Cole Figueroa Has Deep Baseball Roots

WEBN Staff Photo

Cole Figueroa’s time with the Tampa Bay Rays will probably be short. As a non-roster invitee, this is the way it goes during spring training. But Cole Figueroa is making the best of it.

“I know it’s going to be a long shot for me to make the team at all. So I just want to have fun, meet some new guys and soak it all in.”

And Figueroa has done just that. As a result, he’s been given a lot of opportunities.

He told WEBN Boston today in Bradenton, Florida that “It’s been great. I’ve actually gotten to get into a bunch of games very early which is awesome.”

While Figueroa’s relationship with members of the Rays continues to develop, his relationship with the game of baseball is a very long one. Figueroa’s father is Bien Figueroa who is a former St. Louis Cardinals and Minor League Coach for the San Francisco Giants farm system.

“I think just growing up and having that atmosphere on what that daily work ethic is, and I think that helped.”

Figueroa’s father is not the only tie he has to baseball. Luis Alicea, a former first base coach for the 2007 World Series Boston Red Sox team, and Lowell Spinners manager, is Cole’s godfather.

“We talk, you know, once every few months, sometimes more. He’s definitely helped me get into this, he had a lot of connections.”

So far this spring training, Figueroa has 6 hits in 13 at bats. After spring training ends he’s expected to return back to the Durham Bulls, the Rays’ AAA ball club.

You can follow Figueroa on Twitter. His handle is @Cole_Figueroa.