Rafael Bournigal

Rafael Bournigal
Bournigal with Florida State in 1987
Shortstop
Born: (1966-05-12) May 12, 1966
Azua, Dominican Republic
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 1, 1992, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Last MLB appearance
October 3, 1999, for the Seattle Mariners
MLB statistics
Batting average.251
Home runs4
Runs batted in85
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams

Rafael Antonio Bournigal Pelletier (born May 12, 1966) is a Dominican former professional baseball infielder. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the 19th round of the 1987 draft, and played for the Dodgers (1992–1994), Oakland Athletics (1996–1998), and Seattle Mariners (1999).[1] He played college baseball for the Florida State University Seminoles.[2]

Playing career

The Dodgers drafted Bournigal in the 19th round of the 1987 MLB draft. In 1992, Bournigal won the MVP award and the Jack Perconte Award for his inspirational play with the Triple-A Albuquerque Dukes.[3] Bournigal debuted with the Dodgers that year and was a September call-up in both 1992 and 1993, blocked by shortstop José Offerman.[4] Bournigal was a victim of the hidden ball trick on June 28, 1994, when San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Williams told Bournigal to step off the base so it could be cleaned.[5][6]

The Dodgers traded Bournigal to the Montreal Expos in June 1995 for pitcher Kris Foster, but Bournigal did not play in the majors that year. He fractured his thumb later that month, missing several weeks of the season.[3] His best years were with Oakland. In his three seasons with the A's, he started about 36% of their games (173 out of 486), batted .249, and made eight errors.[1]

Oakland released Bournigal after the 1998 season. After signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates then the Texas Rangers ahead of the 1999 season, the Mariners purchased his contract in April.[1][7]

In 365 MLB games, Bournigal hit .251 with four home runs, 85 RBI, 104 runs scored, and an on-base percentage of .301. Defensively, his fielding percentage was .988.[1]

Career highlights

  • One four-hit game: two singles, a double, and a home run against the Mariners on June 25, 1997.
  • Eleven three-hit games, including a single, two doubles, three RBI, and three runs scored against the Detroit Tigers on April 29, 1999, his second game with the Mariners.[8][9]

Personal life

As a child, Bournigal contracted tetanus after an infection resulting from sliding into second base on a dirt field.[10]

Bournigal's late father, George, was a sports broadcaster in the Dominican Republic.[10]

Bournigal's son, also named Rafael, also played baseball for the Florida State Seminoles as well as Belmont University.[2] Bournigal also has a daughter.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Rafael Bournigal Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Rafael Bournigal - 2018 - Baseball". Florida State University. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Oakland A's 1998 Media Guide. 1998. pp. 34, 35.
  4. ↑ Hudson, Maryann (September 13, 1993). "Bournigal Sharp in Start at Short". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  5. ↑ Turbow, Jason (May 21, 2019). "Hidden Ball Trick". The Baseball Codes. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  6. ↑ Zumsteg, Derek (2007). The cheater's guide to baseball. Houghton Mifflin Company. pp. 66, 67. ISBN 978-0-618-55113-2.
  7. ↑ "Bournigal Contract Sold to Seattle". The Oklahoman. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Top Performances for Rafael Bournigal". Retrosheet. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Rafael Bournigal 1999 Batting Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  10. 1 2 Kettmann, Steve (June 10, 1997). "Bournigal Helped Make A Name for His Father". San Francisco Chronicle.
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