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Phenom Furcal Beyond the Box Score: Kid gloves
Posted: Friday April 07, 2000 09:49 AM
One of the most surprising roster moves this spring was the Atlanta Braves' decision to promote teenager Rafael Furcal to the majors as the team's backup middle-infielder. The diminutive Dominican was impressive in his first big league camp, batting .300 while showcasing a rifle for an arm. Manager Bobby Cox likes Furcal's maturity and loves his speed. Furcal stole 96 bases last year in the minors -- the most in 12 years -- while splitting time between Macon and Myrtle Beach. Speed never slumps and it puts pressure on the defense to make play after play. If they really want Furcal to succeed, they have to play him in the field some. Just pinch running won't do it, the Braves have to give him small doses of playing time so he can have a chance to succeed. Rafael Furcal never had an at-bat above A-ball before Tuesday night when he made his major league debut. In his first at-bat, he fouled off eight straight pitches before striking out on the 12th pitch. He also had a pair of singles and a stolen base. Not a bad debut for the first major leaguer born in the 1980s.
It's not easy being a young player at such an important position. You have to make the jump to the highest level of competition and be a leader at the same time. That's what made Robin Yount so great. He was mature enough, at 18, to give the Brewers leadership. I was 23 when I broke into the majors with San Diego in 1978. I remember the excitement of Opening Day and the feeling of accomplishment. I looked around the field and in the opposing dugout and there were a bunch of guys I'd read about and seen on television. Of course, even then, I realized that getting to the majors was the easy part and staying there would be much more difficult. I was already asking myself what I would do to stay. Rafael Furcal is clearly the shortstop of the future in Atlanta, but he still has to work on his defensive skills, having moved from second to short only last season. He has the ability to be a real threat at the top of the lineup, creating havoc on the basepaths. I just hope he gets enough playing time so that his development is not stalled.
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