Chone Figgins arrived in the California organization via a July 2001 trade with the Colorado Rockies, a move that sent veteran outfielder Kimera Bartee to Denver. While he was drafted as a middle infielder, Figgins’ elite athleticism allowed him to become one of the most versatile weapons in franchise history.
Figgins first demonstrated his ability to impact winning as a high-speed specialist during the 2002 postseason. Called up as a late-season weapon, he appeared in 15 regular-season games before becoming an asset on the basepaths during the Angels' run to their first World Series title. Figgins transitioned to a full-time role in 2004, where he batted .296 and recorded a career-high 17 triples. This breakout served as the lead-in to 2005, where he evolved into the premier base-stealer in the sport, leading the major leagues with 62 stolen bases and finishing in the top 15 of the MVP voting.
In 2009, he demonstrated a specialized ability to manufacture runs by leading the American League with 101 walks and recording a career-high 183 hits. He showed the organization he was a foundational star by earning his lone All-Star selection and finishing tenth in the AL MVP race. Throughout this period, he maintained a reputation for defensive versatility, logging significant time at third base, second base, and all three outfield positions while recording 30 or more stolen bases for six consecutive seasons.
Figgins signed a four-year contract with the Seattle Mariners in 2009, leaving behind 1,045 hits, a franchise-record 280 stolen bases, and the 2002 World Series title.