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Dustin Fowler

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Dustin Fowler
Fowler with the Tampa Yankees in 2015
Outfielder
Born: (1994-12-29) December 29, 1994 (age 29)
Cadwell, Georgia, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
June 29, 2017, for the New York Yankees
Last MLB appearance
April 21, 2021, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
Batting average.215
Home runs6
Runs batted in25
Teams

Dustin Ryan Fowler (born December 29, 1994) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. Listed at 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m) and 195 pounds (88 kg), he bats and throws left-handed. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics and Pittsburgh Pirates.

Career

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New York Yankees

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Fowler attended West Laurens High School in Dexter, Georgia. He committed to play college baseball at Georgia Southern University.[1] The New York Yankees selected Fowler in the 18th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.[2] He signed with the Yankees and made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast Yankees.[3] He spent the whole season there, batting .241 with nine RBIs in 30 games. Fowler played in 2014 with the Charleston RiverDogs where he compiled a .257 batting average with nine home runs and 41 RBIs in 66 games. He was named the South Atlantic League Player of the Week for the week of June 9 after hitting .393.[4] He began the 2015 season in Charleston before earning a promotion to the High-A Tampa Yankees.[5] He batted a combined .298/.334/.394 with five home runs, 70 RBIs and 30 stolen bases that year. He played in the Arizona Fall League after the 2015 season.[6]

Fowler received a non-roster invitation to spring training in 2016 and played that season with the Trenton Thunder[7][8] where he batted .281 with 12 home runs, 88 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases in 132 games. He was named an Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star that year.[9] He was again invited to spring training in 2017,[10][11] and started the season with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. He was named the International League Player of the Week for the week of April 30 after hitting a walk-off home run to complete the cycle.[9][12][13] In July, he was ranked as the 89th best prospect in baseball by Baseball America.[14] In 70 games for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, he hit .293/.329/.542 with 13 home runs and 43 RBIs.

On June 29, Fowler was promoted to the majors[15] and he made his debut that day after a nearly three-hour rain delay, with the Yankees facing the Chicago White Sox on the road.[16] During the first inning, he ran into a rail while chasing a fly ball, hitting his knee on a sharp edge of an electrical box. He collapsed to the ground and was carted off the field, before being diagnosed with an open rupture of the right patellar tendon. He was ruled out for the season and underwent surgery that night at Rush University Medical Center. Fowler would have led off the next inning for his first major league plate appearance.[17][18]

Oakland Athletics

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On July 31, 2017, the Yankees traded Fowler to the Oakland Athletics, along with fellow prospects Jorge Mateo and James Kaprielian, for starting pitcher Sonny Gray.[19] On December 15, 2017, Fowler sued the White Sox and the Illinois state agency that manages their ballpark, Guaranteed Rate Field, for allegedly causing his June 29 injury. His lawsuit, which was filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, claimed negligence on the part of the White Sox and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority in not properly securing the unpadded electrical box he crashed into.[20] In 2018, the defendants tried, and failed, to have the case moved to federal court and dismissed, failing in their claim that Fowler, as an MLB player covered by the league's union contract, could not sue in state court for the injury.[21] A settlement motion was filed in Cook County Circuit Court in February 2022, details of which are not available online.

Fowler began the 2018 season with the Nashville Sounds. The Athletics promoted him to the major leagues on May 9,[22] and he went to bat for the first time in the major leagues that night.[23] He started his first game for Oakland on May 11, and got his first major league hit off Yankee pitcher Sonny Gray, the player he was traded for.[24] On May 18, 2018, he hit his first major league home run off Marco Estrada in a 3-1 victory over the Blue Jays.[25] On August 2, he was sent back down to Triple A Nashville.[26] He was recalled to the majors on August 31.[27] Before the end of spring training in 2019, Fowler was optioned to Triple-A in order to see more time at all three outfield positions.[28] He spent the entire season with the Las Vegas Aviators, despite hitting well. He later said it was a "big shock" to him not getting called up that year.[29]

Before the start of the 2020 season, Fowler was initially reassigned to minor league camp on March 13.[30] However, the season was soon put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In June, he was included in the Athletics' 60-man player pool for the shortened 2020 season.[31] After not being called up, Fowler was designated for assignment on February 21, 2021, after the Trevor Rosenthal signing was made official.[32] At the time of his designation, Fowler had not appeared in an MLB game since 2018.

Pittsburgh Pirates

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On February 24, 2021, Fowler was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for cash considerations.[33] After starting the season batting .171/.239/.195 with no home runs and two RBIs in 18 games, Fowler was designated for assignment when Todd Frazier was added to the roster on April 22.[34] On April 28, Fowler was outrighted to the alternate training site.[35] Fowler appeared in 13 games for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, hitting .270 with three home runs and six RBIs. He spent nearly two months on the minor league injured list. On August 7, 2021, Fowler was released by the Pirates.[36]

Miami Marlins

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On August 13, 2021, Fowler signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins. He was assigned to the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.[37] He elected free agency on November 7, 2021.[38]

References

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  1. ^ Levine, Daniel S. (June 29, 2017). "Dustin Fowler: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Archived from the original on July 6, 2017.
  2. ^ "Centerfielder gets big payoff by playing small ball". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  3. ^ Anderson, Tanya (June 12, 2013). "Draft Signing Tracker: Aaron Judge signs". Pinstripe Alley. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  4. ^ "RiverDogs' Fowler named SAL Player of the Week". Post and Courier. June 16, 2014. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  5. ^ Jennings, Chad. "Minor league notes: Mitchell finally getting a look Yankees' bullpen". The Journal News. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  6. ^ "Yankees' Dustin Fowler delivers in Fall League". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on November 10, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  7. ^ "Tyler Wade, Dustin Fowler a dynamic duo for Thunder". April 12, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  8. ^ "Getting to know Dustin Fowler, Yankees' hot-hitting, duck-hunting outfielder prospect". The Star-Ledger. March 12, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  9. ^ a b "Dustin Fowler Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  10. ^ Hoch, Bryan (January 20, 2016). "Dustin Fowler impressing at Yankees camp". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on March 11, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  11. ^ Mazzeo, Mike (March 13, 2017). "Yankees prospect Dustin Fowler's energy making him easy to spot". Daily News. New York. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  12. ^ "Fowler blasts walk-off homer to give him cycle, lift 'Riders over Indy | Sports | thetimes-tribune.com". www.thetimes-tribune.com. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  13. ^ Axisa, Mike (May 1, 2017). "WATCH: Yankees prospect hits walk-off home run to complete the cycle". CBSSports.com. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  14. ^ Staff, B. A. (July 7, 2017). "2017 Midseason Top 100 Prospects". College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  15. ^ "Yankees Promote Dustin Fowler, Chris Carter". MLB Trade Rumors. June 29, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  16. ^ "White Sox 4-3 Yankees (Jun 29, 2017) Game Recap". ESPN. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  17. ^ Marchand, Andrew (June 29, 2017). "Yanks' Dustin Fowler crashes into railing in debut, ruptures patellar tendon". ESPN. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  18. ^ Mazzeo, Mike (June 29, 2017). "VIDEO: Yankees rookie Dustin Fowler leaves on cart during MLB debut, has ruptured patella tendon". New York Daily News. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  19. ^ Trezza, Joe (July 31, 2017). "Yankees get Gray from A's for 3 prospects". MLB.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  20. ^ "Oakland Athletics outfielder Dustin Fowler suing White Sox, Guaranteed Rate Field for serious injury he sustained". ESPN. December 15, 2017. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  21. ^ "Let's Check in on Dustin Fowler's Lawsuit Against the White Sox". February 25, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  22. ^ Justin Tasch (June 30, 2017). "Ex-Yankee Dustin Fowler finally getting a second shot at his MLB debut". NY Daily News. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  23. ^ "Ex-NY Yankee Dustin Fowler glad to be back in majors after injury". Northjersey.com. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  24. ^ "Ex-Yankee Dustin Fowler back in bigs after gruesome injury, excited about weekend reunion". NJ.com. May 11, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  25. ^ "Dustin Fowler hits first career home run". MLB.com. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  26. ^ Hall, Alex (August 1, 2018). "A's option Dustin Fowler, DFA Carlos Ramirez". Athletics Nation.
  27. ^ AthleticsPR (August 31, 2018). "A's Recall OF Fowler from Nashville; Option RHP Montas to Nashville". Oakland Athletics. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  28. ^ Hall, Alex (March 12, 2019). "A's option Dustin Fowler to Triple-A". Athletics Nation. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  29. ^ "Dustin Fowler excited for fresh start, chance to compete for outfield job with the Pirates". Yahoo Sports. March 9, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  30. ^ "Barreto makes case for second base job". MLB.com. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  31. ^ "A's Announce Initial 60-Man Player Pool". MLB Trade Rumors. June 28, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  32. ^ "Athletics Designate Dustin Fowler For Assignment". MLB Trade Rumors. February 22, 2021.
  33. ^ "Pirates Acquire Dustin Fowler From Athletics". MLB Trade Rumors. February 24, 2021.
  34. ^ "Pirates Select Todd Frazier, Designate Dustin Fowler, Place Chad Kuhl On IL". MLB Trade Rumors. April 22, 2021.
  35. ^ "Pirates Outright Dustin Fowler". MLB Trade Rumors. April 28, 2021.
  36. ^ "Dustin Fowler: Released by Pirates". CBSSports.com. August 7, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  37. ^ "Marlins Sign Dustin Fowler". MLB Trade Rumors. August 13, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  38. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 9, 2021). "2021-22 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams". College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
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