Kevin Cash
Encyclopedia
Kevin Forrest Cash is an American professional baseball
catcher
who is in the Texas Rangers
organization. He has played for the Toronto Blue Jays
, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Boston Red Sox
, New York Yankees
and Houston Astros
.
for the Florida State University
Seminoles under head coach Mike Martin. He bats and throws right-handed. In the summer of 1999, he played for the Falmouth Commodores
of the Cape Cod Baseball League
.
,
in . On April 5, , the Devil Rays designated Cash for assignment, and after clearing waivers, reported to Triple-A Durham
where he spent the entire 2006 season.
on January 24, .
On August 17, 2007, Red Sox backup catcher Doug Mirabelli
pulled a calf muscle rounding third base in the first game of a doubleheader against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
. Cash was flown to Boston from Ottawa
(where the Pawtucket Red Sox
were playing the Ottawa Lynx
) to catch in the nightcap of the doubleheader. He made it to Fenway Park after the game had started. He started the game on August 19 against the Angels.
On November 2, 2007, Cash opted for free agency after refusing to accept an outright assignment to AAA Pawtucket. On December 13, 2007, Cash re-signed with the Red Sox to a minor league contract and an invitation to spring training
.
On March 25, , Cash's contract was purchased. He acted as the personal catcher for knuckleball pitcher Tim Wakefield
after Doug Mirabelli
left the Sox. He was also notable for wearing his plastic catcher's cap forward (similar to how a field player wears a normal baseball cap) under his mask; normally, catchers will turn the cap around to provide stability for their mask. In Boston, Cash wore the uniform number 36, except from August 16, 2008 to the end of the 2008 season, due to Paul Byrd
's joining the Red Sox and wearing his customary number 36. During this period, Cash switched to number 30. On December 12, 2008, Cash was non-tendered by the Red Sox
, officially making him a free agent
.
and José Molina. He was optioned to AAA Scranton on May 29 and was placed on the disabled list to undergo surgery for a torn rotator cuff.
Released by the New York Yankees' organization on September 5, 2009, Cash announced his retirement from baseball. However, he soon changed his mind, and on January 22, 2010, Cash signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros
.
. He had 11 hits
in 54 at bats with Houston.
On July 1, 2010, Cash was acquired by the Red Sox for Ángel Sánchez after Jason Varitek
went on the disabled list. As the backup catcher for the Red Sox for part of the season, he had 60 at bats and a .133 batting average, compiling just eight hits with the team. He finished the year with .167 average (AL and NL stats combined). He refused a minor league assignment on October 12, and became a free agent. He signed a minor-league contract with the Texas Rangers on November 11, 2010, and played the entire 2011 season at their Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
who is in the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
organization. He has played for the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
.
Early life
Cash played for Northside Little League in Florida when they made it to the Little League World Series in 1989. Cash played college baseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
for the Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
Seminoles under head coach Mike Martin. He bats and throws right-handed. In the summer of 1999, he played for the Falmouth Commodores
Falmouth Commodores
The Falmouth Commodores are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Falmouth, Massachusetts. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League and plays in the league's Western Division. Falmouth currently plays its home games at Arnie Allen Diamond at Guv Fuller Field, one of 6 ballparks in...
of the Cape Cod Baseball League
Cape Cod Baseball League
The Cape Cod Baseball League is a collegiate summer baseball league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, in which many college baseball stars play during the summer. Many future Major League Baseball players have started there during their college years; MLB has provided...
.
2002-2004: Toronto
Cash played a total of 101 games from to with the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
,
2005: Tampa Bay
Cash joined the Devil RaysTampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
in . On April 5, , the Devil Rays designated Cash for assignment, and after clearing waivers, reported to Triple-A Durham
Durham Bulls
The Durham Bulls are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the International League. The Bulls play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park located in the downtown area of Durham, North Carolina. Durham Bulls Athletic Park is often called the "DBAP" or "D-Bap". The Bulls are...
where he spent the entire 2006 season.
2007-2008: Boston
Cash signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
on January 24, .
On August 17, 2007, Red Sox backup catcher Doug Mirabelli
Doug Mirabelli
Douglas Anthony Mirabelli is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He played for the San Francisco Giants , Texas Rangers , Boston Red Sox , and San Diego Padres before returning to the Red Sox to end his eleven year career...
pulled a calf muscle rounding third base in the first game of a doubleheader against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
. Cash was flown to Boston from Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
(where the Pawtucket Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
were playing the Ottawa Lynx
Ottawa Lynx
The Ottawa Lynx were a minor league baseball team that formerly competed in the Triple-A International League from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was Lynx Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. Over the team's 15 seasons, it was the Triple-A Minor League affiliate of the Montreal Expos , Baltimore...
) to catch in the nightcap of the doubleheader. He made it to Fenway Park after the game had started. He started the game on August 19 against the Angels.
On November 2, 2007, Cash opted for free agency after refusing to accept an outright assignment to AAA Pawtucket. On December 13, 2007, Cash re-signed with the Red Sox to a minor league contract and an invitation to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
.
On March 25, , Cash's contract was purchased. He acted as the personal catcher for knuckleball pitcher Tim Wakefield
Tim Wakefield
Timothy Stephen Wakefield is an American professional baseball pitcher. Wakefield began pitching with the Red Sox in 1995, making him the longest-serving player currently on the team. Wakefield is also the oldest current active player in the majors, and one of two active knuckleballers, the other...
after Doug Mirabelli
Doug Mirabelli
Douglas Anthony Mirabelli is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He played for the San Francisco Giants , Texas Rangers , Boston Red Sox , and San Diego Padres before returning to the Red Sox to end his eleven year career...
left the Sox. He was also notable for wearing his plastic catcher's cap forward (similar to how a field player wears a normal baseball cap) under his mask; normally, catchers will turn the cap around to provide stability for their mask. In Boston, Cash wore the uniform number 36, except from August 16, 2008 to the end of the 2008 season, due to Paul Byrd
Paul Byrd
Paul Gregory Byrd is an American professional baseball right-handed starting pitcher who is currently a free agent. He pitched in Major League Baseball from 1995 to 2009. He is known as being the "nicest guy in baseball"...
's joining the Red Sox and wearing his customary number 36. During this period, Cash switched to number 30. On December 12, 2008, Cash was non-tendered by the Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, officially making him a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
.
2009: New York
On December 23, 2008, Cash signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees with an invitation to spring training. He began the season with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. On May 8, Cash was called up due to injuries to both Jorge PosadaJorge Posada
Jorge Rafael Posada Villeta is a Major League Baseball player who is currently a free agent and has played his entire career for the New York Yankees. He served as the Yankees primary catcher for most of his career, though following off-season knee surgery, he was moved to designated hitter for...
and José Molina. He was optioned to AAA Scranton on May 29 and was placed on the disabled list to undergo surgery for a torn rotator cuff.
Released by the New York Yankees' organization on September 5, 2009, Cash announced his retirement from baseball. However, he soon changed his mind, and on January 22, 2010, Cash signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
.
2010: Houston/Second stint with Boston
On May 5, 2010, Cash was called up to the Astros to replace a struggling J. R. TowlesJ. R. Towles
Justin Roberts Towles is a Major League Baseball catcher.The Oakland Athletics originally drafted him in the 32nd round and in the 23rd round in the and Major League Baseball drafts, respectively. He did not sign with them either times...
. He had 11 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 54 at bats with Houston.
On July 1, 2010, Cash was acquired by the Red Sox for Ángel Sánchez after Jason Varitek
Jason Varitek
Jason Andrew Varitek is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. After being traded as a minor league prospect by the Seattle Mariners, Varitek has played his entire major league career for the Boston Red Sox...
went on the disabled list. As the backup catcher for the Red Sox for part of the season, he had 60 at bats and a .133 batting average, compiling just eight hits with the team. He finished the year with .167 average (AL and NL stats combined). He refused a minor league assignment on October 12, and became a free agent. He signed a minor-league contract with the Texas Rangers on November 11, 2010, and played the entire 2011 season at their Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock.
Awards and honors
- 1999 College World Series1999 College World SeriesThe 1999 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from June 11 to June 19. The fifty-third tournament's champion was the University of Miami, coached by Jim Morris...
- Tallahassee Regional MVP - 2001 Florida State LeagueFlorida State LeagueThe Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
All-Star Team - 2002 All-Star Futures GameAll-Star Futures GameThe All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...