TheBenjamin
Oct 1st 2009, 9:40 am
In 2005, he hit .300 with a .377 obp and 18 stolen bases in 443 at bats for the Single-A (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-A) Peoria Chiefs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peoria_Chiefs) of the Midwest League (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwest_League). He also collected a 17-game hit streak, and turned in 7 outfield assists from center field.[28] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-27)
Fuld hit .300 with a .378 obp and 22 steals in 353 at bats for the High-A Daytona Cubs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daytona_Cubs) of the Florida State League (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_State_League) in 2006, though he missed the end of the season because of a hip injury. He ended up needing an operation for a sports hernia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_hernia) after that season.[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-ins-9) He was named to the league All-Star team.[29] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-28)
In 2007, Fuld batted .291 with a .371 on base percentage, as he began the season with the Tennessee Smokies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_Smokies) in the Double-A (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-A) Southern League (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_League_(baseball)), in 282 at bats.[30] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-29) "He knows how to play the game, when to take a pitch, when to work the count, and when to go ahead and swing away and juice the ball," said his Tennessee manager, Listach. "He’s strong enough that he can hit the ball out of the yard occasionally. He’s a gap, line-drive type hitter. He knows what type of hitter he is, and he doesn’t hit a lot of fly balls."[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-ins-9) He was an efficient leadoff hitter for Tennessee with nearly as many walks (32) as strikeouts (33) – a recurring theme in his career. "He’s a very intelligent player," added Listach. "He plays the game the right way. He plays the game hard. He plays the game smart. He steals a base when you need a base stolen, not necessarily when it’s 5-0 or a lopsided score. He does it when the team needs it. He makes the plays. He throws to the right bases. He’s a left-handed hitter. He can run. He’s a prototypical leadoff hitter in the big leagues..... His work ethic is off the charts."[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-ins-9) He was also touted by Listach as having the best outfield skills on the team.[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-ins-9) "Sammy is going to play in the big leagues. No doubt about it," said Listach.[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-ins-9)
In August, Fuld was promoted to the Iowa Cubs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_Cubs) in the Triple-A (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple-A) Pacific Coast League (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Coast_League), where he batted .269 with a .397 on base percentage.
Fuld played for the Mesa Solar Sox (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesa_Solar_Sox) in the Arizona Fall League (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_Fall_League) in the Fall of 2007. On October 30, he was named AFL Player of the Week (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Player_of_the_Week), after hitting .526.[31] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-30) In 29 games with the Solar Sox, Fuld played center (primarily) and right fields, led off every game, led the league in batting average (.402), hits (43), doubles (11), total bases (67), obp (.492), and slugging percentage (.626), and was 3rd in the league in runs (20) and walks (17), 4th in stolen bases (10), and 5th in triples (2).[32] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-31)[33] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-32)[34] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-AZstats-33) He batted even better with runners in scoring position (.462), and against lefties (.500).[34] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-AZstats-33)
Fuld was named the Most Valuable Player of the Arizona Fall League.[35] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-chicagotribune1-34)[36] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-35) He also was named to the AFL Top Prospects Team.[37] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-36)
Fuld also won the Dernell Stenson Award for Leadership for unselfishness, hard work, and leadership.[39] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-38)[40] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-39) He donated all the money he raised from the auction he had in conjunction with winning the Stenson Award to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juvenile_Diabetes_Research_Foundation).[41] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-40)[42] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-41) "This kid plays the game like it's supposed to be played," said Mesa Solar Sox manager Dave Clark. "I had talked to his (Double-A Tennessee) manager, Pat Listach, before the season and he told me I'd fall in love with the kid. He just exemplifies what this award is all about."[43] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-42)
In 2008, Fuld started the season with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. There, due to his fearless defense, he was referred to as "a crash test (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crash_test) dummy with a death wish (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_wish)", a "human wrecking ball (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrecking_ball) act," a "wall magnet," and a "manager's dream and a trainer's worst nightmare."[12] (http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/SPORTS05/804100394/1023/SPORTS13)
Fuld began the 2008 season at Triple-A Iowa, but was demoted to the Double-A Tennessee Smokies in May after struggling at the plate due to a right thumb injury. After hitting no higher than .245 in May, June, and July, he had a torrid August, hitting .345/.424/.445. Fuld averaged only 1 strikeout per 9.9 at bats, good for fifth-best in the Southern League.[45] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-44) In early September, he was again promoted to Triple-A for Iowa's playoff run.
Fuld had an "eye opening"[46] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-45) "big winter"[47] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-46) playing winter ball in Venezuela on the Tigres de Aragua (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigres_de_Aragua),[48] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-47) who he helped lead to a championship. He hit leadoff for Aragua, while batting .322 with 5 triples (leading the league), 36 walks and 43 runs (2nd), 16 doubles (5th), a .425 on base percentage (7th), and a .938 OPS (8th).[49] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-48)[50] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-49)
For his 2008-09 winter performance, including walking nearly twice as much as he struck out, he was elected to the Baseball America (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_America) All Winter League Team.[51] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-50)
Fuld began 2009 at Iowa, and hit .286 with 20 stolen bases and 8 triples in 73 games, including .417 in his last 10 games, a .398 average in June, and .326 versus lefties, primarily playing center field until he was called up on June 30.[52] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-51)[53] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-52)[54] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-53) He had walked 32 times compared to just 22 strikeouts in 319 plate appearances, and had a .309 batting average with runners in scoring position.[55] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-54)
Fuld hit .300 with a .378 obp and 22 steals in 353 at bats for the High-A Daytona Cubs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daytona_Cubs) of the Florida State League (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_State_League) in 2006, though he missed the end of the season because of a hip injury. He ended up needing an operation for a sports hernia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_hernia) after that season.[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-ins-9) He was named to the league All-Star team.[29] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-28)
In 2007, Fuld batted .291 with a .371 on base percentage, as he began the season with the Tennessee Smokies (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_Smokies) in the Double-A (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-A) Southern League (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_League_(baseball)), in 282 at bats.[30] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-29) "He knows how to play the game, when to take a pitch, when to work the count, and when to go ahead and swing away and juice the ball," said his Tennessee manager, Listach. "He’s strong enough that he can hit the ball out of the yard occasionally. He’s a gap, line-drive type hitter. He knows what type of hitter he is, and he doesn’t hit a lot of fly balls."[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-ins-9) He was an efficient leadoff hitter for Tennessee with nearly as many walks (32) as strikeouts (33) – a recurring theme in his career. "He’s a very intelligent player," added Listach. "He plays the game the right way. He plays the game hard. He plays the game smart. He steals a base when you need a base stolen, not necessarily when it’s 5-0 or a lopsided score. He does it when the team needs it. He makes the plays. He throws to the right bases. He’s a left-handed hitter. He can run. He’s a prototypical leadoff hitter in the big leagues..... His work ethic is off the charts."[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-ins-9) He was also touted by Listach as having the best outfield skills on the team.[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-ins-9) "Sammy is going to play in the big leagues. No doubt about it," said Listach.[10] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-ins-9)
In August, Fuld was promoted to the Iowa Cubs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_Cubs) in the Triple-A (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple-A) Pacific Coast League (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Coast_League), where he batted .269 with a .397 on base percentage.
Fuld played for the Mesa Solar Sox (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesa_Solar_Sox) in the Arizona Fall League (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_Fall_League) in the Fall of 2007. On October 30, he was named AFL Player of the Week (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Player_of_the_Week), after hitting .526.[31] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-30) In 29 games with the Solar Sox, Fuld played center (primarily) and right fields, led off every game, led the league in batting average (.402), hits (43), doubles (11), total bases (67), obp (.492), and slugging percentage (.626), and was 3rd in the league in runs (20) and walks (17), 4th in stolen bases (10), and 5th in triples (2).[32] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-31)[33] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-32)[34] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-AZstats-33) He batted even better with runners in scoring position (.462), and against lefties (.500).[34] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-AZstats-33)
Fuld was named the Most Valuable Player of the Arizona Fall League.[35] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-chicagotribune1-34)[36] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-35) He also was named to the AFL Top Prospects Team.[37] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-36)
Fuld also won the Dernell Stenson Award for Leadership for unselfishness, hard work, and leadership.[39] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-38)[40] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-39) He donated all the money he raised from the auction he had in conjunction with winning the Stenson Award to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juvenile_Diabetes_Research_Foundation).[41] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-40)[42] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-41) "This kid plays the game like it's supposed to be played," said Mesa Solar Sox manager Dave Clark. "I had talked to his (Double-A Tennessee) manager, Pat Listach, before the season and he told me I'd fall in love with the kid. He just exemplifies what this award is all about."[43] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-42)
In 2008, Fuld started the season with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. There, due to his fearless defense, he was referred to as "a crash test (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crash_test) dummy with a death wish (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_wish)", a "human wrecking ball (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrecking_ball) act," a "wall magnet," and a "manager's dream and a trainer's worst nightmare."[12] (http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080410/SPORTS05/804100394/1023/SPORTS13)
Fuld began the 2008 season at Triple-A Iowa, but was demoted to the Double-A Tennessee Smokies in May after struggling at the plate due to a right thumb injury. After hitting no higher than .245 in May, June, and July, he had a torrid August, hitting .345/.424/.445. Fuld averaged only 1 strikeout per 9.9 at bats, good for fifth-best in the Southern League.[45] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-44) In early September, he was again promoted to Triple-A for Iowa's playoff run.
Fuld had an "eye opening"[46] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-45) "big winter"[47] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-46) playing winter ball in Venezuela on the Tigres de Aragua (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigres_de_Aragua),[48] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-47) who he helped lead to a championship. He hit leadoff for Aragua, while batting .322 with 5 triples (leading the league), 36 walks and 43 runs (2nd), 16 doubles (5th), a .425 on base percentage (7th), and a .938 OPS (8th).[49] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-48)[50] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-49)
For his 2008-09 winter performance, including walking nearly twice as much as he struck out, he was elected to the Baseball America (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_America) All Winter League Team.[51] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-50)
Fuld began 2009 at Iowa, and hit .286 with 20 stolen bases and 8 triples in 73 games, including .417 in his last 10 games, a .398 average in June, and .326 versus lefties, primarily playing center field until he was called up on June 30.[52] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-51)[53] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-52)[54] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-53) He had walked 32 times compared to just 22 strikeouts in 319 plate appearances, and had a .309 batting average with runners in scoring position.[55] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Fuld#cite_note-54)