Dexter Fowler
Encyclopedia
William Dexter Fowler (born March 22, 1986, in Atlanta, Georgia
) is a Major League Baseball
center fielder
for the Colorado Rockies
.
out of Milton High School
in Alpharetta
, Georgia
. He rejected offers from Harvard and the University of Miami
in order to play for the Rockies. In , he was selected by Major League Baseball to play in the All-Star Futures Game
at Yankee Stadium
Fowler was batting
.337 with nine home run
s, 61 RBI
and 20 stolen base
s for the Rockies' Double-A Texas League
affiliate, the Tulsa Drillers
, when he took a break from his minor league
season in order to represent the United States
in the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
, China
. He and the U.S. team ended up winning the bronze medal in the Olympics by defeating Japan
, 8-4, in the bronze medal game.
Fowler was called up to the Major Leagues for the first time on September 2, . He made his debut that same day in a 6-5 extra innings
home win over the San Francisco Giants
, coming in as a pinch runner
in the bottom of the 10th inning
; he was subsequently picked off
at first base. In Fowler's first at-bat in the bottom of the third inning of a 9-2 home loss against the Giants the following day, he flew out to right field.
On September 10, 2008, Fowler recorded his first hit, an infield single, off of Will Ohman
in the top of the seventh inning of a 9-5 road loss against the Atlanta Braves
.
On April 8, 2009, Fowler hit his first career home run off Doug Davis of the Arizona Diamondbacks
, as part of a 9-2 road win. He hit the home run on the first pitch of the game, becoming the first player in Rockies history to do so.
On April 27, 2009, Fowler tied a modern day rookie record when he stole five bases against the San Diego Padres
in a 12-7 victory.
In 2010, Fowler led the Majors in triples
, accumulating 14 on the season. In 439 at bat
s on the year, he had six home run
s, 36 RBI, 73 runs scored
, and 114 total base hits
.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
) is a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
for the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
.
Baseball career
Fowler was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 14th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft2004 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
out of Milton High School
Milton High School (Milton, Georgia)
Milton High School is a high school in Milton, northeast Fulton County, Georgia, United States.-History:Milton High School was founded in the shadows of metropolitan Atlanta within the city of Alpharetta, Georgia - a few blocks away from Main Street, USA. When Principal W. T...
in Alpharetta
Alpharetta, Georgia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 34,854 people, 13,911 households, and 8,916 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,631.6 people per square mile . There were 14,670 housing units at an average density of 686.7 per square mile...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. He rejected offers from Harvard and the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
in order to play for the Rockies. In , he was selected by Major League Baseball to play in the All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
Fowler was batting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.337 with nine home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 61 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
and 20 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s for the Rockies' Double-A Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
affiliate, the Tulsa Drillers
Tulsa Drillers
The Tulsa Drillers are a minor league baseball team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies major-league club.-Stadium:...
, when he took a break from his minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
season in order to represent the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. He and the U.S. team ended up winning the bronze medal in the Olympics by defeating Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, 8-4, in the bronze medal game.
Fowler was called up to the Major Leagues for the first time on September 2, . He made his debut that same day in a 6-5 extra innings
Extra innings
Extra innings is the extension of a baseball or softball game in order to break a tie.Ordinarily, a baseball game consists of nine innings , each of which is divided into halves: the visiting team bats first, after which the home team takes its turn at bat...
home win over the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, coming in as a pinch runner
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
in the bottom of the 10th inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
; he was subsequently picked off
Pickoff
In baseball, a pickoff is an act by a pitcher or a catcher, throwing a live ball to a fielder so that the fielder can tag out a baserunner who is either leading off or about to begin stealing the next base....
at first base. In Fowler's first at-bat in the bottom of the third inning of a 9-2 home loss against the Giants the following day, he flew out to right field.
On September 10, 2008, Fowler recorded his first hit, an infield single, off of Will Ohman
Will Ohman
William McDaniel Ohman is a left-handed pitcher, who is currently a member of the Chicago White Sox. He lives in Agoura Hills, California.-Chicago Cubs:...
in the top of the seventh inning of a 9-5 road loss against the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
.
On April 8, 2009, Fowler hit his first career home run off Doug Davis of the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
, as part of a 9-2 road win. He hit the home run on the first pitch of the game, becoming the first player in Rockies history to do so.
On April 27, 2009, Fowler tied a modern day rookie record when he stole five bases against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in a 12-7 victory.
In 2010, Fowler led the Majors in triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, accumulating 14 on the season. In 439 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s on the year, he had six home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 36 RBI, 73 runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, and 114 total base hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
.