BASEBALL: Team retires Figueroa's jersey
by Ian Cutler
Sports Editor
Sports | 10/13/09
Posted online at 4:25 AM EST on 10/13/09
Over the last month of the season, he led the team in innings pitched and strikeouts.
His best start, though, came on the last day of the season when he threw a complete-game shutout at home against Houston, becoming the first Mets pitcher to do so at the team's new stadium, Citi Field. Figueroa was proud that this accomplishment would always have the Brandeis name tagged to it, especially considering the long road he traveled to get to this point from such a small program.
In his remarks at the ceremony, Figueroa discussed the tremendous changes in his career over the past few years. "[I look] at my career where I was in 2005, missing a year of baseball and [when] people didn't know who I was and having to go to open tryouts and being asked, 'Where'd you go to college? Brandeis University? They don't have baseball there,'" he said. "But now they know after my last start of the season to be able to put my name down in history as … the first player to pitch a shutout at Citi Field. They'll know that Brandeis does have baseball and one of the best programs in the Northeast, hands down."
Coach Pete Varney, who has managed the program for 28 seasons, spoke highly of Figueroa.
"It's a great day," Varney told the Justice. "This doesn't mark the end of his career by any extent of the imagination. He was a great kid while he was playing and is even a better person now. We're obviously very proud of what he's accomplished being in the big leagues, but I think you don't have to remind anyone that it's great that he's a great person, so it's easy to be supportive of him."
Figueroa said in his remarks that he saw himself as an everyday player in college. Varney, a Major Leaguer himself, steered him on the right path and told Figueroa he had a future in pitching.
"[Varney] had a feeling I could do something special as a pitcher, and I'm glad that I took his advice, and here we are," Figueroa said. "Fifteen years after being drafted, and I feel like I'm pitching the best ball of my life."
His best start, though, came on the last day of the season when he threw a complete-game shutout at home against Houston, becoming the first Mets pitcher to do so at the team's new stadium, Citi Field. Figueroa was proud that this accomplishment would always have the Brandeis name tagged to it, especially considering the long road he traveled to get to this point from such a small program.
In his remarks at the ceremony, Figueroa discussed the tremendous changes in his career over the past few years. "[I look] at my career where I was in 2005, missing a year of baseball and [when] people didn't know who I was and having to go to open tryouts and being asked, 'Where'd you go to college? Brandeis University? They don't have baseball there,'" he said. "But now they know after my last start of the season to be able to put my name down in history as … the first player to pitch a shutout at Citi Field. They'll know that Brandeis does have baseball and one of the best programs in the Northeast, hands down."
Coach Pete Varney, who has managed the program for 28 seasons, spoke highly of Figueroa.
"It's a great day," Varney told the Justice. "This doesn't mark the end of his career by any extent of the imagination. He was a great kid while he was playing and is even a better person now. We're obviously very proud of what he's accomplished being in the big leagues, but I think you don't have to remind anyone that it's great that he's a great person, so it's easy to be supportive of him."
Figueroa said in his remarks that he saw himself as an everyday player in college. Varney, a Major Leaguer himself, steered him on the right path and told Figueroa he had a future in pitching.
"[Varney] had a feeling I could do something special as a pitcher, and I'm glad that I took his advice, and here we are," Figueroa said. "Fifteen years after being drafted, and I feel like I'm pitching the best ball of my life."
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Michelle
posted 11/05/09 @ 3:36 AM EST
I'm so glad... Good For you FIGGY!!! BTW, is there anyway we can have that picture of him wiuth the jersey on the article in a bigger size? He lookeeed SO NIIIICE. (Continued…)
mgcastillo21
Michelle
posted 11/05/09 @ 3:40 AM EST
I'm so glad for him. GO FIGGY!!!! BtW Is there anyway we can see that picture on the article bigger? He looooked so nice that day, I'll like to keep the picture. (Continued…)
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