TAMPA RAYS-- SS Figueroa makes major-league debut

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<section class="storytopbar-bucket story-headline-module" id="module-position-NNB6m0npm8s">[h=1]Former Lincoln SS Figueroa makes major-league debut[/h]</section><section class="storytopbar-bucket story-byline-module" id="module-position-NNB6m0nxvRA"> Jim Henry, Tallahassee Democrat 12:54 p.m. EDT May 17, 2014
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Mar 14, 2014; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Cole Figueroa (61) singles during the fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports<meta content="" itemprop="copyrightHolder">(Photo: Kim Klement, Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
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Wednesday's game between the Triple-A Durham Bulls and Charlotte Knights started routinely enough for Cole Figueroa.
Figueroa, the Bulls' starting second baseman, played the top of the first inning on defense for the home team. He had grabbed his bat and was in the on-deck circle with two outs in the bottom of the first when his professional baseball career changed dramatically.
Figueroa was summoned back to the bench and replaced by a pinch-hitter. Uh-oh.
"When that happens, players are usually either traded, moved or promoted, and I was obviously hoping for the latter," Figueroa said and laughed.
It was the latter.
When the first inning ended, Durham manager Charlie Montoyo informed Figueora and announced to the team in the dugout that their versatile middle infielder had been promoted to the big leagues.
Figueroa retreated into the locker room, telephoned his wife and family and began to pack for the cross-country airline flight Thursday to join the Tampa Bay Rays on their west coast trip in California.
The former All-Big Bend Player of the Year at Lincoln High (2006) and University of Florida standout made his major-league debut on Friday night in the Rays' 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels.
Figueroa was inserted as a pinch-hitter in the top of the eighth, popping out to shortstop. He remained in the game at second base the final two innings, cleanly fielding a ground ball off the bat of Angels catcher Hank Conger to end the eighth.
Figueroa's wife Natalie and his mother Cindy, who lives in Alligator Point, were in the stands for the game.
Figueroa, who turns 27 in June and started his seventh minor-league season this year, said his long journey from Tallahassee's youth fields to the major leagues is a dream come true. He also admitted that perseverance helped him along the way in the grueling minor leagues.
"There's been so many times when you second-guess yourself, especially when you have been in the minors five, six years," said Figueroa, who was hitting .299 for Durham this season.
"It's like, 'Okay, is this really something that I need to keep pushing forward, is it realistic?' Those are the kind of thoughts you have to get out of your mind and keep pushing through that wall. I started off kind of good this year, the stars aligned and I got my opportunity."
Figueroa was called up when the Rays placed infielder Ben Zobrist on the disabled list Thursday afternoon with a dislocated thumb.
The timing of that transaction made for a nervous, somewhat chaotic, and a bit awkward day for Figueroa on Thursday.
Figueroa wasn't exactly 100-percent sure that his promotion was official until he landed in California. That's when he received a text from the Rays brass informing him that Zobrist had officially gone on the disabled list.
Earlier last week, Durham pitcher Enny Romero headed to Seattle to join the Rays, only to be re-routed back to Durham, N.C. once he landed in Detroit for a layover.
Figueroa, who resides in Tampa, obviously made a lasting impression on Rays manager Joe Maddon after playing well during his second spring training with the club last March.
"I think Cole Figueroa is a really good baseball player," Maddon told MLB.com
"I sent him out this year (during spring training) and again I told him, and I meant it, that 'You're a big league baseball player.' I like his tools. I like his abilities a lot. He's a bright player. A smart baseball player. He was going to make the Major Leagues at some point. It just happened a little bit sooner based on the situation."
Figueroa, of course, hails from a baseball family.
His father, Bien Figueroa, played at Florida State (1985-86) and professionally; he also has coached on the professional level. Twin brother Correy, a former teammate at Lincoln and college player at the University of Tampa, recently returned to Tallahassee. Younger brother Cyle, a former catcher at Lincoln, played junior-college baseball and works locally with the Powermill Sports Facility.
Cindy Figueroa admitted it was emotional to watch her son enter Friday night's game.
"I can say it was truly exciting to see Cole step out as an official (major league) player, and grateful I was in a position to be able to make the trip," she said.
Cole doesn't know how long his stint inn the big leagues will last, but he plans to make the most of his opportunities.
"They (Rays) would always tell me how much they enjoyed watching me play and they kept telling me to keep pushing, don't get discouraged," Figueroa said.
"They didn't want me to give up on that dream. The big part now is not to just say I've made it, but to show them what I can do and try to stay up here as long as I can."
Figueroa Facts
Age: 26
Tidbits: Selected by the San Diego Padres in the sixth round (2008) out of the University of Florida. Traded to the Tampa Bay Rays on Dec. 17, 2010. Career .291 hitter in 636 minor-league games over seven seasons. Selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the ninth round (2006) out of Lincoln High. Was named All-Big Bend Player of the Year and hit .560 his senior season at Lincoln.
 

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