Cole Figueroa Looking To Make Pirates Roster
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) - You see it in all walks of life, where sons follow their fathers into their chosen profession. For 28-year-old Cole Figueroa, the family business is baseball.
Bien Figueroa was born in the Dominican Republic, played baseball at Florida State, and also played part of one season for the St. Louis Cardinals. Figueroa also managed for five different minor-league teams. "It's just a lot easier as a kid to do what your dad does, because you see what they do and if you enjoy it, it's what you want to do."
From when he was about six years old until 13 he would spend time with his dad in various clubhouses across the country. "It was definitely different back then, everything now is a little more updated," Figueroa said. "What I did gain, is that the guys that tend to last in the longest in the game, I picked up on their work ethic, their mentality, how they approached every game just having an even keel."
The 28-year-old Figueroa signed as a minor-league free agent in December and played 25 games in the majors, including hitting a pair of doubles in his first of two games with the Yankees last year.
Figueroa is trying to catch on as a utility player with the Bucs this year, saying he can play second, third and short and all of the outfield positions. "Every day I come in and I kind of look at the lineup and that's where I practice at that day. It keeps you a little bit on your toes, makes it a little more fun when you have the unknown or not sure what you are doing."
Figueroa was drafted by the Blue Jays in 2006, but stayed in school at the University of Florida and was drafted again the following year and left this time to join the Padres organization. Along with the Padres and Yankees, Figueroa also spent time with Tampa Bay-playing in 23 games with the Rays.
He's trying to find his way in the Pirates clubhouse. "You just have those small conversations here and there and it kind of builds, it's like a snowball effect," Figueroa said. "That's where you can kind of fit in to the team. When you are new you don't want to kind of barge in and be like, 'hey I'm everyone's best friend and I don't really know you'."
