If you follow the Philly Pressbox (https://phillypressbox.wordpress.com) (@phillypressbox) you’re aware that we did a review and analysis of each Phillies player, Manager Charlie Manuel and the coaching staff leading up to Opening Day 2012.  Now that the season has reached the 50 game mark there have been four additional players that are on the roster that we will get to know. We profiled Jake Diekman Wednesday and Raul Valdez on Thursday, today we will get to know Mike Fontenot. 

Mike Fontenot –The 5’8″, 165 lb. utilityman was signed by the Phillies in the middle of Spring Training and nearly made the ballclub. The journeyman has played 2b, ss, 3b and in the outfield throughout his career. The 31-year old Fontenot is a former 1st round draft pick of the Baltimore Orioles, as the 19th pick, in the 2001 amateur draft out of LSU.

Fontenot quickly ran through the Orioles minor league system playing a full season in A ball in 2002, AA in 2003 and AAA in 2004 as the up and coming 2nd baseman in the Orioles system. He hit .325 with 12 HR’s and 66 RBI’s at AA Bowie. Before the 2005 season Fontenot was traded, along with Jerry Hairston and Dave Cruthers, to the Chicago Cubs for Sammy Sosa. Mike made his major league debut for the Cubs on April 13, 2005. He finished the season with 2 official at bats in his 7 games played. He spent most of the 2005 and 2006 and half of the 2007 seasons at AAA Iowa. He finally made it to the big leagues on a full time basis in 2007, with the Cubs. He hit .278 in 86 games in his first full time action. Mike stayed with the Cubs in 2008 and 2009, playing in 119 and 135 games. He hit .305 and .236. 2010 brought another change of scenery for Fontenot. He was traded in mid-season from the Cubs to the San Francisco Giants. His combined numbers for the year were .283 in 103 games. Again Mike seemed that he had found a home in San Francisco, however, he only played in 85 games and hit .227 in 2011. This earned him some time back at the AAA level. Mike was released by the Giants this Spring and quickly signed with the Phillies.

As we stated earlier, Fontenot was in a roster fight until the last day of Spring Training but didn’t make the team and was sent to AAA Lehigh Valley. He was hitting .308 in 58 at bats before getting the call to the Phillies. Since being called up Fontenot has played in 12 games, playing both 2nd base and 3rd base, as well as pinch hitting. He’s hitting .429 with 2 RBI’s thus far.

Personal Analysis: Fontenot brings big league experience and can play many positions. This versatility will give him a chance to stick withe the Phils. There will be big decisions to be made by the Phillies management regarding Fontenot, Pete Orr, Hector Luna, Michael Martinez and Jim Thome, when they return from the DL, and ultimately Chase Utley and Freddie Galvis. There are only so many spots and too many players. Obviously, injuries have played a big part in these players getting opportunities, however, at some point they should all be healthy, that’s where Fontenot’s experience and versatility will help him stay in the big leagues.

Tomorrow we will preview Hector Luna.

For those that haven’t followed our Phillies Profiles you can see them all in the archives file under “Phillies”.

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