Mike Fontenot

Michael Eugene Fontenot JR. (born June 9, 1980) is an American former professional baseball infielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, and Philadelphia Phillies.

He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.

Fontenot was commonly used at second base, shortstop, or third base during his career.

Michael Eugene Fontenot JR., was born on June 9, 1980, in Slidell, Louisiana, where he grew up.

He was the oldest of four children of Mike Sr. and Lisa Lauren Fontenot.

Two of his younger siblings, Christopher and Seth, are brothers, and the third is his younger sister, Jennifer.

According to Fontenot, his father was the person who most influenced him as an athlete.

Fontenot was a standout for Salmen High School in Slidell, Louisiana, lettering in baseball in each of his four years there.

He made the 1st All-State Team each of those years, as well as the All-Metro team.

In his freshman year (1996), he batted .445 as Salmen won the state championship.

As a senior, he batted .556, recording 38 runs scored, 13 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, 42 runs batted in (RBIs), and 18 stolen bases.

For his efforts, he was named the most valuable player (MVP) of the St. Tammany Parish, the district, and the All-Metro region.

His four-year totals with Salmen included a .535 batting average, 139 runs scored, 35 doubles, 11 triples, 30 home runs, 128 RBIs, and 57 stolen bases.

In addition to baseball, Fontenot played football, lettering twice.

He was used on the gridiron as a return specialist, defensive back, and wide receiver.

At the time, the 17 home runs were the most by an LSU freshman, breaking Blair Barbier's 1997 record of 15.

For his contributions, Fontenot was named the National Freshman of the Year by the Southeastern Conference; The Sporting News; and Collegiate Baseball, which declared him a co-winner.

Baseball America named him a First-Team Freshman All-American.

Fontenot was a part of the NCAA team that played well enough during the season to advance to the Baton Rouge Regional.

He batted .400 with five runs scored, two doubles, one home run, and five RBIs, earning all-tournament team honors as one of the best ballplayers in the regional.

After his senior year, Fontenot was drafted in the 21st round (625th overall) of the 1999 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, but chose to attend Louisiana State University (LSU) on a baseball scholarship instead of going professional.

As a freshman at LSU, Fontenot was the everyday second baseman for the Tigers.

He batted .353 with 93 runs scored, 103 hits, 13 doubles, three triples, 17 home runs, 64 RBIs, and eight stolen bases.

He attended Louisiana State University (LSU) and was a member of the LSU Tigers team that won the 2000 College World Series.

Along with future Chicago Cubs teammate Ryan Theriot, Fontenot was a member of the LSU Tigers baseball team that won the 2000 College World Series.

In the NCAA Baseball Tournament, Fontenot recorded a team-high batting average of .432 with four doubles, two home runs, and nine RBIs.

LSU advanced to the College World Series, and Fontenot again led the team in average (.462), also recording two doubles, one home run, two RBIs, and six runs scored as the Tigers won the championship.

For his efforts, Fontenot was selected to the College World Series all-tournament team.

After two years of college baseball, he was a first round draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles in 2002.

Named the organization's Minor League Player of the Year in 2003, Fontenot never played in the major leagues for Baltimore, as he was included in a 2005 trade with the Cubs that sent Sammy Sosa to Baltimore.

Fontenot debuted briefly with the Cubs in 2005, but it was not until 2007 that he reached the major leagues full time.

He batted .305 while primarily used as a bench player in 2008 and began 2009 as the Cubs' starting second baseman.

However, Fontenot lost the role after batting only .230 through August 7.

He won a World Series with the Giants in 2010.

Fontenot grew up in Louisiana.

He was traded to the Giants in 2010, becoming part of the team's first World Series victory since 1954.

In 2011, Fontenot was receiving starting time in May due to an injury to Pablo Sandoval, but he missed a few weeks himself with a left groin injury.

He was released by the Giants before the 2012 season but was signed by the Phillies.

Joining the team in May, he batted .289 in 47 games before getting released in August.

He spent 2013 and 2014 with the Durham Bulls, the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.