, 2006 | Succeeded by |
