Prince Fielder

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Prince Fielder
Prince Fielder on July 13, 2012.jpg
Detroit Tigers – No. 28
First baseman
Born: (1984-05-09) May 9, 1984 (age 29)
Ontario, California
Bats: Left Throws: Right 
MLB debut
June 13, 2005 for the Milwaukee Brewers
Career statistics
(through May 20, 2013)
Batting average     .286
Hits     1,221
Home runs     269
Runs batted in     801
Slugging percentage     .538
On-base percentage     .393
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Prince Semien Fielder (born May 9, 1984) is an American professional baseball player for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball.

Fielder, a first baseman, began his MLB career in the first round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft, where he was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers out of Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, Florida. He spent the first seven years of his Major League Baseball career with the Brewers before signing with the Detroit Tigers in January 2012.

Fielder is a four-time All-Star and is the active iron man leader for consecutive games played. He holds the Brewers' team record for home runs in a season, and is the league's youngest player to hit 50 home runs in a season.[1] He became the first Brewer to win the Home Run Derby, defeating Nelson Cruz in the final round of the 2009 derby. He also won the 2012 derby, joining Ken Griffey, Jr. as the only players to win more than one derby.[2]

Fielder is the son of former first baseman Cecil Fielder. Prince and Cecil Fielder are the only father-son combination to each hit 50 MLB home runs in a season.

Contents

Childhood [edit]

Fielder was born right handed but, at a very young age, he was converted to a left handed hitter by his father, Cecil Fielder.[3]

Fielder was a fixture around his father's teams' clubhouses growing up. He appeared with his father on MTV Rock N' Jock Softball.[citation needed]

When his father played for Detroit, Prince would sometimes come along for batting practice. Contrary to popular belief, Fielder did not hit a home run into the upper deck of Tiger Stadium[4] at the age of 12[citation needed]

Fielder attended Saint Edwards School in Vero Beach for two years, where he played junior varsity baseball.

Fielder spent his first three years of high school playing at Florida Air Academy. He then transferred to Eau Gallie High School to play baseball there his senior year (2002).[5] He hit .524 with 13 doubles, 10 home runs, 41 RBIs, and 47 runs in his senior year. He was named by the Florida Today as the All-Space Coast Player of the Year in 2002.[6]

Professional career [edit]

Minor league baseball [edit]

The Milwaukee Brewers drafted Fielder in the first round, with the seventh overall selection, of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft. He signed with the Brewers, and began his professional career in minor league baseball with the Ogden Raptors of the Rookie-level Pioneer League. He was promoted to the Beloit Snappers of the Class A Midwest League that season. Fielder spent the 2003 season with Beloit, and was promoted to the Huntsville Stars of the Class AA Southern League for the 2004 season.

Fielder began the 2005 season with the Nashville Sounds of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League.

Milwaukee Brewers (2005–2011) [edit]

2005 [edit]

Fielder earned his first call-up to Major League Baseball on June 13, 2005. He served as the designated hitter for the Brewers during interleague play. With Lyle Overbay serving as the Brewers' regular first baseman, Fielder was sent back down to the Sounds after the end of interleague play. Fielder was again called up to the Majors on August 17, 2005, and went on to finish the season with the Brewers, where he was used as a pinch-hitter. He was the 6th-youngest player in the league.

On June 15, 2005, he collected his first major league hit, a double, off Hideo Nomo, and drove in his first big league run with his second hit of the night at Tampa Bay.

2006 [edit]

Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks at Spring Training, 2005

After the Brewers trade Overbay to the Toronto Blue Jays, Fielder became the Brewers' starting first baseman in 2006. He was an early favorite for National League Rookie of the Year.[citation needed]

Fielder did not get off to a great start in the 2006 regular season, going 0–9 with 7 strikeouts. In his twelfth at-bat, Fielder delivered a game-winning hit that drove home Geoff Jenkins for the winning run in the bottom of the 8th inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Fielder was named the National League's Rookie of the Month for April, and hit consistently since. With his eighteenth home run of the year, Fielder broke the Brewers' rookie home run record previously held by Greg Vaughn.[citation needed]

Fielder led all major league rookies with twenty-eight homers in the 2006 season. On defense, he had the lowest zone rating among NL first basemen, .804.[7]

2007 [edit]

Fielder hitting for the Brewers in the 2007 season.

Fielder had a strong first half in 2007, earning a start at first base in the 2007 All-Star game over the previous two MVP winners, Ryan Howard (2006) and Albert Pujols (2005).

On August 13, 2007, Fielder was featured on a magazine cover for the first time when he was featured on the August 13, 2007, issue of ESPN The Magazine.[8]

On September 15, 2007, Fielder broke the Brewers franchise record for home runs in a season, hitting his forty-sixth in a game against the Cincinnati Reds. The record was previously jointly held by Richie Sexson (twice) and Gorman Thomas.

On September 25, Fielder became the youngest player ever to reach fifty home runs in a season, joining his estranged father in the exclusive club. Fielder has stated that he hopes to surpass his father's total of 51 home runs in a season (1990) as a way of exorcising the demons that have come with being the son of a prominent major leaguer. "A lot of people said that's the only reason I got drafted... I don't mind people comparing me to him but I'm a completely different player. One day I want people to mention my name and not have to mention his", Fielder has said. Earlier in the season, Cecil Fielder had told a magazine that it was his famous name that led to his son being such a highly touted prospect. The younger Fielder also saw his contention in the 2007 NL MVP race as a way of proving his father wrong, but gets little else from the rift but motivation saying, "You've got to look at who's saying it. Let's be honest. He's not really the brightest guy." [9]

Fielder ranked first in the National League in home runs (50) in his MVP-caliber 2007 season, was second in slugging percentage to teammate Ryan Braun (.618), second in at bats per home run (11.5) and OPS (1.013), third in RBIs (119) and extra base hits (87), fourth in total bases (354) and hit by pitch (14), fifth in intentional walks (21) and sacrifice flies (8), seventh in runs (109) and times on base (269), and ninth in walks (90).

In 2007 he led all major league first basemen in errors, with fourteen, and was last among eligible major league first basemen in range factor (8.49).

Fielder earned the Milwaukee Brewers Team MVP award, the Player's Choice NL Outstanding Player award, 2007 Silver Slugger award, and was voted the National League's Hank Aaron Award winner.[10]

2008 [edit]

Unable to come up with an agreement for a long-term contract with the Brewers, Fielder and his agent, Scott Boras, signed a one-year, $670,000 deal with the Brewers. Fielder was quoted saying, "I'm not happy about it at all", showing his disappointment in not being able to reach an agreement with the club.[11]

On June 19, Fielder hit the second inside-the-park home run of his career, against the Toronto Blue Jays.

On August 4, Fielder and teammate Manny Parra got into a scuffle in the dugout during a game against the Cincinnati Reds in which Parra was the starting pitcher. They were having a brief conversation, which led to Parra throwing his jacket down and Fielder shoving him. Fielder had to be restrained by teammates Ray Durham, Dave Bush, J. J. Hardy, Ryan Braun, and pitching coach Mike Maddux. ESPN reported that night that the dispute was over Parra heading back to the clubhouse after being pulled from the game instead of staying in the dugout to watch the Brewers bat in the next inning. Baseball Tonight also reports the exchange was started when Parra told Fielder to "get off his fat ass and play defense." Manager Ned Yost said reporters asking questions about the incident was as rude as "going over to the neighbors' house after they've been fighting and asking about it."

On September 23, Fielder hit his second walk-off home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates, helping the Brewers keep pace with the New York Mets in the NL Wild Card race.

Fielder was named the National League Player of the Week for the week of September 15–21 after he batted .462, with 27 total bases, six doubles, 11 RBI, .533 on-base percentage, and a 1.038 slugging percentage.[12]

Fielder ended the 2008 regular season with a .276 batting average, 34 home runs, 102 RBI, 86 runs and 84 walks. The Brewers finished 90–72, earning the NL Wild Card on the final day of the regular season, their first postseason berth as a National League club and their first since losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1982 World Series. They faced the Philadelphia Phillies and were eliminated in four. Fielder hit the Brewers' only home run of the series, in Game 4.[13]

2009 [edit]

Fielder (left), Ryan Howard (center), and President Barack Obama (right) before the start of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, July 14, 2009

After the 2008 season Fielder was seeking an $8 million salary in 2009, while the Brewers filed for $6 million. On January 23 the Brewers and Fielder avoided arbitration and finalized a two-year $18 million contract.[14]

Fielder hit his first career grand slam against Rafael Perez of the Cleveland Indians on June 15, 2009, at Progressive Field.[15]

Fielder was one of four NL first basemen who made the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, joining starter Albert Pujols and fellow reservists Adrian Gonzalez and Ryan Howard. Fielder won the 2009 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby in St Louis. Fielder began the Derby with a Rickie Weeks bat, but quickly switched to one of Ryan Braun's because it was longer and gave him more plate coverage.[16] He made the finals with seventeen home runs after the first two rounds, eliminating local favorites Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard. He then beat former Brewers teammate Nelson Cruz with six homers in the final round. His twenty-three long balls tied for the sixth-most in the Derby's history.[17] He also hit the longest home run of the Derby at 503 feet.[18]

On August 4, Fielder was involved in an incident with Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Guillermo Mota. With two outs in the ninth inning, Mota hit Fielder with a pitch on the leg, (apparently in retaliation for Mota's teammate Manny Ramirez being hit in the hand by Brewers pitcher Chris Smith). Mota was ejected. After the 17–4 Dodgers victory, Fielder went to the Dodgers clubhouse, in an effort to confront Mota. The Dodgers security guards stopped Fielder from entering, though the incident was captured by a television crew. Both Mota and Fielder were fined by Major League Baseball for their roles in the incident.[19]

Fielder had a good September. While playing the San Francisco Giants on September 6, Fielder hit a walk-off home run, the second walk off hit Fielder had had against the Giants.[citation needed] Then, on September 19, Fielder set the Brewers' single-season record for RBIs at 127, beating Cecil Cooper's 1983 record of 126.[20] He set this record during a game against the Houston Astros—the team Cooper was managing at the time. The record-breaking RBI was a sacrifice fly, scoring Mike Cameron. He finished the season with 141 RBIs, which surpassed his father's career high of 133 in 1991.

Fielder finished tied for first in the National League in RBIs with Ryan Howard, and second in home runs with 46. He is one of three players in Brewers franchise history to have 100 or more RBIs in three consecutive seasons, along with Richie Sexson (2001–03) and Ryan Braun (2008–10).[21]

2011 [edit]

On January 18, Fielder and the Brewers agreed on a one-year, $15.5 million contract.[22] Fielder was named MVP of the 82nd All Star Game, in which he hit a 3-run home run.[23]

Along with Fielder, Braun also hit 30 home runs on the season, marking the 4th time the duo each hit at least 30 home runs in a season. Only 6 other duos have done this in major league history.[citation needed]

He became one of three Brewers who have had four 100-RBI seasons, along with Cecil Cooper and Braun.[24]

On September 27 in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Fielder went 3-for-3 with three home runs and a walk, and 5 RBIs. It was his first career three-home run game.[citation needed]

In 2011, Fielder batted .299, led the National League in intentional walks (32; a Brewers record), was second in the league in home runs (38), and was third in slugging percentage (.566).[25] On defense, he led the majors in errors committed by a first baseman (15) and had the lowest fielding percentage of all first basemen (.990).[26][27] Through 2011, he had the second-highest career slugging percentage (.540) and OPS (.929) of any player in Brewers history, behind Braun, and was second in career home runs (230) to Robin Yount.[25]

He came in third in the voting for the 2011 National League Most Valuable Player Award, behind winner and teamate Ryan Braun and Matt Kemp.[28]

Detroit Tigers (2012–present) [edit]

2012 [edit]

Fielder after winning his second Home Run Derby title in 2012.

Following the 2011 World Series, Fielder became a free agent. On January 26, 2012 Fielder agreed to a nine-year, $214 million contract with the Detroit Tigers to play first base and bat clean-up in the Tigers batting order.[29] It was the largest contract in the history of the Detroit Tigers, surpassing Miguel Cabrera's contract of 8 years and $185.3 million. The Tigers acquired Fielder to replace the bat of an injured Victor Martinez, the everyday designated hitter in 2011. The acquisition of Fielder, who had only played first base in his career, required 2008-2011 first baseman Miguel Cabrera to move to third, which Cabrera was notably happy to do.

On April 5, 2012, Fielder made his debut with the Tigers[30] and singled in his first at bat.

Fielder hit his first two home runs as a Tiger on April 7, 2012, in a 10-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox. In his first season in the American League, he was voted to the 2012 All-Star team as a starter. It is his fourth All-Star appearance overall.[31] Fielder was also selected by American League captain, Robinson Canó, to participate in the 2012 Home Run Derby.[32]

On July 9, 2012, Fielder became the 2012 Home Run Derby champion, hitting 12 home runs in the third and final round over José Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays. This is Fielder's second win in the derby, his first coming in 2009. Fielder became the first participant to win for both the National and American League, and joined Ken Griffey, Jr. as the only two players to win multiple Derbies.[33]

Fielder finished the 2012 regular season with a career-best .313 batting average. He hit 30 home runs, giving him six straight seasons with at least 30 long balls, and drove in 108 runs for his fifth career 100-plus RBI season. He also had an on-base percentage of .412, his fourth straight season with an OBP above .400. He played in all 162 games for Detroit, his third such season in his career, and he led the American League in being hit by pitches (17). Some in the sports media have given Fielder at least partial credit for teammate Cabrera winning the Triple Crown of batting in 2012. With Fielder hitting behind him in the Tiger order, Cabrera's walks declined from 108 the previous season to just 66, giving him more opportunities to hit home runs and drive in runs.[34]

The 2012 World Series was Fielder's first trip to the Fall Classic. He hit .071 during the series as the Tigers were swept in four games at the hands of the San Francisco Giants.

2013 [edit]

Prince was named AL Player of the Week for the April 8-14 period. He hit .632 during the week (12 for 19) with 11 RBI and 22 total bases.[35] He finished the month of April with a .301 batting average, 7 home runs and 27 RBI.[36]

Personal life [edit]

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Fielder married his wife Chanel during a Triple-A All-Star break while playing for the Nashville Sounds.[citation needed] They have two children, whose names are Jaden and Haven. [37]

The tattoo on the left side of his neck is "왕자", Korean for "Prince".[38]

Prior to the 2008 season Fielder became a vegetarian. Fielder made this choice after reading Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin, given to him by his wife.[39][40] However, his time as a vegetarian was short-lived; in January 2012, in his introductory press conference as a Detroit Tiger, he stated, "I'm not a vegetarian. I was, for like three months."[41]

References [edit]

  1. ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3036841
  2. ^ http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120709&content_id=34785534&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb
  3. ^ |url=http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Fielder/Fielder_bio.html
  4. ^ DiMeglio, Steve (March 13, 2006). "Brewers clear decks, pin hopes on young Fielder". USA Today. Retrieved October 21, 2008. 
  5. ^ Edes, Gordon (May 16, 2008). "A new power prince Fielder has made a deep impression". boston.com. Retrieved October 21, 2008. 
  6. ^ "Charmed by a Prince". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved October 21, 2008. [dead link]
  7. ^ "MLB Player Fielding Stats: 2006". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 21, 2008. 
  8. ^ "Prince Fielder on the cover of ESPN The Magazine". ESPN. August 1, 2007. Retrieved May 13, 2009. 
  9. ^ Haudricourt, Tom (September 26, 2007). "Two shots, two back: Fielder hits 50th, Cubs fall closer". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved January 25, 2012. 
  10. ^ Fielder adds Aaron Award to '07 honors. The Official Site of The Milwaukee Brewers. October 28, 2007
  11. ^ "Fielder unhappy contract is renewed Brewers' deadline passes; slugger to earn $670,000 in 2008". MLB.com. Retrieved October 21, 2008. 
  12. ^ "Brewers' Prince Fielder named NL Player of the Week". madison. Retrieved October 21, 2008. 
  13. ^ "Mets help Brewers earn 1st playoff spot since 1982". Associated press (via USA Today). September 29, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2008. 
  14. ^ McCalvy, Adam (January 23, 2009). "Brewers ink Fielder to two-year deal Slugger reportedly set to earn $18 million through 2010". MLB.com. Retrieved January 29, 2009. 
  15. ^ "Fielder’s slam in eighth caps comeback.". JSOnline. June 15, 2009. Retrieved July 12, 2012. 
  16. ^ Brewers soak up experience Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
  17. ^ Ortiz, Jorge L. (July 14, 2009). "Prince of St. Louis: Fielder wins 2009 All-Star Home Run Derby". USA Today. Retrieved July 14, 2009. 
  18. ^ "Fielder tops Cruz for Derby crown.". ESPN. July 14, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2009. 
  19. ^ McCalvy, Adam. "Fielder, Mota fined but not suspended". LosAngeles.Dodgers.MLB.com. Retrieved September 28, 2011. 
  20. ^ "Fielder gets 127th RBI as Brewers win fourth straight". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 19, 2009. Retrieved March 3, 2010. 
  21. ^ [dead link]http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gV39xXrT-TTjniW72Zmm4HOp2wTgD9IFRF980
  22. ^ McCalvy, Adam (January 18, 2011). "Prince signs historic contract to avoid arbitration". MLB.com. Retrieved July 23, 2011. 
  23. ^ Bloom, Barry M. (July 13, 2011). "Prince of power: Fielder's clout earns him MVP". MLB.com. Retrieved July 13, 2011. 
  24. ^ Tom Haudricourt (September 17, 2011). "Saturday game report: Brewers at Reds". JSOnline. Retrieved September 28, 2011. 
  25. ^ a b "Milwaukee Brewers Top 10 Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 15, 2011. 
  26. ^ "Prince Fielder Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 3, 2011. 
  27. ^ "2011 Regular Season MLB Baseball 1B Fielding Statistics". ESPN. Retrieved October 11, 2011. 
  28. ^ Mitchell, Houston (November 22, 2011). "Ryan Braun wins NL MVP award; Matt Kemp second". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 22, 2011. 
  29. ^ "Prince Fielder signs with the Tigers". CBSsports.com. January 23, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2012. 
  30. ^ "Opening Day lineup: Prince Fielder makes Detroit Tigers debut, Justin Verlander takes mound". Mlive. Retrieved 5 April 2012. 
  31. ^ All-Star rosters at cbssports.com
  32. ^ http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120701&content_id=34294412&vkey=allstar2012
  33. ^ Fenech, Anthony (July 9, 2012). Freep.com http://www.freep.com/article/20120709/SPORTS02/120709054/Tigers-Prince-Fielder-wins-All-Star-Home-Run-Derby?odyssey=tab. Retrieved July 9, 2012.  Text "topnews" ignored (help); Text "text" ignored (help); Text "FRONTPAGE" ignored (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  34. ^ Crasnick, Jerry. The Prince and Miggy Show at espn.go.com on October 12, 2012.
  35. ^ Prince Fielder named American League Player of the Week. Beaton, Al at blessyouboys.com on April 16, 2013.
  36. ^ Verlander dominates Twins as Tigers win fifth straight. cbssports.com on April 30, 2013.
  37. ^ "Prince Fielder Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights". MLB.com. Retrieved June 3, 2009. 
  38. ^ "Overheard during Prince Fielder news conference". Detroit Free Press. January 27, 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-10. 
  39. ^ "Brewers counting on vegetarian Fielder in meat of order". CBS Sports. Retrieved October 21, 2008. 
  40. ^ "No more steaks for Fielder Brewers star feels 'amazing' after becoming vegetarian". MLB.com. Retrieved October 21, 2008. 
  41. ^ "Prince Fielder introduced by Detroit Tigers". Sports Illustrated. January 26, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2012. 

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