Rich Aurilia

Aurilia with the Giants in July 2007

Shortstop

Born: September 2, 1971 (age 45)
Brooklyn, New York

Batted: Right

Threw: Right

MLB debut

September 6, 1995, for the San Francisco Giants

Last MLB appearance

October 4, 2009, for the San Francisco Giants

MLB statistics

Batting average

.275

Home runs

186

Runs batted in

756

Teams

Career highlights and awards

All-Star (2001)
Silver Slugger Award (2001)

Richard Santo Aurilia (/əˈriːljə/; born September 2, 1971) is a former Major League Baseball player, mainly as a shortstop. The 24th round pick of the Texas Rangers in the 1992 Major League Baseball draft, Aurilia played in the Rangers minor league system before being traded with first baseman Desi Wilson to the San Francisco Giants for pitcher John Burkett in 1994.

Aurilia was born in Brooklyn, New York. Before being drafted by Texas, Aurilia was a standout at St. John's University, where he represented the Red Storm as an All-Big East selection in 1992.

Aurilia is also a graduate of Xaverian High School in Brooklyn, New York. He was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame, and his number 22 was retired by local baseball league, Our Lady of Grace.

Aurilia made his Major League debut on September 6, 1995 as a defensive replacement in a game against the Montréal Expos. This would begin his long, solid run as the Giants shortstop. On June 14, 1997, during his first stint with the Giants, Aurilia hit the first-ever grand slam in interleague play at the expense of the Anaheim Angels' Allen Watson, a former teammate. The Giants went on to win the game 10–3. 2001 would prove to be a banner year for Aurilia as he collected a National League best 206 hits, all leading to a .324 batting average with 37 home runs, 97 RBI, an NL All-Star nod, and a Silver Slugger Award. However, his career best 37 home run year in 2001 was overshadowed by Barry Bonds' record breaking 73 home runs in the same season.

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Wikipedia