Rafael Bournigal

Rafael Antonio Bournigal Pelletier

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 165 lb.
• School Cañada College, Florida State University
• Debut September 1, 1992
• Final Game October 3, 1999
• Born May 12, 1966 in Azua, Azua, D.R.

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Biographical Information

Rafael Bournigal was a backup middle infielder, seeing time in seven big league seasons during the 1990s. The official statistics show one career game as an outfielder. It occurred on July 23, 1999 during his tenure with the Seattle Mariners (his final big league season). With the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the 9th inning of a tie ballgame in the Metrodome, M's skipper Lou Piniella sent Bournigal into the game as a defensive replacement in left field for Ozzie Timmons. However Piniella positioned Bournigal as a fifth infielder to maximize the chances of a groundball turning into a force out at home, or possibly even a double play. The plan didn't work as Matt Lawton hit a ball over shortstop into left field to score Jacque Jones (who was pinch running for Ron Coomer), ending the game at 5-4.

His playing career ended in 2000 after 19 games with the Norfolk Tides in the New York Mets system. He went on to become a Latin America scout for the Mets, signing Deolis Guerra, Fernando Martinez, Elvin Ramírez and Alay Soler among others. His son, also named Rafael, followed in his father's footsteps by playing baseball at Florida State University after beginning his collegiate career elsewhere (Senior played for Cañada College prior to his stint at FSU, while Junior played at Belmont University prior to transferring to Florida State).

Bournigal had been on the Dominican team in the 1984 World Junior Championship.