Sam Fuld: Difference between revisions

Samuel B. Fuld, known as Sam (born November 20, 1981, in Durham, New Hampshire) is a professional baseball player, and currently plays outfield for the Chicago Cubs.

Fuld is the son of Kenneth Fuld (Chairman of the psychology department at the University of New Hampshire) and Amanda Merrill, and got his start playing baseball when he and his grandmother played with whiffle balls.

Fuld was diagnosed with Type I juvenile diabetes when he was 10, and requires insulin injections twice a day.[1]

Fuld is a graduate of Oyster River Middle School and Phillips Exeter Academy. He was named a 2000 Preseason First Team All-American by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball, USA Today, and Fox Sports, listed 19th among the 100 Top High School Prospects of 2000 by Baseball America, and selected the New Hampshire 2000 Gatorade High School Player of the Year. He was a four-time Central New England Prep School Baseball League All-Conference player. At Exeter, he was a three-time captain and four-time MVP of the varsity baseball team.

Fuld was an economics major at Stanford University, from which he graduated in 2004. He was a 4-year starter. He earned All-American honors in each of his first two seasons, and All-Pac-10 honors each of his first 3 seasons. He is Stanford's all-time leader in runs scored and at bats. He broke Stanford's single-season record and paced the Pac-10 with 110 hits during his sophomore campaign. Diving for a ball in his second-to-last game in college, he broke his shoulder and tore his labrum. The injuries forced a full year of rehabilitation.

In 2004, the Cubs drafted him for a second time (in the 10th round) after he turned down their offer in 2003 (after being drafted in the 24th round) to finish his senior year at Stanford.

In 2005 he hit .300 with a .377 obp and 18 stolen bases in 443 at bats for the Peoria Chiefs of the Midwest League, a Class A league.

In 2006 he hit .300 with a .378 obp and 22 steals in 353 at bats for the Daytona Cubs of the Florida State League, a Class A+ league. He was named to the league All-Star team.[2]

In 2007 he batted .291 with a .371 on base percentage, as he began the season with the Tennessee Smokies in the AA Southern League, in 282 at bats.[3] He was the quintessential leadoff hitter for Tennessee with nearly as many walks (32) as strikeouts (33) – a recurring theme in his career, and was touted by his AA manager as having the best outfield skills on the team.[4]

In August, Fuld was promoted to the Iowa Cubs in the AAA Pacific Coast League, where he batted .269 with a .397 on base percentage.

In September 2007, the Chicago Cubs called up Fuld to the major league team.[5] He made his debut September 5 against the Los Angeles Dodgers as a 9th inning defensive replacement in center field. Fuld was originally sent out to left field, but an error in the scorecard required him to shift to center.

"I have so much respect for players like (Cubs first baseman) Derrek Lee," Fuld said. "They're great players. But to meet them and actually play with them and contribute and help them win is kind of a surreal experience. It doesn't seem too long ago that I was going to Fenway (Park in Boston) and idolizing these guys. I feel like a fan at times. I have to remind myself I'm a player."[6]

Fuld through September 17th did not have an at-bat as a major leaguer; however, he had scored 3 runs.

• 2000 - Preseason 1st Team All-American
• 2000 - 19th on Baseball America's 100 Top High School Prospects list
• 2000 - New Hampshire Gatorade High School Baseball Player of the Year
• Set all-time College World Series record for career hits
• 2001 - Freshman 2nd team All-America OF
• 2001 - Pac-10 Conference All-Star OF
• 2002 - 1st team College All-American OF
• 2002 - College World Series All-Tournament Team OF
• 2002 - Pac-10 Conference All-Star OF
• 2003 - Summer League First-Team All-American OF
• 2003 - Pac-10 Conference All-Star OF
• 2006 - Florida State League Player of the Week (5/21)
• 2006 - Topps Florida State League Player of the Month (5/31)
• 2006 - Florida State League All-Star OF

• Each year during the baseball off-season, Fuld returns to Stanford University, where he is currently pursuing a master's degree in statistics.

• Baseball America stats
• Fangraphs stats
• Tennessee Smokies bio
• Stanford bio
• Baseball Cube profile
• "A closer look at Sam Fuld," 4/12/01
• "All Access Pass with the Cubs Sam Fuld; Covering all the bases and center with Fuld," 5/22/06
• "Batting it around; Psychologist studies dynamics of a hit, a passion his son shares," 8/24/06
• "Fuld is Clutch at Full Speed," 7/11/07
• "Fuld Getting it Done," 8/9/07
• "Sam Fuld fitting in with Cubs," 9/7/07