| Craig Tatum | |
|---|---|
Tatum with the Orioles in 2011 |
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| Houston Astros – No. -- | |
| Catcher | |
| Born: March 18, 1983 Hattiesburg, Mississippi |
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| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| July 21, 2009 for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| Career statistics (through July 29, 2011) |
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| Batting average | .252 |
| Home runs | 1 |
| Runs batted in | 18 |
| Teams | |
Craig Browning Tatum (born March 18, 1983, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi) is an American professional baseball catcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball.
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Tatum attended Hattiesburg High School where he played as a catcher and pitcher. He was named the Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year after hitting a team-best .435 with 51 hits and 54 Runs Batted In. He had a 7-3 pitching record with a save and a 3.94 earned run average and 80 strikeouts[1]
In 2002 Tatum was redshirted before be the team's starting catcher. In 2004, Tatum hit .325 with 13 home runs and a team-leading 60 RBI,[2] in route to second-team All-All-SEC honors as a sophomore.[3] He majored in Banking and Finance.
Tatum was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the third round (78th overall) of the 2004 MLB Draft.[4]
He was called up from the minors from Triple-A Louisville Bats on July 19, 2009 after starting catcher Ramon Hernandez had a knee injury.[5][6] On July 21, 2009 he made his major league debut against Los Angeles Dodgers,[7] he went 0-2 and was the last player retired in the game.[8] On July 25, Hanigan was scratched from his scheduled start to a stiff neck[9] which allowed Tatum took his first Major League start against the Chicago Cubs.[10] On July 28 against the San Diego Padres, Tatum notched his first Major League hit and first career RBI with a single that scored Laynce Nix[11] On August 29, 2009, Tatum hit his first career home run, a line drive off knuckleballer Charlie Haeger. On November 20, 2009, Tatum was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles. Making the team out of spring training, he backed up Matt Wieters for the 2010 season. In 2011 Tatum did not make the team out of spring training but was called up after catcher Jake Fox was designated for assignment on June 1. He has backed up catcher Matt Wieters since then.
Tatum was claimed off waivers by the Astros on October 28. [12]
Tatum played in college with former Red Sox closer and current Phillies pitcher Jonathan Papelbon, and they are offseason workout partners. He is married to Daniele Rocconi.
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