Rafael Furcal
The shortstop who debuted in 2000, won Rookie of the Year, and completed an unassisted triple play for the Atlanta Braves.
Rafael Furcal was a Dominican former professional baseball shortstop who played in Major League Baseball for the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Miami Marlins. Born on October 24, 1977, he grew up in Loma de Cabrera before being signed as an amateur free agent by the Braves on November 9, 1996, for $5,000. After rising through the minor leagues with record-breaking speed, he made his MLB debut on April 4, 2000, against the Colorado Rockies. That rookie season, he hit .295 with 40 stolen bases, earning the National League Rookie of the Year Award. He remained with Atlanta until September 2004.
- position
- Shortstop
- braves_tenure
- 2000–2004
- key_achievement
- NL Rookie of the Year (2000)
- signature_skill
- Base-stealing and unassisted triple play
- team_impact
- Hit .337 with 73 stolen bases in Single-A (1999) before debuting
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Furcal's early days were defined by his father Silvino, a standout outfielder who taught him to enjoy the game before passing away in 2010. The following year, he led all of minor league baseball with 96 stolen bases while switching to shortstop. His transition to the majors was rapid, jumping directly from 'A' ball after an injury to starter Walt Weiss. In his first major season (2000), he won Rookie of the Year, but his tenure also included personal turbulence; in September 2004, he was arrested for drunk driving and ordered to serve 21 days in jail, a sentence delayed until the Braves were eliminated from playoff contention.
In Their Own Story
One of the most rare defensive plays in baseball history occurred on August 10, 2003. In the fifth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals, Furcal executed an unassisted triple play, the 12th ever recorded. He caught a liner from pitcher Woody Williams with runners moving on a hit-and-run, stepped on second base to retire catcher Mike Matheny, and tagged first baseman Orlando Palmeiro before he could return to the bag. The Braves later learned that Furcal was actually 23 years old at the start of the 2002 season, having previously claimed to be 21. That same year, he tied a modern Major League record with three triples in a single game on April 21 against Florida. His time in Atlanta ended abruptly after his jail term for drunk driving, following an earlier arrest in June 2000.
Reader's Guide
Furcal's tenure with the Braves spanned from his debut in 2000 until late 2004. He began as a second baseman in the minors before settling at shortstop in 1999. His rookie year (2000) was exceptional, yielding a .295 average and 40 stolen bases for the Rookie of the Year award. Injuries plagued parts of his career; he missed most of the 2001 season due to a dislocated left shoulder suffered while stealing second base against Boston. In 2002, after correcting his age, he tied the modern record with three triples in one game. By September 2004, legal issues overshadowed his final year in Atlanta when he was arrested for drunk driving, violating probation from a June 2000 incident. He served 21 days in jail only after the Braves were eliminated from the playoffs, ending an era of high-energy play that saw him become a fan favorite known for his speed and occasional defensive brilliance.
Did You Know?
- Furcal signed his first professional contract on November 9, 1996, for only $5,000.
- He completed an unassisted triple play on August 10, 2003, the 12th in baseball history.
- His father, Silvino Furcal, was killed by a horse on Father's Day in 2010.
- Furcal arranged for the Los Angeles Fire Department to donate a fire truck to his hometown of Loma de Cabrera.