Height/Weight: 5-8/190
| Birthdate: 10/24/1977
| Birthplace: Loma de Cabrera, DR
| Bats/Throws: S/R
| Team: St. Louis
| College: No College
| MLB Experience: 12
| Salary: $13,000,000
| Owned/Started%: 51/35 | Average Draft Position: 152.97
Furcal focused on staying healthy: FOXSportsMidwest.com reports Cardinals SS Rafael Furcal is focused on staying healthy in 2012 and hoping to be more of a contributor than he was during an injury-plagued 2011. "This year is a different year," Furcal said. "Last year I was hurt for two months and never could get my timing down. I only took 300 at-bats when I'm used to taking 600 or 700 at-bats. I've never hit .220 and this year I want to improve my hitting and score more runs for my team." (Updated 01/23/2012)
Injury Report
Appendix - Probable for start of spring training (Updated - 1/5/12)
Fantasy Analysis
Furcal played in just 87 games last season due to injury, but he was more productive once he was traded to the Cardinals. He hit .255 with seven homers, 11 doubles and 16 RBI in 50 regular season games with St. Louis. He struggled in the Cardinals' playoff run, but Furcal is looking to start anew in 2012. Furcal appeared to be swinging for the fences much more down the stretch last season, so he is going to take more of a ground-ball approach this spring. He also hopes to be more aggressive on the base paths. While all this sounds good, Furcal has played more than 140 games just once in the last four seasons. He is more of a middle-infield option in mixed leagues on Draft Day. (Updated 01/23/2012).
01/17/2012 10:37 2012 Fantasy outlooks: St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals were unlikely World Series champions in 2011, so what do they have in store for an encore? Our Al Melchior shares his Fantasy observations on the new-look Redbirds.
Rafael Furcal had another injury-plagued campaign a year ago and posted some of the lowest numbers of his career. A broken thumb cost him time early in the year and a myriad of other injuries hindered him throughout the season. He batted .197 with one homer, 12 RBI and five stolen bases in 37 games for the Dodgers before being traded to the Cardinals at the deadline. Furcal was able to stay on the field more often with St. Louis and ended up hitting .255 with seven home runs and 16 RBI in 50 games down the stretch. He re-signed with the Cardinals in the offseason and is expected to be the starting shortstop on opening day. The 34-year-old has had a difficult time staying healthy three out of the last four seasons, but he showed toward the end of 2011 that he can still be productive with solid lineup protection. He will have that in St. Louis, despite the loss of Albert Pujols, so consider Furcal a low-end Fantasy shortstop in mixed leagues on Draft Day. (Updated 2/9/12)
Actual 
AccuScore Projections) Note: Points are rounded down.
