Figueroa’s hot streak continues

There probably isn't a hotter hitter in professional baseball right now than 51s second baseman Luis Figueroa.

The 36-year-old from Puerto Rico is batting .509 (29-for-57) in his past 12 games and .650 (13-for-20) in the first five games of Las Vegas' eight-game homestand.

Figueroa, who went 3-for-3 with two walks Tuesday to record his fifth straight multi-hit game in the 51s' 15-10 win over the Fresno Grizzlies at Cashman Field, has raised his batting average to .348, good for fifth in the Pacific Coast League.

"I'm seeing the ball better than at the beginning of the season, (when) I was out of shape, had no timing and was battling to get hits," said Figueroa, who missed most of last season with the PCL's Salt Lake Bees because of a broken leg. "But I feel really comfortable at the plate."

A switch-hitting utility man who has played every position besides first base in his 14-year career, Figueroa stroked a team season-high five hits in a May 26 win over Round Rock and has a team-leading three triples and 24 RBIs in 42 games for Las Vegas (22-31).

"He's a veteran guy who knows his limitations. He knows what he can do and what he can't do with the bat," said 51s manager Dan Rohn, who also coached Figueroa in the past and recommended him to the Toronto Blue Jays this year in spring training when the team needed an infielder. "When he's hot, he's hot, and when he's cold, he's ugly.

"He's very comfortable (batting) in the second hole. ... He gives you quality at-bats every night."

Originally signed as a nondrafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1997, Figueroa has played for nine big league organizations and is in his second stint with Toronto.

He suffered a broken leg in late April of last season and hit .241 in 34 games for Salt Lake after batting .294 and averaging 112 games per year his previous six seasons in Triple A.

"It was kind of tough to get back," he said.

Figueroa, who has a .125 (2-for-16) career average in 18 games in the majors, considered retirement and pondered playing for an independent league before signing with the Blue Jays late in spring training.

"I wasn't ready to retire because I know I can still play," he said. "Now I'm trying to do my best to get back to the big leagues. If I keep playing the way I'm playing, I think I'll get a shot."

While Rohn said the 165-pound contact hitter has the ability to play in the majors, he said it probably will take perfect timing for Figueroa to make it back there.

"He's getting to the end of his career now, so it would have to be the right scenario for him to go up there," Rohn said. "But if he continues to play and put up numbers, who knows? You can't overlook hitting .340."

■ NOTE -- Brad Emaus was promoted to Las Vegas from Double-A New Hampshire, started at third base and belted a solo homer in the fifth inning for his first Triple-A hit.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.