Benjamin Michael Paulsen ¡ hit .367 with 95 hits, 18 doubles, four triples, 13 home runs and 61 RBIs for the Clemson Tigers in 2009 ¡ led the Tigers in batting average, hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, slugging percentage (.618), on-base percentage (.435) and total bases (160) ¡ also led the Tigers in runs, hits, doubles and total bases as a sophomore in 2008 ¡ his father, Tom Riginos (now head coach at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C.), was his hitting coach at Clemson ¡ signed by Rockies scout Jay Matthews ¡ was an all-state selection in the state of Georgia as a senior at Kell High School in 2006 ¡ resides in Tempe, Ariz., in the offseason.
2015
Made 66 starts at first base for the Rockies, where he spent a majority of the season and played a career-high 116 games. Was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque May 19, where he hit .256 (32-for-125) with three home runs and 15 RBI in 36 games. Was 8-for-20 (.400) as a pinch-hitter for the Rockies, and recorded five RBIs in the pinch ... the batting average was the highest in the pinch among NL batters with at least 20 pinch-hit at-bats. Recorded a career-high four hits and four RBI with two home runs and one triple July 26 vs. Cincinnati ... it was his first career game in which he recorded multiple home runs, and he became just the sixth Rockies player to record two home runs and a triple in the same game (last: Ryan Spilborghs, June 13, 2010 vs. Toronto). Recorded his first career walk-off hit July 20 vs. Texas. Recorded his first career stolen base Sept. 24 vs. Pittsburgh.
2014
Spent the majority of 2014 at Triple-A, but would make his Major League debut on July 21, 2014...added to MLB roster that day...Had four separate stints on MLB roster: July 21-29, Aug. 10-16, Aug. 17 (recalled as 26th man for double header) and Sept. 1 through end of the season...Played 117 games at Triple-A and hit .294 (128-for-435) with 32 doubles, 6 triples, 20 home runs, 76 RBI, 76 runs, .912 OPS (.378 OBP, .533 SLG)...was the Sky Sox lone All-Star, his first All-Star selection at the Triple-A level...his 32 doubles tied a career-high and he set career-high marks in home runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS...Made his MLB debut July 21 vs. Washington starting at first...went 2-for-4 with a RBI, the 14th Rockie with a multi-hit game in his MLB debut (last: Dickerson June 22, 2013 at Washington)...Collected a hit in each of his first eight Major League games, the second-longest hit-streak to start a career in club history...Juan Pierre had a 16-game hit-streak to begin his career (Aug. 8-23, 2000)...Paulsen hit .407 (11-for-27) w/ four doubles, one home run, four RBI and four runs in first eight MLB games...Had four doubles in his first six MLB games, tying a franchise record for most doubles in first six games (Dickerson in 2013)...In the Rockies final series of the season at Los Angeles-NL, Paulsen hit a home run in the ninth inning on Sept. 26 and Sept. 27, first off LHP J.P. Howell and the next night off LHP Paco Rodriguez...home run on Sept. 27 tied game...Three of his four home runs came on the road...hit three of his four home runs off left-handed pitchers...Has a statistical quirk in that he played in the resumption of the suspended game originally from May 22 vs. San Francisco on Sept. 1...this gives him a game played on May 22, though he was actually a member of the Triple-A Sky Sox on that date...Spent the majority of his Minor League career as a first baseman, however, played six games in the outfield for Colorado Springs and three games in the outfield for the Rockies in 2014.
2013
In his first career season at the Triple-A level, Paulsen set career-highs in doubles (32) and extra-base hits (60)...2013 also marked his third career season with at least 75 RBI (79 RBI in 2013)...Also set a career-high with a .523 slugging percentage and an .867 OPS (.345 OBP)...Played 116 games at first base, marking the third time in four years he has played at least 115 games...Did the majority of his damage vs. RHP, as he batted .316 (108-for-342) with 276 doiubles 7 triples, 17 home runs and 69 RBI vs. RHP...hit .222 (26-for-117) vs. LHP...Batted .291 (41-for-145) with runners in scoring position and .329 (71-for-216) with runners on base.
2012
Spent second-straight season at Double-A Tulsa as the club's regular first baseman...played in 120 games for the Drillers...has now played in at least 120 games in each of his first three full porfessional seasons...was a Mid-Season Texas League All-Star...had nearly identical numbers prior to the All-Star break (.256 average, 10 doubles, 7 home runs, 27 RBI) as he had after the break (.254 average, 8 doubles, 6 home runs, 26 RBI)...hHit .214 (18-for-83) vs. left-handed pitchers and .264 (93-for-352) vs. right-handers...all but 21 of the games he has played in his professional career, including 99 games in 2012, have come at first base.
2011
After appearing in his first Major League Spring Training in 2011, spent the entire season at Double-A Tulsa as the club's regular first baseman...hit .241 (132-for-547) with 29 doubles, 4 triples, 19 home runs and 78 RBI in 136 games...Paulsen led the Drillers in doubles, was second on the club in RBI and third in home runs...Was more productive against right-handed pitchers (.267 average, 17 home runs, 61 RBI) than left-handed pitchers (.188 average, 2 home runs, 17 RBI)...Named a Texas League Mid-Season All-Star with the Drillers...hit .253 (75-for-296) with 16 doubles, 9 home runs and 37 RBI prior to All-Star break...batted .227 (57-for-251) with 13 doubles, 10 home runs and 41 RBI after the break...Finished the 2011 season playing in the Arizona Fall League for the champion Salt River Rafters...hit .267 (24-for-90) with 8 doubles, 1 triple, 13 RBI and 12 runs in 22 games for the Rafters.
2010
In what was his first full professional season, Paulsen jumped straight to High-A Modesto, where he
would go on to lead the Nuts in hits (155) and RBI...his .311 (155-for-498) was the 3rd highest average
on the club, trailing only Jordan Pacheco (.321) and James Cesario (.316)...Played first base in 124 of his 130 games and finished the year with a .990 fielding percentage...His 29 doubles were the 2nd most on the club, while his 12 home runs were tied with Tim Wheeler for
the 2nd most among Nuts players...Led the club with 130 games played...Batted .278 (42-for-151) with 5 home runs vs. lefties, compared to .326 (113-for-347) with 7 home runs
vs. right-handers...Hit .271 (45-for-166) with runners in scoring position and .326 (77-for-236) with the bases empty.
2009
Played his first professional season with Tri-City as the club's regular first baseman...hit .280
(49-for-175) in 44 games...hit .298 (14-for-47) with runners in scoring position on the season.