Sam Fuld #5

Samuel Babson Fuld was originally signed by Cubs' scouts Steve Hinton and Steve Fuller…graduated from Exeter Academy in New Hampshire…listed 19th among the 100 Top High School Prospects of 2000 by Baseball America and selected as the New Hampshire 2000 Gatorade High School Player of the Year…was a two-time All-American and a three-time All-Pac-10 center fielder at Stanford…graduated with a degree in economics…has lived with Type 1 diabetes since he was 10…has hosted an annual Sam Fuld Diabetes Camp for young diabetes patients in conjunction with the University of South Florida Diabetes Center…also hosts annual SLAMDiabetes Sam Fuld Classic Wiffle Ball Tournament in Tampa…interned with Stats Inc. in the fall of 2005 after playing for Peoria in the Midwest League… was inducted into the Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame in 2014…he and his wife, Sarah, have three children, Charles, Jane and William.

2015

Spent the entire season on the A's roster and hit .197 in a career-high 120 games…the batting average was fourth lowest in the American League and in Oakland history among players with 300 or more plate appearances…it was the lowest in his six seasons with 20 or more games played…made 65 of his 75 starts in games in which the opponent started a right-handed pitcher…hit .214 (52-for-243) against righthanded pitchers compared to .106 (5-for-47) against left-handers…was successful in 9-of-12 stolen base attempts and is now 18-for-22 (81.8%) in two seasons with the A's…batted .305 over his first 17 games, .092 over a 33-game stretch from April 25 to June 6, .314 over a 15-game stretch from June 7 to 27 and .175 over his final 55 games…hit .238 at night, .136 during the day…is a .262 (210-for-803) career hitter at night compared to .178 (98-for-551) during the day…was 5-for-12 (.417) with 10 RBI with the bases loaded…batted .233 against AL West competition, .160 against all other teams…had a .256 batting average when leading off an inning…started games at all three outfield positions (35 in center field, 31 in left field, nine in right field) and had a career-high 11 assists, which tied for seventh among AL outfielders… tied for fifth in double plays (3)…committed four errors in 108 games overall in the outfield for a .981 fielding percentage…went 1-for-12 (.083) with a walk as a pinch hitter…saw his most action batting ninth (27 starts) and first (26 starts).

2014

2013

Completed his sixth major league season and third with the Rays…appeared in 119 games and made 48 starts (20 in center field, 17 in left field, 11 in right field)…appeared in 70 games as a sub, which were the most by any American Leaguer since Brian Anderson had 70 with Chicago in 2008…was one of six AL outfielders to start at least 10 games at all three outfield positions, along with Chris Young (OAK), Rajai Davis (TOR), Michael Saunders (SEA), Don Kelly (DET) and Trevor Crowe (HOU)…of his 48 starts, 21 were against left-handed pitchers…batted .273 (18-for-66) against lefties but only .155 (17-for-110) vs. right-handers…entered the season with a career .252 average against righties and .230 against lefies...became the third position player to pitch in Rays franchise history Sept. 2 at Los Angeles (AL), joining Josh Wilson in 2007 and Wade Boggs in 1999…retired J.B. Shuck on five pitches to end the eighth and was clocked between 86-88 mph…it was his first time pitching since high school…had 17 RBI on the season…of his five RBI in August and September, four of them came on three go-ahead hits in the 6th inning or later: Aug. 16 against Toronto's R.A. Dickey (RBI single), Aug. 7 at Arizona (two-run single off Joe Thatcher) and Aug. 4 against San Francisco (RBI single off Jose Mijares)…prior to those, hadn't recorded a go-ahead RBI since June 18, 2011 against Florida…both his home runs came in June…his blast June 9 against Baltimore was his first homer since May 27, 2011 against Cleveland…homered off Esmil Rogers June 24 against Toronto, capping the second back-to-back-to-back home runs in Rays history…followed James Loney and Wil Myers …made his first career Opening Day start, in right field against Baltimore…made the Opening Day roster for only the second time in his six major league seasons (2011 Rays)…made a diving catch in right field and another in left field with the bases loaded to end the eighth inning…appeared in two postseason games for the Rays…entered the Wild Card game at Cleveland as a pinch runner in the seventh inning, remained in the game as a center fielder and then struck out in the ninth inning…also pinch ran in Game 3 of the ALDS against Boston and scored a run.

2012

Missed the first 96 games of the season while recovering from surgery to repair ligaments in his right wrist, an injury he incurred during spring training...underwent surgery on April 3 and was reinstated on July 24, beating the expected recovery time of four-five months...After rejoining the club, played in 44 of the team's last 66 games (23 starts, 11-RF, 9-LF, 3-CF)...batted .255/.318/.327 (25-for-98) with seven SB and 14 runs scored...went 2-for-24 from Sept. 7 through season's end, dropping his average from .311 to .255...Hit .300/.364/.400 (18-for-60) in 27 games on the road, compared to .184/.244/.211 (7-for-38) in 17 games at Tropicana Field...Hit .372 (16-for-43) when playing right field, compared to .164 (9-for-55) everywhere else... went 5-for-16 (.313) with RISP...Was sidelined early in spring training with inflammation in his right wrist...appeared in nine spring training games before exiting the game March 23 vs. TOR when he injured the wrist on a swing...on April 3 in Cleveland, Dr. Thomas Graham performed surgery to repair the ligaments. On Aug. 28 at TEX became the second player in Rays history to record three hits in a game he didn't start, joining Aaron Ledesma who went 3-for-4 on Aug 29, 1998 at DET (Game 1)...entered for RF Matt Joyce, who suffered a left forearm strain...Sustained a mild right hamstring strain on Sept. 16 at NYY, causing him to miss nine games...Appeared in 10 games on rehab assignment between Class-A Charlotte (5) and Triple-A Durham (5), beginning July 7.

2011

Spent his first full season in the majors at the age of 29...Was one of 3 finalists among AL left fielders for a Gold Glove despite the fact that he made only 76 outfield starts (68-LF, 4-CF, 4-RF)...Finished 2nd among all major league players in ESPN "Web Gem" points...had 11 different plays nominated as Web Gems, most of any ML outfielder and tied with KC Alcides Escobar for 3rd most in the majors behind CLE Asdrubal Cabrera (13)...Was scheduled to open the season as Johnny Damon's backup in LF, but when Manny Ramirez retired on April 6, he started 37 of the next 38 games...started 66 of the Rays first 99 games through July 22, but only 11 of the last 63 after Desmond Jennings was recalled from Triple-A Durham...started only once in the Rays last 31 games...Led the AL with 6 pinch-hits...also led all AL pinch-hitters with 6 BB, 6 R and a .571 OBP, all club records...his 21 plate apps as a pinch-hitter were 2nd in the AL behind TOR/CWS Mark Teahen (27)...Stole 20 bases in 28 attempts, tied for 2nd most on the team after B.J. Upton (36)...10 of his stolen bases came in April, tied with SEA Ichiro Suzuki for the AL lead and 1 shy of Carl Crawford's club-record 11 in 2004...entered 2011 with 2 SB in 98 career games...Was leading the AL in batting avg. on April 22, when he was tied with NYY Alex Rodriguez at .366 and topped the AL with 9 SB...was the first to lead the AL in both categories on that date since BAL Luis Aparicio in 1963...On April 9 at CWS made a diving catch on the warning track ending a 4th-inning, bases-loaded threat and robbing Juan Pierre of extra bases...the play was named the No. 4 Play of the Year by MLB Network...On April 11 at BOS made his Fenway Park debut...established career highs with 4 hits (all for extra bases), 3 RBI, 3 runs and 11 total bases...fell a single short of the cycle, and logged a second double in his last at-bat...the HR was his first homer since Oct 4, 2009 vs. ARI (Doug Davis)...His 4 extra-base hits tied the Rays franchise record...the 4 extra-base hits and 11 total bases set an all-time record for a Fenway Park debut (visiting or Red Sox player)...became the third leadoff hitter ever to record 4 extra-base hits at Fenway Park, joining BOS Wade Boggs (July 25, 1989 vs. KC) and DET Lou Whitaker (June 8, 1983)...Became the first New Hampshire-born player to hit a home run at Fenway Park since BOS Phil Plantier on Oct 3, 1992 vs. NYY...was the fourth overall joining Plantier (11-HR), Kevin Romine (4) and Red Rolfe (2)...On Aug 10 vs. KC, capped a 5-run rally in the 9th inning with a walk-off RBI triple off Joakim Soria...Elliot Johnson scored as the tying run, and Fuld came around to score the winning run on the same play on an error by 2B Johnny Giovatella...marked the first-ever Rays win on a walk-off triple...it was Fuld's first career walkoff hit...On June 20 at MIL, pinch-hit and then took the mound after the inning but had not yet thrown a pitch when Cesar Ramos replaced him...did not count as an official appearance.

2010

Spent the majority of the season at Triple-A Iowa (Cubs) where he led the club with 9 triples (5th in the Pacific Coast League) and was 2nd in walks (66) and steals (21) ... was up with the Cubs briefly in August and again in September and made a total of 5 starts for the parent club. ... For the fifth time in six pro seasons, had more walks than strikeouts ... his ratio of 66 walks to 37 strikeouts was the 2nd best in all of Triple-A trailing only Wes Timmons (60 to 33) from the International League's Gwinnett Braves. ... Has walked 325 times and struck only 272 during his pro career ... in his last 301 games, including majors and minors, he has struck out more than once in a game only seven times. ... Made 88 starts for Iowa, all in CF ... hit leadoff in all but two of those starts. ... Batted .302 (49-for-162) with 37 walks and 13 strikeouts in the final 47 games of the season at Triple-A ... tied his career high with a 5-hit game Aug 30 at Albuquerque (Dodgers) and had a pair of 4-run games within a 5-game span in July. ... Was recalled Aug 19 by the Cubs when 1B Derrek Lee was traded to the Braves, three days before Lou Piniella retired as manager ... appeared in 3 games without a start and was optioned back Aug 22, just as Mike Quade was named manager ... returned as a September call-up. ... In his first start of the season for the Cubs on Sep 19 at FLA he batted leadoff and went 2-for-5 with a double and 2 runs scored in a 13-3 win. ... On Sep 25 vs. STL went 2-for-4 with a gamewinning, two-run single in the 3rd inning off 16-game-winner Chris Carpenter. ... Was on the Triple-A disabled list April 13-23 with soreness in the webbing between his left thumb and forefinger.

2009

Sam split the season between Triple-A Iowa and the Cubs ... had three stints with the big league club (June 29-July 6, July 11- 18 and July 31 through the end of the season). ... Appeared in 65 games for Chicago, hitting .308 (8-for-26) off lefthanded pitching and .296 (21-for-71) off righthanders. ... Played 26 games in center field (18 starts), 29 games in left field (four starts) and made two appearances in right. ... Batted .417 (10-for-24) with a .533 on-base percentage when leading off an inning. ... Posted a .355 batting average (11-for-31) with a .459 on-base percentage in 24 September games. ... Recorded his first career big league hit with a first-inning double July 1 off Pittsburgh's Virgil Vasquez. ... Notched his first career pinch hit July 16 in Washington - a ninth-inning single. ... Recorded career-best three-hit games twice: September 25 in San Francisco and September 29 vs. Pittsburgh. ... Had gone 101 at-bats to begin his career before picking up his first career RBI on his first career homer - a solo shot off Arizona's Doug Davis in the season finale, October 4. ... Batted .284 (93-for-328) with a career-best 23 stolen bases in 84 games for Iowa. Had a .398 batting average in June to lead the Pacific Coast League. ... Led Iowa with 11 outfield assists while manning center field. ... Struck out once every 15.42 plate appearances, making him the thirdmost difficult hitter in the PCL to strike out (seventh-hardest in minor league baseball).

2008

Sam appeared in 105 games between Triple-A Iowa and Double-A Tennessee, combining to hit .264 (106-for-402) with a careerhigh 52 RBI... After joining Tennessee May 16, garnered a .271 (92-for-339) batting average with 50 walks and 48 RBI in 85 games. ... Hit .311 (32-for-103) against southpaws with the Smokies. ... Batted a monthly-best .345 (38-for-110) with five doubles, two homers and 14 RBI in 27 August contests. ... Was 27-for-90 (.300) with 42 RBI with runners in scoring position for Tennessee. ... Went 14-for-29 (.483), May 28-June 3, to raise his average 149 points from .122 to .271. ... Rode a 16-game hitting streak, August 10-28, hitting at a .435 clip (30- for-69) with 11 walks, four stolen bases, 11 runs scored and 10 RBI over the stretch. ... In 20 games with the I-Cubs, posted a .222 average (14-for-63) with three doubles, one homer, 11 runs scored and four RBI to start the year. ... Hit at a .314 clip (37-for-118) with 25 walks, 10 doubles, five triples, four homers, 11 RBI and 27 runs scored in 35 games with Tigres de Aragua of the Venezuelan Winter League.

2007

Sam spent the majority of the season with Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa before joining the big league club September 4 to close out the season ... named Most Valuable Player of the Arizona Fall League. ... With Chicago, appeared in 14 games, including seven as a pinch-runner. ... Selected from Tennessee September 4 and made his major league debut as a defensive replacement in center field September 5 vs. the Dodgers. ... Scored his first major league run as a pinch-runner September 6 vs. the Dodgers. ... Batted .287 (111-for-387) with a .376 on-base percentage and 50 walks compared to just 43 strikeouts in 104 games between Tennessee and Iowa. ... Hit .365 (31-for-85) with a .432 on-base percentage and 13 RBI in 23 games for Tennessee in June. ... Batted .402 (43-for-107) in 29 games for the Mesa Solar Sox en route to Arizona Fall League MVP honors... Led the league in hits (43), doubles (11), total bases (67), onbase percentage (.492), slugging percentage (.626) and OPS (1.118)... Was one of six players to steal 10 or more bases... Named the winner of the Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award, presented annually to the Fall League player who best exemplifies unselfishness, hard work and leadership.

2006

Appeared in 89 games with Single-A Daytona, batting .300 (106-for-353) with 19 doubles, six triples, four homers and 40 RBI. ... Batted .400 (2-for-5) with the bases loaded, .346 (28-for-81) with runners in scoring position and .425 (17-for-40) with RISP and two outs. ... Had a season-high four hits April 25 at Jupiter, going 4-for-5 with a double and four RBI. ... Batted .413 (45-for-109) in the month of May with four doubles, four triples, two homers and 16 RBI... Had a 16-game hit streak, May 12-28 ... batted .477 (31-for-65) over the stretch.

2005

Saw action in 125 games for Peoria, batting .300 (133-for-443) with 32 doubles, six triples, five homers and 37 RBI. ... Batted .317 (72-for-227) in 67 home contests as opposed to a .282 mark (61-for-216) on the road. ... Had a season-high four hits on three occasions throughout the season ... also had eight three-hit games and 24 two-hit contests. ... After batting .227 (30-for-132) in April and May, finished the season by batting .331 (103-for-311) and hitting all five of his home runs over the final 83 games. ... Had a 17-game hitting streak, June 16-July 5, batting .407 (24-for-59) over the stretch.