1. Early life and amateur career
Rich Aurilia's baseball journey began in his hometown, where he developed his skills before rising through the collegiate ranks and eventually turning professional.
1.1. Childhood and education
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Aurilia grew up as a fan of the New York Mets. He attended Xaverian High School in Brooklyn. His early dedication to the sport was recognized when his number 22 was retired by his local baseball league, Our Lady of Grace, where he played as a youngster in Gravesend, Brooklyn, New York. He was later inducted into Xaverian High School's Hall of Fame.
1.2. Collegiate and pre-draft career
Before being drafted into professional baseball, Aurilia was a standout collegiate player at St. John's University, representing the Red Storm. His performance earned him an All-Big East selection in 1992. In 1991, he further honed his skills by playing collegiate summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Hyannis Mets.
2. Professional career
Aurilia's professional career spanned 15 seasons in Major League Baseball, during which he played for four different teams, with two distinct stints with the San Francisco Giants.
2.1. Texas Rangers (1992-1994)
Rich Aurilia was selected by the Texas Rangers as the 24th pick in the 1992 Major League Baseball draft. He spent his initial professional years playing within the Rangers' minor league system. During the 1993-94 baseball offseason, Aurilia supplemented his income by working as a stagehand at the Metropolitan Opera House. His tenure with the Rangers organization concluded on December 22, 1994, when he was traded to the San Francisco Giants along with Desi Wilson in exchange for pitcher John Burkett.
2.2. San Francisco Giants (1995-2003)
Aurilia made his Major League debut with the San Francisco Giants on September 6, 1995, entering a game against the Montréal Expos as a defensive replacement. This marked the beginning of his impactful nine-year run as the Giants' primary shortstop. A notable early achievement occurred on June 14, 1997, when he hit the first-ever grand slam in interleague play off Allen Watson of the Anaheim Angels, a former teammate. The Giants won that game 10-3.
The year 2001 proved to be a career-defining season for Aurilia. He led the National League with 206 hits, achieving a batting average of .324, alongside 37 home runs and 97 RBI. This outstanding performance earned him a selection to the National League All-Star team and a prestigious Silver Slugger Award. Despite his personal best of 37 home runs, his offensive feats in 2001 were somewhat overshadowed by his teammate Barry Bonds' record-breaking 73 home runs in the same season. Aurilia consistently demonstrated power from the shortstop position, leading all NL shortstops in home runs from 1999 to 2001.
Although his offensive production saw a slight dip in 2002, Aurilia delivered a stellar performance during San Francisco's deep postseason run that year, which culminated in a World Series appearance. In 14 postseason games, he batted an impressive .296, hitting 5 home runs and driving in 14 RBI, setting a new National League record for a shortstop in the postseason. He was also nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award, recognizing his character, community involvement, and contributions to the game.
2.3. Seattle Mariners (2004)
Following a period of offensive stagnation in 2003, the Giants ended their nine-year relationship with Aurilia, granting him free agency on October 27. Shortly thereafter, Aurilia signed with the Seattle Mariners to bolster their infield. However, the adjustment to American League pitching proved challenging for Aurilia, who had spent his entire career in the National League. This period marked a significant struggle in his career.
2.4. San Diego Padres (2004)
Due to his difficulties adapting to the American League, Aurilia was traded to the San Diego Padres in July 2004. His offensive struggles continued with the Padres, particularly in the spacious confines of Petco Park. At the end of the 2004 season, he was not offered a contract for the following year, making 2004 collectively his most challenging season in the majors.
2.5. Cincinnati Reds (2005-2006)
In need of an experienced infielder, the Cincinnati Reds signed Rich Aurilia to a minor league contract on January 22, 2005. This move proved beneficial for both Aurilia and the team, as he experienced a career revival. He showcased his versatility by playing effectively at shortstop, second base, and third base. In 2005, he collected 14 home runs and 68 RBI. Recognizing his valuable contributions, the Reds re-signed him on January 8, 2006.
During the 2006 season, Aurilia solidified his role as an everyday player for the Reds, rotating between shortstop, second base, first base, and third base. He concluded the year with impressive statistics, hitting 23 home runs, driving in 70 RBI, and achieving a .300 batting average. These numbers were his highest in all three categories since his stellar 2001 season, demonstrating a significant resurgence in his offensive production.
2.6. San Francisco Giants (2007-2009)
Following his successful tenure with the Cincinnati Reds, Aurilia signed a two-year, 8.00 M USD contract to return to his former team, the San Francisco Giants, during the 2006 offseason. In the 2007 season, he appeared in 99 games, primarily playing first base, with 81 starts. He often shared duties in a platoon system with Ryan Klesko. Aurilia was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a persistent neck injury that limited his range of movement and caused headaches. At the time of his injury, he was batting .236 with two home runs. He returned to the Giants' lineup on July 4, celebrating his return with a home run in a 9-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. He concluded the 2007 season with a .252 batting average, five home runs, 33 RBI, and a .304 on-base percentage.
In 2008, Aurilia posted improved numbers across these categories, benefiting from remaining generally healthy throughout the year, which allowed him considerably more playing time with 99 games started. Following the departure of Pedro Feliz, who had served as the regular third baseman in previous years, Aurilia was considered a primary candidate for the starting third base role in 2008. On February 9, 2009, Aurilia re-signed with the Giants on a minor league deal, ultimately making the team's final roster on April 4. He appeared in 60 games during the 2009 season, starting in 22 of them, playing either first or third base. There was uncertainty about his continued presence on the roster for the entire season; he was placed on the disabled list twice to create roster spots for other players, especially in anticipation of the September roster expansion. Knowing that the organization would not bring him back for the 2010 season, Aurilia played his final game as a Giant on October 1 at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He received standing ovations from the home crowd, a heartfelt appreciation for his 12 years of service to the team.
2.7. Retirement and post-playing career
Rich Aurilia officially announced his retirement from professional baseball on April 11, 2010, marking the end of a 15-season career. After his playing days, Aurilia transitioned into a new role within baseball, joining NBC Sports Bay Area as an analyst for their pre- and post-game shows, particularly for the San Francisco Giants. He continues to provide insights and commentary on the sport.
3. Career statistics and achievements
Throughout his 15-season Major League Baseball career, Rich Aurilia played in 1652 games. He accumulated a .275 batting average with 1576 hits in 5721 at bats, scoring 745 runs, hitting 301 doubles, 22 triples, and 186 home runs. He also recorded 756 RBI, drew 450 bases on balls, achieved a .328 on-base percentage and a .433 slugging percentage. He finished his career with a .976 fielding percentage while playing at shortstop, first base, second base, and third base. In 25 postseason games, he batted .224 (22-for-98) with 17 runs, 6 doubles, 6 home runs, 18 RBI, and 7 walks.
Aurilia's notable achievements include being named an All-Star and winning the Silver Slugger Award in 2001, a season where he led the National League in hits. He was also nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award in 2002.
| Year | Team | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | TB | RBI | SB | CS | SH | SF | BB | HBP | SO | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | SF | 9 | 22 | 19 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | .474 | .476 | .947 | 1.423 |
| 1996 | SF | 105 | 352 | 318 | 27 | 76 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 94 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 52 | 1 | .239 | .295 | .296 | .591 |
| 1997 | SF | 46 | 113 | 102 | 16 | 28 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 51 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 | .275 | .321 | .500 | .821 |
| 1998 | SF | 122 | 453 | 413 | 54 | 110 | 27 | 2 | 9 | 168 | 49 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 31 | 3 | 2 | 62 | 3 | .266 | .319 | .407 | .726 |
| 1999 | SF | 152 | 614 | 558 | 68 | 157 | 23 | 1 | 22 | 248 | 80 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 43 | 3 | 5 | 71 | 16 | .281 | .336 | .444 | .780 |
| 2000 | SF | 141 | 571 | 509 | 67 | 138 | 24 | 2 | 20 | 226 | 79 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 54 | 2 | 0 | 90 | 15 | .271 | .339 | .444 | .783 |
| 2001 | SF | 156 | 689 | 636 | 114 | 206 | 37 | 5 | 37 | 364 | 97 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 47 | 2 | 0 | 83 | 14 | .324 | .369 | .572 | .941 |
| 2002 | SF | 133 | 589 | 538 | 76 | 138 | 35 | 2 | 15 | 222 | 61 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 37 | 0 | 4 | 90 | 15 | .257 | .305 | .413 | .718 |
| 2003 | SF | 129 | 545 | 505 | 65 | 140 | 26 | 1 | 13 | 207 | 58 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 82 | 18 | .277 | .325 | .410 | .735 |
| 2004 | SEA | 73 | 292 | 261 | 27 | 63 | 13 | 0 | 4 | 88 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 22 | 1 | 2 | 43 | 10 | .241 | .304 | .337 | .641 |
| SD | 51 | 158 | 138 | 22 | 35 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 53 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 28 | 2 | .254 | .331 | .384 | .715 | |
| 2005 | CIN | 114 | 468 | 426 | 61 | 120 | 23 | 2 | 14 | 189 | 68 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 37 | 2 | 1 | 67 | 8 | .282 | .338 | .444 | .782 |
| 2006 | CIN | 122 | 481 | 440 | 61 | 132 | 25 | 1 | 23 | 228 | 70 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 51 | 10 | .300 | .349 | .518 | .867 |
| 2007 | SF | 99 | 358 | 329 | 40 | 83 | 19 | 2 | 5 | 121 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 1 | 4 | 45 | 8 | .252 | .304 | .368 | .672 |
| 2008 | SF | 140 | 440 | 407 | 33 | 115 | 21 | 1 | 10 | 168 | 52 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 30 | 4 | 1 | 56 | 11 | .283 | .332 | .413 | .745 |
| 2009 | SF | 60 | 133 | 122 | 10 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 34 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 5 | .213 | .256 | .279 | .534 |
| MLB Total (15 years) | 1652 | 6278 | 5721 | 745 | 1576 | 301 | 22 | 186 | 2479 | 756 | 23 | 18 | 36 | 47 | 450 | 22 | 24 | 861 | 140 | .275 | .328 | .433 | .762 | |
4. Personal life
Rich Aurilia is married to Raquel Garcia, whom he wed on January 18, 1997. They have two sons: Chaz Aiden, born on August 18, 2001, and Gavin Shea, born on October 1, 2003.
Beyond baseball, Aurilia has made appearances in media. He participated in a "Pro on Pro Challenge" episode of Guy's Grocery Games on September 20, 2015, where he finished in second place. His appearance raised funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a charity he supports. Aurilia and his wife also appeared as Jurors No. 9 and 10 in episodes of the soap opera General Hospital, which aired on December 11 and 12, 2003. Their appearance was facilitated by Maurice Benard, who plays the character of Sonny Corinthos, and is a cousin of Aurilia's former Giants teammate Marvin Benard.
Aurilia maintains residences in Healdsburg, California and Phoenix, Arizona.