Jarrod Saltalamacchia

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Jarrod Scott Saltalamacchia (born May 2, 1985) is an American former professional baseball catcher.

He appeared in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, and Toronto Blue Jays. His last name, at 14 characters, is the longest in Major League Baseball history.

Saltalamacchia is Italian for "jump over" (salta) "the thicket" (la macchia) (in Southern Italy, an Italian word for a sort of tall shrub).

Salty is his nickname.

Early life

Saltalamacchia was born in West Palm Beach, Florida, on May 5, 1985. He attended Royal Palm Beach High School, where he met with his friend and potential Major League Baseball (MLB) teammate Kason Gabbard. Saltalamacchia and Gabbard helped Royal Palm Beach win the state championship title in 2000. Saltalamacchia's father wanted Saltalamacchia to play gridiron football, but he was singularly fixated on baseball. He was interested in MLB scouts by his junior year.

Personal life

Ashley Saltalamacchia married Ashley on July 12, 2005, she was married in Saltalamacchia. She worked at Royal Palm Beach High School during his time as an athlete, but they didn't start dating until 2004, the year after he graduated. They have four children. He and his family are Christians, and he cites his strong faith as one of the reasons he picked to coach baseball at The King's Academy. The family lives in Wellington, Florida.

Saltalamacchia has the longest name in MLB history, having been fourteen letters long. Ossee Schreckengost, who appeared for the Red Sox in 1901, was the previous record holder. The bulk of Saltalamacchia's coworkers refer to him by the term "salty."

Saltalamacchia has held various conservative convictions on a political level. Despite the fact that scheduling conflicts with the Marlins prevented Saltalamacchia from accompanying his World Series champions on a commemorative tour to the White House, the catcher told reporters that he would have declined to attend regardless, because he did not endorse then-President Barack Obama and did not endorse then-President Barack Obama. Saltalamacchia has voiced his dissatisfaction with gridiron football player Colin Kaepernick's decision to kneel during the playing of the national anthem prior to games. "Pretty disgusting" was Kaepernick's kneeling, he said, and that the football player "needs to go back to the history books and figure out what the flag is and what a lot of people have sacrificed for it. Saltalamacchia's had two cleats emblazoned with the American flag, with a sheriff's badge imprinted on one heel. The cleats were worn to show his love for the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and were auctioned off at a department charity benefit held in November.

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Professional career

Saltalamacchia was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the third round, 36th overall, of the 2003 MLB Draft. He signed a $950,000 signing bonus on June 3, 2003, and he spent his first season of professional baseball with the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League (GCL) Braves. At the time, he had agreed to play college baseball for the Florida State Seminoles, but college coach Mike Martin told him, "If you go first round, take your money and go." Saltalamacchia batted.239 with two home runs and 14 runs batted in 134 at-bats in 46 games. Saltalamacchia was named in the 2004 season as a member of the GCL championship team. Saltalamacchia batted.272 in 323 at-bats, a record in 91 games.

Saltalamacchia's 2005 was a breakout year for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans' Most Valuable Player, as well as the top prospect in the Class A-Advanced Carolina League by batting.314, hitting 19 home runs and setting a club single-season record of 81 RBIs. Saltalamacchia was one of two Pelicans selected to play for the Phoenix Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League after the conclusion of regular Minor League Baseball season, as well as outfielder Josh Burrus. Saltalamacchia batted.288, adding one home run and eight RBIs to his season totals in additional 21 fall league games.

Saltalamacchia, one of Atlanta's top prospects, was assigned to the Double-A Mississippi Braves in 2005. In Mississippi, he had "an off year": despite good batting in July and August, his year-wide average was only.230, with nine home runs and 39 RBIs. He remained in Mississippi until the 2007 season, with the hope that he would be promoted to the Triple-A Richmond Braves at some point in the year. Saltalamacchia made his second appearance in the Arizona Fall League in 2006, going 13-for-23 in six games for the Peoria Javelinas.

Saltalamacchia was called to Atlanta on May 2, 2007, his 22nd birthday, with starting catcher Brian McCann and backup Brayan Pea injured during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies. He made his MLB debut that night, batting twice with a walk and a hit by pitch. Saltalamacchia won by 6–4 over the Los Angeles Dodgers, his first major league hit and RBI in his first major league appearance. The latter hit, which came off of Chad Billingsley's childhood friend, Saltalamacchia, Chad Billingsley, helped bring Andruw Jones home to give the Braves the lead. Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies fired his first home run on May 27, his first home run. Saltalamacchia's first multi-home run game against Mike Bacsik of the Washington Nationals was exactly one month later, when filling up at first base to make room for McCann behind the plate. Saltalamacchia batted.284 with four home runs and 12 RBIs in 141 at-bats in 47 major league games with Atlanta.

Despite his solid showing in the minors, Saltalamacchia was effectively barred from being a Atlanta staple by McCann, who earned his second consecutive All-Star pick in 2007. Saltalamacchia was a good piece for the MLB trade deadline, because of this. Saltalamacchia was the focal point of a five-prospect agreement with the Texas Rangers in exchange for Mark Teixeira, who died on July 31, 2007. In order for Atlanta to receive Teixeira, Saltalamacchia, Neftal Feliz, Elvis Andrus, Matt Harrison, and Beau Jones were sent to Texas along with Saltalamacchia. Saltalamacchia had two home runs and seven RBIs in the Rangers' 30–3 win over the Baltimore Orioles shortly after joining the team. It was the first time a team had scored 30 or more runs in a game since the Chicago Colts defeated the Louisville Colonels on June 29, 1897. Saltalamacchia played in 46 games for the Rangers in 2007, batting.251 with 21 RBIs in 167 at-bats. In addition, his seven home runs set a new single-season record for Texas catchers.

Saltalamacchia was recruited to the Triple-A Oklahoma City RedHawks for the 2008 season after struggling with Gerald Laird in spring training. However, his time in the minors was limited, as he was called up on April 25 to replace Adam Melhuse, who was suspended from his service after breaking a bone in the back of his hand during a game against the Detroit Tigers. Saltalamacchia played in 61 games this season, batting.253 with three home runs and 26 RBIs. Saltalamacchia's first grand slam was one of those home runs, which helped the Rangers beat the Cleveland Indians 13–9 on May 23, 2008. Later, Laird recalled that Saltalamacchia was both under pressure from himself and by the Rangers, and that "[every time you could see he wasn't being himself" despite the pressure. On September 1, his season came to an end as a result of a fractured elbow caused the Rangers to suspend him. Saltalamacchia spent time with the Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Winter League, batting.364 with nine home runs and 21 RBIs in 20 games before returning home.

Since the 2008 season, the Rangers traded Laird to the Tigers, leaving the starting catcher position open for 2009. Since Taylor Teagarden's poor pitch blocking and stamina, Saltalamacchia's position was out of spring training, Max Ramrez suffered a fractured shoulder, Saltalamacchia's suffered from an injury. However, his time in the role was impeded by tingling and numbness in Saltalamacchia's throwing arm and hand, which became more pronounced as the season progressed. The illnesses progressed to the point that Saltalamacchia had to abandon a game in the fourth inning and was put on the 15-day disabled list on August 15. The signs were eventually traced to a car crash in Saltalamacchia in June: Saltalamacchia's top rib fractured a nerve, a condition known as thoracic outlet syndrome, and he needed surgery to remove the bone. During the 2009 season, Saltalamacchia was limited to only 84 games, during which he batted.233 with nine home runs and 34 RBIs. He attempted to play once more in the Dominican Winter Leagues, but he had to be forced to stop due to shoulder pain.

Saltalamacchia won their fourth opening day walk-off victory in Rangers history, pulling in David Murphy with an RBI single to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5–4. The back pain and shoulder inflammation that had bothered him during spring training had recovered in full by the second game of the season, and Saltalamacchia was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 8 with upper back stiffness. Saltalamacchia's return from injury, he had trouble batting and catching, and he was sent by the Triple-A Oklahoma City RedHawks to locate and solve the mechanical issues with his play. Saltalamacchia also suffered emotionally, with a bout of the "yips" stopping him from making accurate throws back to the pitcher. He was dissatisfied with his inability to make what seemed to be a straight throw, and said that it was "the only thing keeping [him] from being back in the big leagues." Saltalamacchia spent the majority of his time with the Rangers club in Oklahoma City, where he batted.244 in 238 at-bats, with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs in 63 games.

The Rangers sold Saltalamacchia to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for prospects Román Méndez and Chris McGuinness, $350,000 in cash, and a player to be announced later. After the trade was announced, he was sent to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox as one of several potential replacements for veteran Jason Varitek. Kevin Cash was called up to start behind the plate on August 11 after being put on the disabled list due to a hamstring strain, with regular catcher Vance Marten batting in for Cash at first base. Saltalamacchia's stint was short-lived, as Saltalamacchia was placed on the 15-day disabled list on August 19, after a sore leg turned out to be infected with a sore leg. After recovering from the virus, he had only 13 at-bats before crashing with a torn ligament in his left thumb. The ligaments needed surgery and recovery was 4–6 weeks, and Saltalamacchia was suspended for the season on September 28, 2010. He appeared in only 10 games for the Red Sox this season, going 3-for-19, but boss Terry Francona said he was "very excited" about the limited action that Saltalamacchia did not see.

Saltalamacchia inherited the starting catcher position for Boston after Martnez signed with the Detroit Tigers as a free agent during the 2010-11 offseason. The Red Sox got off to a rocky start to the season, and there were rumors that Varitek would spend more time behind the plate. Saltalamacchia got more comfortable catching for Boston as the season progressed. Varitek gave Saltalamacchia how to handle the individual personalities of the Red Sox' starting rotation's starting lineup, including Josh Beckett, John Lackey, and Jon Lester, following his general guidance on how to call a game from pitching coach Bob McClure. This relief appeared to be a contributing factor in Saltalamacchia's batting: by the start of August, he had already set career highs in runs, triples, home runs, RBIs, walks, slugging percentage, and on-base plus slugging figures. Saltalamacchia played in 103 games for Boston in 2011, including a.235 batting average, a.488 on-base percentage (OBP), 16 home runs, 56 RBIs, and 52 runs scored in 358 at-bats.

Saltalamacchia signed him to a new one-year, $2.5 million contract on January 15, 2012. Saltalamacchia became the de facto leader of Boston's "Wolf Pack" of catchers, which also included Kelly Shoppach, Ryan Lavarnway, and Luis Exposito, as a result of Varitek's offseason departure. The veteran Shoppach joined Saltalamacchia as a mentor for the team, both with the younger catchers and with the Red Sox pitching staff. Although Saltalamacchia was Boston's everyday catcher, Shoppach would often get the nod from left-handed pitchers, against whom Saltalamacchia was less effective. Saltalamacchia's first half of the season saw him cracking in August with 15 home runs and a.537 slugging percentage, finishing the year with 139 strikeouts in 405 at-bats. Saltalamacchia batted.273 in 121 games for the Red Sox in 2012, with 65 RBIs and 58 runs scored. He had a mehing offensive record for the season, with a.288 OBP and 1.2 Wins Above Replacement, but his 25 home runs fell short of the single-season franchise record for catchers, which was set by Carlton Fisk in both 1973 and 1977. His issues were more defensive: Saltalamacchia caught only 18.4 percent of attempted runners, down from 30.8 percent the previous year, and he had a difficult time calling games: Saltalamacchia's red Sox pitchers had a cumulative earned run average (ERA) of 4.84, compared to 4.51 with other catchers.

David Ross, a veteran catcher, was drafted into Saltalamacchia in competition with Lavarnway for the remaining position behind the plate in the offseason. Ben Cherington, the Boston general manager, eventually promoted Lavarnway to Triple-A, keeping Ross and Saltalamacchia as his main league catch staff for the 2013 season. The season was one of Saltalamacchia's most offensively effective, with a.338 OBP, 68 runs scored, 65 RBIs, and 43 walks. Saltalamacchia has also helped the Red Sox get to the postseason for the first time since joining the team, both offensively and coaching the Red Sox's young pitching staff. Saltalamacchia posted a walk-off RBI single in Game 2 of the 2013 American League Championship Series, bringing home Jonny Gomes to play the game 6–5. Saltalamacchia's triumph did not extend into the 2013 World Series as a result of a wild throw to third base in Game 3, allowing Allen Craig of the St. Louis Cardinals to take a shot and win the game 5–4. He was suspended for the remainder of the season, which the Red Sox won in six games, but Boston did not give Jarrod Saltalamacchia a qualifying bid for the upcoming season, making him a free agent.

Saltalamacchia's hometown team, Saltalamacchia, has agreed to a three-year, $21 million deal with the Miami Marlins, his hometown team, on December 9, 2013. Jeff Mathis was pushed into the backup role and Rob Brantly to the minors as a result of the contract. The Marlins had been considering signing Saltalamacchia to help the team carry the team while waiting for a promising catching prospect to emerge.

Saltalamacchia's season-high 0-for-26 runoff to begin the 2014 MLB season, with Saltalamacchia's record four home runs and seven RBIs in 11 games, he fell into a slump, ending his career-high 0-for-26 against the San Francisco Giants on May 16. Saltalamacchia was put on the concussion list on June 1, with the Marlins refusing to reveal how he was injured in the midst of another 0-for-11 slump. Although the catcher continued to disappoint in hit production, a.220 average across August, he managed to raise his on-base percentage to.329 by taking 43 walks in the same time frame. Saltalamacchia batted.220 in 114 games for the Marlins in 2014, with 11 home runs and 44 RBIs in 373 at-bats. Despite striking out 143 times, he also scored 55 walks in 435 plate appearances.

Saltalamacchia's challenges continued into the 2015 season. He went 2-for-29 with 12 strikeouts and his.289 on-base plus slugging was the lowest among MLB catchers at the time he went on paternity leave in April. Saltalamacchia had been given a job as the rookies named J. T. Realmuto into the starting catcher role, with Jhonatan Solano serving as his backup on April 27. Despite several clubs' protests of getting Saltalamacchia off waivers, many teams were unwilling to pay the remainder of his Marlins deal. Saltalamacchia was released by the Marlins on May 5, an agreement that required them to pay the remaining $30 million on his initial $21 million deal.

Saltalamacchia, a minor leaguer, has signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, allowing him to have more at-bats in Triple-A before joining the rest of the team. Saltalamacchia had intended to be Tuffy Gosewisch's backup catcher, but after Gosewisch sustained a season-ending knee injury at the end of May, he was supposed to be the Diamondbacks' everyday catcher. Although he adjusted to the position, Jordan Pacheco, the new backup, was a little bruising. The Diamondbacks settled into a three-catcher workload as the season progressed, with Saltalamacchia splitting time behind the plate with Oscar Hernández and Welington Castillo. Saltalamacchia, who batted.251 in 70 games with eight home runs and 23 RBIs, became a free agent at the end of the 2015 season.

Saltalamacchia signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Tigers on December 6, 2015. Detroit was allowed to sign Saltalamacchia for the minimum amount as the Marlins owe him $8 million from the remainder of his deal. Detroit was primarily concerned with Saltalamacchia's switch-hitting skills as they were in dire need of more left-handed batters; defensively, they'd be able to rely on backup catcher James McCann for other new acquisitions. Saltalamacchia was a regular starting point for McCann's season, and he celebrated his 100th home run on April 13, 2016, with a go-ahead grand slam over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Saltalamacchia went into a slump as the season progressed, with Tigers manager Brad Ausmus not to platoon his two catchers equally, and the Tigers made no attempt to re-sign their backup catcher at the end of the season. Despite his offensive results, with only.171 on 12 home runs and 38 RBIs in 92 games, Saltalamacchia's most notable contribution to the Tigers was his clubhouse presence. Michael Fulmer and Matthew Boyd's teenage pitchers, as well as Boyd's personal catcher, served as a mentor.

Saltalamacchia signed to a minor league deal on February 6, 2017, with an invitation to spring training. He was later called to the Blue Jays' opening day roster as a backup catcher for Russell Martin, and he made his first appearance of the season on April 7, catching for Francisco Liriano. The Jays recalled Luke Maile from the minors as his replacement after Saltalamacchia's plate performance, going 1-for-25 with 16 strikeouts in ten games. Saltalamacchia was suspended from the Blue Jays on May 3 but the Buffalo Bisons drafted him to a new minor league deal two weeks later. Saltalamacchia's offensive difficulties grew in the minor leagues, and the Bisons released him on June 30, 2017. Saltalamacchia said later that his plate woes were due in large part to his wife's health problems at home. As a result, his "mind wasn't there" during games. He spent the remainder of the season as a fill-in color commentator for New England Sports Network (NESN).

Saltalamacchia was considering leaving MLB for Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan or one of the United States' independent baseball leagues. Saltalamacchia has signed a minor league deal with the Tigers on March 9, 2018, with the understanding that he will mostly play for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens and act as "insurance" in the event that one of the major league catchers suffers injury. With the Mud Hens, he took on the unofficial position of clubhouse coach, helping the Tigers' pitching prospects and fellow Triple-A catcher Grayson Greiner develop their skills in preparation for a MLB promotion. Greiner and Saltalamacchia had a special rapport with each other, with one referring to the other catcher as "Dad" or "Son" respectively. Saltalamacchia batted.174 in 67 games with Toledo, with five home runs and 28 RBIs in 218 at-bats. Saltalamacchia was one of three Triple-A players to be drafted to the Tigers' enlarged roster after Toledo was barred from the International League playoffs on September 8. He appeared in five major league games this season, going 0-for-7 with one walk and four strikeouts.

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