No Braves homecoming for Rafael Furcal

Atlanta Braves

No Braves homecoming for Rafael Furcal

Rafael Furcal reach a contract agreement with the Dodgers -- two days after the Braves said they had an agreement with the shortstop.

Rafael Furcal was a fan favorite when he played for the Braves from 2000-2005 but the shortstop reached a contract agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday.

Furcal was named the National League's Rookie of the Year in 2000. He hit .295 with 40 steals (fifth best in the NL) and 87 runs scored. He hit four home runs that season, including this one, his first at Turner Field on Sept. 19, 2000, against Mets' pitcher Rick White.

Furcal is a bunting specialist, especially so in his early days when he frequently bunted his way on base.

Furcal has 259 career stolen bases, including 189 with the Braves. His two best seasons were his first and final years in Atlanta, when he stole 40 and 46 bases respectively.

Furcal had great range at shortstop during his years here. His best season in the field was 2005, when he made only 15 errors in 152 games with a fielding percentage of .981.

Furcal's power numbers increased over the years, and he hit 57 home runs in six seasons with Atlanta. His most dramatic one occurred on Oct. 7, 2004, when his two-run walk-off homer beat the Astros in Game 2 of the NLDS at Turner Field.

Furcal has been named to the All-Star Game only once, 2003. He went 1-for-3 with a run scored in the game.

The low point of Furcal's tenure occurred in 2004 when he was arrested for DUI, his second such charge in four years. He issued a public apology, and was later sentenced to 21 days in jail and community service. He reported to Cobb County's jail the day after the Braves were eliminated from the 2004 postseason.

After spending his entire career with Atlanta, Furcal switched to Dodger blue in 2006 after signing a free-agent contract. The Braves, looking to cut costs, could not match L.A.'s three-year, $39 million offer.

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Rafael Furcal was a fan favorite when he played for the Braves from 2000-2005 but the shortstop reached a contract agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday.

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No Braves homecoming for Rafael Furcal

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