ESPN.com: Rich Amaral Career Notes

Rich Amaral
#67 | Center Field | Atlanta Braves | Roster

Career Notes

1996
Played in a career-high 118 games, starting 81 ... Played games at first base, second base, third base and all three outfield positions ... Finished the season with no errors at any position ... Stole a career-high 25 bases, tying for 8th-most in the American League last season ... Hit .315 (81-for-257) after May 4 ... Had athroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Oct. 2.

1995
Platooned in center field (with Alex Diaz) following injury to Ken Griffey Jr. on May 26 ... Started 25 games in center while Griffey was out and hit .286 (30-105) with two doubles, nine RBI and seven stolen bases ... Team was 13-12 when he started in center ... Stole 11 consecutive bases before being caught for the first time on June 22 at Chicago ... Had 12-game hitting streak from July 17-Aug. 1 (16-47/.340) ... His .913 (21-2) SB percentage was the best in the American league (minimum 20 steals) ... Is the first Mariner to steal 20 or more since Henry Cotto swiped 23 in 1992.

1994
Opened the season in Ruthian style, belting two homers in a span of 12 April at-bats, equalling his career total of two in his first 521 at-bats ... Stayed hot in April, posting a .318 average with two homers and eight RBI's in 21 games ... Connected for a pinch-hit homer in the ninth inning of the M's 5-3 loss at Milwaukee May 28 ... Went 4-for-6 with two doubles and a triple in the Mariners' 12-0 win at Minnesota on May 30 ... Fielding miscues (15 errors in first 54 games) earned him a demotion to Calgary July 7 ... Posted solid stats during his stint with Calgary, hitting .321 with 12 RBI's in 13 games ... Was recalled July 26, and he saw action in 11 more contests with Seattle before the premature end to the campaign ... Was a true definition of the term 'utility player', as he saw action at first base, second base, shortstop, left field, center field and as the club's designated hitter.

1993
The 31-year-old rookie infielder was a pleasant surprise, providing the Mariners with solid defense and an effective bat ... Hit .372 (55-148) against left-handed pitching, the highest average in the AL ... Led Seattle with 19 stolen bases, the second-highest total ever posted by a Mariners rookie (Phil Bradley had 21 in 1984) ... Went 5-for-5 on May 17 at Texas, establishing a personal high and equalling the team record for hits in one game ... Ranked among AL hitting leaders as late as June 1 (ninth, .322) ... Hit .337 (28-82) with runners in scoring position ... Playing time decreased after he suffered a strained right hamstring in early August that put him on the disabled list until Aug. 16 ... Was the oldest rookie in the major leagues.

1992
Had two stints with the Mariners, April 13-May 11 and Sept. 8 through the end of the season ... Batted .345 (10-29) with Seattle in April ... Hit his first major league home run April 26 off California's Mark Langston ... Started the final 12 games of the year, 11 at third base and one in left field.

1991
Earned his first major league action in the midst of an outstanding season at Calgary (AAA), during which he led the Pacific Coast League in batting (.346) ... Made his major-league debut as Seattle's starting shortstop on May 27 vs. Kansas City, but played in only two games before going on the DL with torn ligaments in his left elbow ... Was recalled to Seattle in September and collected his first major-league hit in the second game of a doubleheader Sept. 30 at Texas, off Brian Bohanon.

1990
Granted free agency by the Chicago White Sox on Oct. 15, 1990 ... Signed by the Seattle Mariners as a free agent to a minor-league contract on Nov. 25, 1990.


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