Frank Catalanotto

Frank Catalanotto

Infobox MLB player
name=Frank Catalanotto



width=300
caption=Frank during batting practice at the Rangers home opener on April 8, 2008.
position=Designated hitter
team=Texas Rangers
number=27
bats=Left
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1974|4|27
birthplace=city-state|Smithtown|New York
debutdate=September 3
debutyear=1997
debutteam=Detroit Tigers
statyear=2008 season
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.292
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=83
stat3label=On-base percentage
stat3value=.358
teams=
*Detroit Tigers (by|1997-by|1999)
*Texas Rangers (by|2000-by|2002)
*Toronto Blue Jays (by|2003-by|2006)
*Texas Rangers (by|2007-present)|

Frank John Catalanotto (pronounced Ca-ta-lan-na-toe) (born April 27, 1974 in Smithtown, New York) is an outfielder and designated hitter, who plays for the Texas Rangers in Major League Baseball. Nicknamed Little Cat, the Long Island native bats left-handed and throws right-handed.

Detroit Tigers (1997-1999)

Catalanotto began his professional baseball career in by|1992 when the Detroit Tigers -- who first noticed him while scouting higher-profile players at a Smithtown East baseball game in 1991 -- drafted him in the tenth round of the by|1992 Major League Baseball Draft. Primarily a second baseman in the minors, he made his major league debut at second base on September 3, mlby|1997. While in Detroit, Catalanotto battled injuries and a lack of playing time, and never recorded a season of 300 at-bats for the Tigers. Tigers GM Randy Smith chose not to protect Catalanotto in the 1996 Rule 5 Draft, and he was selected by the Oakland Athletics, spending spring training with them. Catalanotto did not make the Athletics squad and was returned to the Tigers for mlby|1997 season.

As a reserve, Catalanotto logged significant time not only at second base, but at first base and third base as well. Over his three-year span in Detroit, he was the most often used pinch hitter for the Tigers, leading the American League in pinch-hit at-bats in the mlby|1998 season.

Texas Rangers (2000-2002)

On November 2, mlby|1999, Catalanotto was part of an eight player trade between the Tigers and the Texas Rangers. In the deal, he was dealt to Texas along with pitchers Francisco Cordero and Justin Thompson, catcher Bill Hasselman, and a minor leaguer, for slugging outfield star Juan González, catcher Gregg Zaun, and pitcher Danny Patterson.

Catalanotto made a splash to start to his Rangers career, collecting ten hits and three walks in thirteen consecutive plate appearances from April 21 to May 18, mlby|2000. This streak stands as the Rangers franchise record for consecutive appearances reaching base. He also tied the club's record for hits in a single game (5) on May 17.

After another season plagued by injuries in 2000, Catalanotto finally burst onto the scene in mlby|2001 when he finished fifth in the AL in batting average (.330), and recorded a .431 batting average in August. He also logged a number of innings in the outfield, a position he had fielded for only one inning before 2001. mlby|2002 was another injury riddled season for Catalanotto, and the Rangers declined to offer him a contract in the mlby|2003 offseason.

Toronto Blue Jays (2003-2006)

On May 1, mlby|2004, against the Chicago White Sox, he set the Blue Jays record for hits in a game, going 6 for 6 in the 2nd game of a double-header.

Catalanotto was named AL player of the week after hitting .500 in the last week of the mlby|2005 season helping him finish with an average of .301. [cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051003&content_id=1236789&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|title=Catalanotto named AL Player of Week|date=October 10, 2005|publisher=Toronto.BlueJays.mlb.com|accessdate=2006-07-23] He also won the AL player of the week on July 25, 2005. [cite web|url=http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050725&content_id=1144493&vkey=news_tor&fext=.jsp&c_id=tor|title=Catalanotto named AL Player of Week|date=July 25, 2005|publisher=Toronto.BlueJays.mlb.com|accessdate=2006-07-23]

On June 5, 2005, at Oakland, he collected the 700th hit of his major league career and on September 22 he scored the 400th run of his career against Seattle.

Texas Rangers (2007-present)

On November 19, mlby|2006, the Texas Rangers announced that they had reacquired Catalanotto, signing him to a three-year contract worth $13 million. [cite web|url=http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061119&content_id=1743578&vkey=news_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex|title=Catalanotto comes back to Rangers|date=November 19, 2006|publisher=mlb.com|accessdate=2006-11-19] He currently plays first base and outfield for the Texas Rangers.

His at-bat music is "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night.

Personal

Catalanotto is an honorary chairman for the National Vascular Birthmark Foundation and participates in Little league programs.

Despite being born in the United States, Catalanotto's Italian heritage made him eligible to play for the Italian national team at the inaugural World Baseball Classic. His favourite restaurant is Giseppi's and Casa Bonita both located in Madrid, Spain.

References

External links

* [http://www.tireball.com/behindthedugout/profiles/frank-catalanotto/ Frank Catalanotto: Behind the Dugout]


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