Dexter Fowler

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dexter_Fowler

William Dexter Fowler (born March 22, 1986) is an American professional baseball center fielder who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, and Chicago Cubs. He represented the United States in the 2008 Summer Olympics as a member of the United States national baseball team.

Amateur career

Fowler was born in Atlanta, and attended Milton High School in Alpharetta, Georgia. At Milton, Fowler hit .457 with 14 home runs in 105 at-bats. Fowler rejected offers from Harvard and the University of Miami in order to play major league baseball, after having originally committed to Miami. Before signing with the Rockies, Fowler was exclusively a right-handed hitter.

International career

As a minor leaguer during the 2008 season, Fowler was selected 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.

Professional career

Colorado Rockies

Fowler was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 14th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft. In 2008, 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 runs, 61 runs batted in (RBIs) and 20 stolen bases for the Rockies' Double-A Texas League affiliate, the Tulsa Drillers prior to playing for Team USA in the 2008 Olympics. Fowler was called up to the Major Leagues for the first time on September 2, 2008. 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 flied 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 bats on the year, he had six home runs, 36 RBI, 73 runs scored, and 114 total base hits.

In 2011, Fowler was 3rd in the National League in triples, hitting 15 that season. In 481 at bats on the year, he hit five home runs, 45 RBI, 84 runs scored, and 128 total base hits.

The 2012 season saw Fowler's batting stats increase to career highs. He hit 13 home runs, 53 RBI, and a batting average of .300 in 454 at bats.

However, much of his success came while hitting at home, Coors Field. His home OPS was .880, but only .694 on the road.

Houston Astros

On December 3, 2013, Fowler was traded, along with a player to be named later to the Houston Astros for outfielder Brandon Barnes and pitcher Jordan Lyles. The Rockies eventually sent cash to the Astros to complete the deal instead of the player to be named later. He hit .276 in 116 games for the Astros during the 2014 season.

Chicago Cubs

On January 19, 2015, Fowler was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Luis Valbuena and Dan Straily. He ended the 2015 season with a .250 average with 102 runs scored, 46 RBIs, 17 HRs, and 20 stolen bases. In the 2015 National League wild card game, Fowler helped the Cubs to a 4-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates with three hits, three runs scored, one RBI, and a stolen base.

With the Cubs finishing the 2015 season with a 97-65 record, the team entered the postseason for the first time after 7 years. In 9 postseason games, Fowler batted .396 with 2 home runs and 3 RBI. In game 4 of the 2015 NLCS against the New York Mets, he was the final batter to strike out looking as the Cubs were eliminated from the postseason.

Fowler signed a one-year contract with the Cubs that included a mutual option for the 2017 season on February 25, 2016, despite reportedly agreeing to a three-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles earlier that week. The Orioles claimed that Fowler's insistence on an opt-out clause after one year was the holdup on the deal and that they were blind sided when he signed with the Cubs. Fowler on the other hand insisted he never had agreed to a deal with the Orioles and he and his agent blamed the team and the media for leaking incorrect information.

Fowler earned his first career MLB ejection for arguing a strike three call by umpire Vic Carapazza on May 5, 2016.

On October 25, 2016, Dexter Fowler along with teammates Jason Heyward, and Carl Edwards Jr. became the first African-Americans to play for the Cubs in a World Series game. Additionally, Fowler is the first African-American to appear and to bat for the Cubs in a World Series. Both Fowler and Russell are the first African-Americans to start for the Cubs in a World Series.

Fowler led off Game 7 of the World Series with a home run, becoming the first player in history to lead off a World Series Game 7 with a home run. The Cubs won the game 8–7 in 10 innings, giving the team their first championship in 108 years. On November 5, Fowler declined his mutual option for the 2017 season and became a free agent.

Personal life

Fowler is married to Aliya Fowler and has a daughter, Naya. Fowler is a Christian. Fowler is good friends with former teammate Chris Nelson, who is also from Georgia.