Kurt Suzuki
Encyclopedia
is a Major League Baseball
catcher
for the Oakland Athletics
.
championship, thanks to Suzuki's two-out RBI
single
in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving the Titans a 3-2 win over the Texas Longhorns. His time at Fullerton earned him the nickname "Kurt Klutch."
That same year, he won the Johnny Bench Award
as the country's top collegiate catcher. He was also selected All-American by two publications, Baseball America
and Collegiate Baseball. He was also the recipient of the first ever Brooks Wallace Award
.
and assigned him to the Single-A Vancouver Canadians
, where he batted
.297 and committed just one error
in 46 games.
His first full season of professional baseball came in , with another Single-A team, the Stockton Ports
. Playing in 114 games, Suzuki put up a .277 average, 12 home run
s, 65 RBIs and a .440 slugging percentage.
Moving up to the Double-A Midland RockHounds
in , Suzuki batted .285 with a .392 OBP.
He began the 2007 season with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats
. He joined the major league club on June 9, after rarely used catcher Adam Melhuse
was traded to the Texas Rangers
and made his debut three days later as a pinch hitter
in a game against the Houston Astros
.
He served as backup to veteran Jason Kendall
until Kendall was traded to the Chicago Cubs
on July 16, making Suzuki the Athletics everyday catcher. On July 17, 2007, pitcher Shane Komine
got into a game in the 8th inning against the Texas Rangers
with Suzuki doing the catching. This marked the first time in major league baseball history that there was a battery where both players were from Hawaii
.
On September 10, 2007, Suzuki hit his first career grand slam
in the second inning against the Mariners
in Seattle.
For the season, Suzuki was the starting catcher while Rob Bowen
served as back-up. In the first 20 regular season games, Suzuki started 18. He ended the season with a .279 batting average in 148 games.
During the season, Suzuki had a career high 15 home runs, and 88 RBIs, and batted .274 in 147 games. Suzuki lead the A's in RBIs, and became only the second catcher in the franchise's history to do so. He also lead the team in hits (156), doubles (37) and total bases (240) and was second in home runs and runs scored behind teammate Jack Cust
.
On July 23, 2010, Kurt signed a four year extension with the Oakland Athletics
, estimated to be worth $16.25 million.
he has a baby daughter
He learned the art of catching from his uncle, Clint Ostahki, who was a minor league catcher in the 1970s.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
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...
for the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
College career
Suzuki played at Cal State Fullerton. Cal State Fullerton captured the 2004 College World SeriesCollege World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
championship, thanks to Suzuki's two-out RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving the Titans a 3-2 win over the Texas Longhorns. His time at Fullerton earned him the nickname "Kurt Klutch."
That same year, he won the Johnny Bench Award
Johnny Bench Award
The Johnny Bench Award was created in 2000 by to honor college baseball's top catcher. The award is the brain child of Wichitan Mike Gehrer who has coached and administrated in the Wichita area at the high school level for many years. He was a college catcher himself and is one of the most forward...
as the country's top collegiate catcher. He was also selected All-American by two publications, Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
and Collegiate Baseball. He was also the recipient of the first ever Brooks Wallace Award
Brooks Wallace Award
The Brooks Wallace Award is an award given by the College Baseball Foundation to the best college baseball shortstop of the year. The award has been given annually since 2004. Until 2008 the award was presented to the nation's most outstanding player; however in 2009 the recipient list was changed...
.
Professional career
Suzuki is regarded as a solid defender. The Athletics drafted Suzuki in the second round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft2004 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
and assigned him to the Single-A Vancouver Canadians
Vancouver Canadians
The Vancouver Canadians are a minor league baseball team located in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Canadians are the Northwest League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. The C's have previously affiliated with the Oakland Athletics between 2000-2010. They are the only Canadian team in the...
, where he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.297 and committed just one error
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in 46 games.
His first full season of professional baseball came in , with another Single-A team, the Stockton Ports
Stockton Ports
The Stockton Ports are a baseball team in Stockton, California. The Ports play in the Northern Division of the Class A – Advanced California League and are a Minor League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Their home field is Banner Island Ballpark which seats over 5,000 people and opened in...
. Playing in 114 games, Suzuki put up a .277 average, 12 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 65 RBIs and a .440 slugging percentage.
Moving up to the Double-A Midland RockHounds
Midland RockHounds
The Midland RockHounds are a minor league baseball team based in Midland, Texas, USA. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics major league club. The RockHounds play in Citibank Ballpark, located in Midland. Opened in 2002, the stadium seats...
in , Suzuki batted .285 with a .392 OBP.
He began the 2007 season with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats
Sacramento River Cats
The Sacramento River Cats is a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics....
. He joined the major league club on June 9, after rarely used catcher Adam Melhuse
Adam Melhuse
Adam Michael Melhuse is a former Major League Baseball catcher.-High school, college years:...
was traded to 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...
and made his debut three days later as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
in a game against 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...
.
He served as backup to veteran Jason Kendall
Jason Kendall
Jason Daniel Kendall is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He is the son of former catcher Fred Kendall, who played in the majors from 1969–1980.-High school:...
until Kendall was traded to the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
on July 16, making Suzuki the Athletics everyday catcher. On July 17, 2007, pitcher Shane Komine
Shane Komine
Shane Kenji Komine is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. He made his major league debut against the Toronto Blue Jays on July 30,...
got into a game in the 8th inning against 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...
with Suzuki doing the catching. This marked the first time in major league baseball history that there was a battery where both players were from Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
On September 10, 2007, Suzuki hit his first career grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
in the second inning against the Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
in Seattle.
For the season, Suzuki was the starting catcher while Rob Bowen
Rob Bowen
Robert McClure Bowen is a former Major League Baseball catcher.Bowen spends the regular season living in San Diego, California, but spends his offseasons in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. He also has a baseball camp each winter back in Fort Wayne, Indiana.-High school years:Bowen attended Homestead...
served as back-up. In the first 20 regular season games, Suzuki started 18. He ended the season with a .279 batting average in 148 games.
During the season, Suzuki had a career high 15 home runs, and 88 RBIs, and batted .274 in 147 games. Suzuki lead the A's in RBIs, and became only the second catcher in the franchise's history to do so. He also lead the team in hits (156), doubles (37) and total bases (240) and was second in home runs and runs scored behind teammate Jack Cust
Jack Cust
John Joseph "Jack" Cust III is an American professional baseball designated hitter and outfielder who is a free agent. Cust attended Immaculata High School in Somerville, New Jersey...
.
On July 23, 2010, Kurt signed a four year extension with the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, estimated to be worth $16.25 million.
Playing Style
Suzuki is known for his durability, good defense, and an all around solid hitting. He has very quick reflexes behind the plate, and even has some speed on the base-paths, something that is rare for a catcher.Personal
Kurt and his wife Renee Suzuki (along with Orlando and Katie Cabrera) have helped out a former Titan catcher Jon Wilhite who was severely injured in a 2009 car crash that rocked MLB and Cal State Fullerton.he has a baby daughter
He learned the art of catching from his uncle, Clint Ostahki, who was a minor league catcher in the 1970s.