Mike Borzello

Michael Ross Borzello (born August 14, 1970) is a Major League catching coach for the Chicago Cubs.

Early life

Borzello is the godson of former Major League manager Joe Torre, who was friends with Borzello's father.[1][2] His sister, Keri Borzello, was an NCAA Women's College World Series participant in 1994, as a catcher and first baseman for the Missouri Tigers. She later transferred to UCLA after a career ending rotator cuff injury.

Early in his life, a then-12-year-old Borzello had been serving as a batboy for the Atlanta Braves - at that time, managed by Torre - and found himself in the middle of a series of brawls between the Braves and the visiting San Diego Padres on August 12, 1984 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. "When the fans started throwing stuff and jumped onto the field, I was like, 'OK, I gotta get out of here,' Borzello later said.[3]

Career

Borzello is a graduate of Taft High School in California and California Lutheran University.[2] He played catcher in minor league baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals farm system from 1991–94, never getting above class A.[4]

After his playing career ended Torre offered him a job with the New York Yankees in 1996 as bullpen catcher and batting practice pitcher,[2] where he earned 4 World Series rings with the1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000 teams.

When Torre left the Yankees for the Dodgers in 2007, he brought Borzello with him as catching instructor.[5] In 2011 he left the Dodgers to join the Cubs as a coach, working with the catchers and scouting.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Borzello was born in New York and raised in L.A. He attended University of New Mexico and graduated with a B.A. In Communication Arts from California Lutheran University
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 DAVE DESMOND (1997-08-21). "From the Bushes to Yankee Bullpen". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
  3. ↑ NC Times retrieved 10th March 2011
  4. ↑ "Mike Borzello Statistics (1991-1994)". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
  5. ↑ "Manager and Coaches | dodgers.com: Team". Losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
  6. ↑ Cubs announce 2012 coaching staff

External links