William Dexter Fowler was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and attended Milton High School in Milton, Georgia. At Milton, Fowler hit .457 with 14 home runs in 105 at-bats.[citation needed] Fowler rejected offers from Harvard and the University of Miami in order to play Major League Baseball, after having originally committed to Miami.[1] Before signing with the Rockies, Fowler was exclusively a right-handed hitter.[2][3]
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.[4] 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.[5]
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-inning 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.[6] 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.[7]
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.[8]
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.[9]
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.[10]
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 RBIs, 73 runs scored, and 114 total base hits.
In 2011, Fowler was third in the National League in triples, hitting 15 that season. In 481 at-bats on the year, he hit five home runs, 45 RBIs, 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 RBIs, 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.[citation needed]
Houston Astros (2014)
Fowler with the 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.[11] The Rockies eventually sent cash to the Astros to complete the deal instead of the player to be named later.[12] He hit .276 in 116 games for the Astros during the 2014 season.[13]
Chicago Cubs (2015–2016)
Fowler in 2016
On January 19, 2015, Fowler was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Luis Valbuena and Dan Straily.[14] He ended the 2015 season with a .250 average, 102 runs scored, 46 RBIs, 17 home runs, and 20 stolen bases.[15] 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, one home run, and a stolen base.[16]
With the Cubs finishing the 2015 season with a 97–65 record, the team entered the postseason for the first time in seven years. In nine postseason games, Fowler batted .396 with two home runs and three RBIs. 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,[17] despite reportedly agreeing to a three-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles earlier that week.[18] 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 blindsided 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.[19]
Fowler earned his first career MLB ejection for arguing a strike three call by umpire Vic Carapazza on May 5, 2016.[20] Fowler was selected to his first All-Star Game in 2016 representing the Cubs along with six other teammates.
Fowler finished the year batting with a .276 average hitting 13 home runs and 48 RBIs and 84 runs scored. He swung at only 19.4% of pitches outside the strike zone (the lowest percentage in the majors).[21]
On October 25, 2016, Dexter Fowler along with teammates Jason Heyward, Addison Russell, and Carl Edwards Jr. became the first African-Americans to play for the Cubs in a World Series game. Additionally, Fowler was the first African-American to appear and to bat for the Cubs in a World Series. Fowler is the first African-American to start for the Cubs in a World Series.[22][23][24][lower-alpha 1]
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.[25] The Cubs won the game 8–7 in 10 innings, giving the team their first championship in 108 years.[26] On November 5, Fowler declined his mutual option for the 2017 season and became a free agent.[27]
St. Louis Cardinals (2017–2020)
Dexter Fowler with the St. Louis Cardinals
On December 9, 2016, Fowler and the St. Louis Cardinals agreed to a five-year, $82.5 million deal.[28] He hit his first home run and RBI as a Cardinal against Pittsburgh PiratespitcherGerrit Cole on April 19, 2017. Fowler finished his first season in St. Louis with a .264 batting average, 18 home runs, and 64 RBIs in 118 games.[29]
Prior to the 2018 season, he agreed to shift positions to become the Cardinals' starting right fielder; the Cardinals moved Tommy Pham to center and had acquired Marcell Ozuna in the offseason.[30] Fowler hit his first ever walk-off home run on May 6, 2018, in the bottom of the 14th inning against his former team, the Chicago Cubs. His two-run home run helped lead the Cardinals to a 4–3 victory.[31] On August 21, 2018, Fowler was placed on the 60-day disabled list,[32] ending a disappointing 2018 season in which he slashed .180/.278/.298 with eight home runs and 31 RBIs in 90 games.[33]
Fowler returned healthy in 2019 as St. Louis' starting right fielder. Over 150 games during the regular season, he slashed .238/.346/.409 with 19 home runs and 67 RBIs.
In 2020 he batted .233/.317/.389 with 28 strikeouts in 90 at bats.[34]
In an April 9 game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Fowler was carted off of the field after suffering an apparent knee injury after awkwardly sliding into second base. It was later revealed that Fowler had suffered a torn left ACL and would undergo season-ending surgery.[36] On April 13, Fowler was placed on the 60-day injured list.[37]
Toronto Blue Jays
On March 31, 2022, Fowler signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.[38] Fowler appeared in 3 games for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, going 5-for-12 with 3 RBI. On May 3, Fowler requested and was granted his release by the Blue Jays.[39]
On January 31, 2023, Fowler announced his retirement from professional baseball.[40]
Personal life
Fowler is married to Aliya Fowler and together they have two daughters. They live in Las Vegas during the offseason.[41] Fowler is a Christian.[42] Fowler is good friends with former teammate Chris Nelson, who is also from Georgia.[2]
↑ Jackie Robinson's rookie season was 1947, which was two years after the Chicago Cubs' appearance in the 1945 World Series. In 1953, Ernie Banks, known as Mr. Cub, became the first African-American on the Cubs roster.
Related Research Articles
Tommie Lee Agee was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a center fielder from 1962 through 1973, most notably as a member of the New York Mets team that became known as the Miracle Mets when, they rose from being perennial losers to defeat the favored Baltimore Orioles in the 1969 World Series for one of the most improbable upsets in World Series history. Agee performed two impressive defensive plays in center field to help preserve a Mets victory in the third game of the series.
Matthew Thomas Holliday is an American former professional baseball left fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2004 to 2018 for the Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals, and New York Yankees. A World Series champion in 2011 with the Cardinals, Holliday played a key role in seven postseasons, including the Rockies' first-ever World Series appearance in 2007 and Cardinals' playoff success in the 2010s. His distinctions include a National League (NL) batting championship, the 2007 NL Championship Series Most Valuable Player Award, seven All-Star selections, and four Silver Slugger Awards. Other career accomplishments include 300 home runs, more than 2,000 hits, and batting over .300 eight times.
Michael Eugene Fontenot Jr. is an American former professional baseball infielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, and Philadelphia Phillies. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. Fontenot was commonly used at second base, shortstop, or third base during his career. He won a World Series with the Giants in 2010.
Scott Alanboyd Moore is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros. He played with the St. Louis Cardinals organization until his release in May 2015.
Mark Andrew Reynolds is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Nationals, and two stints with the Colorado Rockies. A right-hander both when batting and throwing, Reynolds was known for his frequent and long home runs, high strikeout totals, and defensive versatility, having been primarily a third baseman before transitioning to first base while playing for the Orioles.
Carlos Eduardo González, nicknamed "CarGo", is a Venezuelan former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a outfielder from 2008 to 2019, most prominently as a member of the Colorado Rockies where, he was a three-time All-Star player and the 2010 National League (NL) batting champion. González also won three Gold Glove Awards and a two Silver Slugger Awards during his tenure with the Rockies.
Kenneth George Boswell is a former Major League Baseball second baseman.
Daniel William Descalso is an American professional baseball coach and former infielder who is the bench coach for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals, Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Chicago Cubs from 2010 to 2019.
The following are the baseball events of the year 2010 throughout the world.
Ryan Edward Flaherty is an American professional baseball coach and former infielder. He is the current bench coach for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves, and the Cleveland Indians. Flaherty was a utility player, having played every position except for center field and catcher. Flaherty was the bench coach for the San Diego Padres from 2020 to 2023.
Jonathan Rafael Villar Roque is a Dominican professional baseball second baseman for the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League. He has previously played in MLB for the Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Orioles, Miami Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Angels. Prior to 2017, Villar was primarily a shortstop.
The following are the baseball events of the year 2015 throughout the world.
The 2015 Chicago Cubs season was the 144th season for the franchise, the 140th in the National League and the 100th at Wrigley Field. The Cubs were managed by Joe Maddon in his first year as Cubs manager and played their home games at Wrigley Field as members of the National League Central.
Joseph Anthony "Trey" Mancini III is an American professional baseball first baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, and Chicago Cubs. His nickname "Boomer", originally "Boom Boom" after Ray Mancini, morphed into its current form when he enrolled at the University of Notre Dame. The Orioles selected Mancini in the eighth round of the 2013 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2016 with the Orioles.
The following are the baseball events of the year 2016 throughout the world.
The 2016 Chicago Cubs season was the 145th season of the Chicago Cubs franchise, the 141st in the National League and the Cubs' 101st season at Wrigley Field. The Cubs were managed by Joe Maddon in his second year as Cubs manager, and played their home games at Wrigley Field as members of the National League Central.
Patrick Ryne Valaika is an American professional baseball infielder who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies and Baltimore Orioles.
The 2017 St. Louis Cardinals season was the 136th for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB), a franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the 126th season for the Cardinals in the National League (NL), and their 12th at Busch Stadium III. The Cardinals missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season, having last done that between the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
The following are the baseball events of the year 2018 throughout the world.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
