Desmond DeChone "Chone" Figgins (born January 22,
1978 in Leary, Georgia) is a Major League Baseball
utility player for the Los Angeles Angels of
Anaheim. Despite the unusual spelling of his first
name, "Chone" is pronounced as "Shawn."
Figgins is well-renowned as one of the fastest and
top utility players in the major leagues, possessing
the ability to play all positions except catcher and
pitcher, and has yet to play first base.
A fourth-round draft pick by the Colorado Rockies in
the 1997 amateur draft, Figgins attended Brandon
High School in Florida where he was third-team High
School All-American as a senior. He was acquired by
the Angels in a trade in 2001 for Kimera Bartee.
Figgins made his major-league debut in 2002 for the
World Series-winning Angels, used mostly, and
effectively, as a pinch runner. His first full
season in the majors was 2004. His breakout year
came in 2005, when he was moved from nearly the
bottom of the batting order to leadoff hitter, after
original leadoff hitter David Eckstein signed with
the St. Louis Cardinals, and used his speed to steal
a major-league high 62 bases, which also set a new
Angels team record.
Prior to the 2006 season, the Angels signed Figgins
to a 3-year, $10.5-million deal. He had been
eligible for salary arbitration, which could have
been substantial considering his accomplishments the
year before.
Along with third base, Figgins can also play
shortstop, second base, and all three outfield
positions. He is known as being one of the top
utility players in the game of baseball. Although he
was initially considered the most likely starter for
center field in 2006, when the Angels decided to
move Darin Erstad back to that position it opened up
Figgins to be the starter at third base. With Erstad
on the disabled list for much of the season,
however, Figgins saw more time in center field.
On March 21, 2007, in a spring training game against
the Arizona Diamondbacks, Figgins suffered two
broken fingers on his throwing hand while attempting
to field a ground ball hit by Conor Jackson. He
began the season on the disabled list and was
expected to be out for at least five to six weeks.
In June of 2007, Figgins broke the Angels team
record for hits in a month with 53, which breaks the
record set by Darin Erstad in April of 2000. On July
15, 2007, Figgins stole his 187th base as an Angel,
breaking the 20-year-old club record previously held
by Gary Pettis, in attendance that day as a coach
for the visiting Texas Rangers.
Listed generously at 5'7" or 5'8", Figgins is one of
the shortest players in Major League Baseball,
though he is powerfully built and possesses gap
power along with his excellent speed. He is commonly
called "Figgy" by fans and announcers alike.
