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
Began the season with the A's, was claimed off waivers by Minnesota in mid-April and then returned to Oakland at the trading deadline…hit .274 with one home run, 17 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 53 games with the Twins and .209 with three home runs, 19 RBI and nine stolen bases in 60 games with the A's… batted .239 in 113 games overall…had career highs in hits (84), home runs (4), RBI (36), walks (43),stolen bases (21), strikeouts (63) and at bats (351)…was successful in 21-of-25 (84.0%) stolen base attempts, which tied for the ninth best percentage in the American League…stole third six times, which tied for seventh in the AL…batted .298 with runners on base compared to .200 with the bases empty…hit all four of his home runs against right-handed pitchers on the road…batted .185 in the Coliseum, .263in all other ballparks…now has a .192 (23-for-120) career average in Oakland…hit .165 with a .252 on- base percentage when leading off an inning…10 of his 36 RBI gave his team the lead, including seven of19 with the A's …started 58 games in center field (including 21 with the A's), 23 in left field (15 with the A's) and 14 in right field (10 with the A's)…had a career-high seven assists in 107 games overall in the outfield…five came as a center fielder, which tied for fifth among AL center fielders…made two errors, but had none in 54 games with Oakland…went 2-for-9 (.222) with a RBI as a pinch hitter…both of the hits were doubles…tied for second among AL pinch hitters in doubles…started games at every spot in the order except third through sixth and saw his most action with 26 starts batting ninth and 26 batting second…hit .318 from the nine spot in the order, .214 in all other spots.
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.
