Furcal Joins Suns on MLB Rehab Assignment
April 21, 2014 - Southern League (SL1)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp News Release
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Miami Marlins announced a transaction that impacts their Double-A affiliate Jacksonville Suns roster prior to tonight's game against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos at Bragan Field at 7:05 p.m.
Miami Marlins infielder Rafael Furcal joins the Suns on a transfer of a MLB rehab assignment from High-A Jupiter. Furcal is recovering from a left hamstring strain that he suffered during spring training with the Marlins. Furcal will likely be with the Suns for the next week, as the Suns will be at home at Bragan Field through next Monday.
This is the first year in the Marlins organization for Furcal, who is a 14-year major league veteran. He is a career .281 hitter with 113 homers and 585 RBI in the big leagues. Furcal is a three-time National League All-Star (2003, 2010, 2012), and was the starting shortstop for the 2011 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals. For the Cardinals that postseason he tallied hits in 13 of 18 games as he collected his first World Series champion ring.
Out of 14 major league seasons, Furcal's teams have made the playoffs 12 times. Among active players, he ranks 17th in runs scored with 2000, also sixth in stolen bases with 314.
Furcal missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery, performed on March 15, 2013 by Dr. James Andrews, and he also had bone spur removed during his last year with the Cardinals. The Marlins signed him as a free agent last December, and he will likely be Miami's starting second baseman when his rehab assignment is complete.
Furcal is a former Southern Leaguer, although he only played in three games with the Greenville Braves in 2000, the same year he was named the National League Rookie of the Year with Atlanta after leading all NL rookies in runs (87), walks (73), stolen bases (40), and on-base percentage (.384). Furcal was with the Braves from 2000-2005, the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2006-11, and the Cardinals from 2011-13.
The Suns roster stands at 25 plus Furcal on his MLB rehab assignment, and a revised roster is attached.
Monday's first pitch between the Suns and Blue Wahoos is set for 7:05 p.m. ET. Jacksonville will send the righty Angel Sanchez to the hill (0-3, 4.20) Monday night, and he'll be countered by the Cincinnati Reds' #1 prospect in right-hander Robert Stephenson (1-1, 5.56).
Suns fans can listen to Monday's game on the Suns Baseball Network, 94.1 WSOS-FM or throughwww.jaxsuns.com, MiLB.com or the Suns iPhone or Android app, beginning at 6:50 p.m. ET with the Memorial Hospital Suns Pregame Show. The 2014 season of Suns baseball is presented by EverBank, the official banking partner of the Jacksonville Suns. Sponsorships, group outings, and season / individual game tickets are currently available by calling the Suns front office at (904) 358-2846.
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