Matt Kata

Matt Kata
Texas Rangers – No. --
Utility player
Born: March 14, 1978 (1978-03-14) (age 33)
Fairview Park, Ohio
Bats: Switch Throws: Right 
MLB debut
June 15, 2003 for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Career statistics
(through August 31, 2009)
Batting average     .239
Home runs     12
Runs batted in     63
Teams

Matthew John Kata (born March 14, 1978, in Fairview Park, Ohio) is a Major League Baseball infielder who is currently in the Texas Rangers organization.

Kata graduated from St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio in 1996 and attended college at Vanderbilt University. He was selected by Arizona in the ninth round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft and made his major league debut for the Diamondbacks June 15, 2003. He also played briefly for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2005, and Texas Rangers in 2007.[1]

Along with Robby Hammock, Alex Cintron and Brandon Webb, he was one of the "Baby Backs" who were called up when a surge of injuries hit Diamondbacks veteran players in 2003. The Baby Backs were popular and contributed to a winning season, but ultimately failed to make the playoffs.[2]

Kata was signed to a minor league contract by the Texas Rangers in November 2006[3] and was a non-roster invitee to their 2007 spring training camp. He earned a spot on the team's opening day roster as a utility player.[4] He appeared in 31 games for Texas, batting .186, before he was designated for assignment June 5 when the Rangers activated pitcher John Rheinecker and infielder/outfielder Jerry Hairston from the disabled list.[5] After clearing waivers, he signed a minor league contract with Pittsburgh on June 15 and was recalled by the Pirates June 30. Kata became a free agent after the season.

On December 21, 2007, the Colorado Rockies signed Kata to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Kata did not make the team and opted for free agency.

On March 30, 2008, Kata rejoined the Pittsburgh Pirates organization by signing a minor league contract. He became a free agent at the end of the season and signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros. He appeared in 40 games for the Astros.

Through 2009, Kata's major league batting line in 695 at bats was BA/OBP/Slugging 239/.290/.370.

References

  1. ^ (PDF) Texas Rangers 2007 Media Guide. Major League Baseball. pp. pgs. 89–90. http://pressbox.mlb.com/pressbox/downloads/y2007/tex/players_a_k.pdf. Retrieved 2007-06-30. 
  2. ^ McManaman, Bob (March 27, 2007). "2003: Finest moment". The Arizona Republic. http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/10years/articles/db10-2003main.html. Retrieved 2007-06-30. 
  3. ^ "Texas Rangers sign infielder/outfielder Matt Kata" (Press release). MLB.com. November 8, 2006. http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20061108&content_id=1737038&vkey=pr_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex. Retrieved 2007-06-30. 
  4. ^ Sullivan, T.R. (April 1, 2007). "Notes: Rangers finalize 25-man roster". MLB.com. http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070331&content_id=1872795&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex. Retrieved 2007-06-30. 
  5. ^ Sullivan, T.R. (June 5, 2007). "Notes: Teixeira part of team's future". MLB.com. http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070605&content_id=2007604&vkey=news_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex. Retrieved 2007-06-30. 

External links