Jason Varitek

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Jason Andrew Varitek (born April 11, 1972), also known as Tek, is a retired American baseball catcher.

Varitek started his career in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox, for whom he now serves as a special assistant, after being drafted as a minor league prospect by the Seattle Mariners.

Varitek, a three-time All-Star and Gold Glove Award winner at catcher as well as a Silver Slugger Award winner, was voted a winner of both the 2004 World Series and 2007 World Series Championship teams and was widely regarded as one of the team's leaders.

He was named the captain of the Red Sox in December 2004, his fourth captain since 1923.

He was a switch-hitter, and he was one of only three players, as well as pitcher Ed Vosberg and outfielder Michael Conforto, to have participated in the Little League World Series, College World Series, and the Major League World Series.

He also competed in Olympic Baseball and the World Baseball Classic.

According to a USA Today poll, his Lake Brantley High School baseball team won the Florida State Championship in 1990 and was dubbed the nation's top high school baseball team.

Varitek also set a record four no-hitters, a record that was later tied by Carlos Ruiz.

Personal life

Varitek has been described as an evangelical Christian as of 2005.

Varitek has three children from his previous marriage: Ally, Kendall, and Caroline. In 2008, he and his first wife, Karen Mullinax, divorced. Liv, their first child, was born on May 26, 2012, and he married Catherine Panagiotopoulos on November 26, 2011, their first child, Liv, was born on May 26, 2012. They live in Hingham, Massachusetts.

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Little League career

Varitek was active in the 1984 Little League World Series, leading his Altamonte Springs, Florida, team to victory in the United States Championship bracket in a 4–2 victory over Southport, Indiana.

Early professional career

In the first round of the Minnesota Twins in 1993, he was drafted 21st overall but opted to return for his senior year of college. Varitek was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the first round of the 1994 amateur draft, securing her 14th pick overall after graduation. Varitek, a pioneer of loopholes in the draft process, partnered with the St. Paul Saints in the free Northern League before coming to an understanding with the Mariners, but did not join the Mariners' minor league system until 1995. Varitek was sent to the AA affiliate Port City Roosters, where he first met pitcher and longtime colleague Derek Lowe when he finally joined the team. During the 1997 season, Lowe was traded to the Red Sox in exchange for reliever Heathcliff Slocumb, who has been dubbed one of the best trades in the Red Sox's popularity in recent history.

Major league career

Varitek was called up for a single game on September 24, 1997, collecting a single in his first at bat. Varitek split time with incumbent catcher Scott Hatteberg, who appeared in 86 games during the 1998 season. Varitek was the starting catcher with a strong spring training program the following season.

The catcher's 1999 was a breakthrough season. Varitek played in 144 games, averaging of.269, with 20 home runs and 76 RBIs. In the 1999 ALDS against the Cleveland Indians and 4-20 with 1 RBI against the New York Yankees, Varitek went 5-21 with 3 RBI, and 4–20 with 1 RBI. He set a new ALDS record by scoring five runs in a single game.

The 2000 season was a disappointment offensively, with only 10 home runs and 65 RBI as the Red Sox failed to qualify for post-season play. Varitek signed a three-year, $14.9 million contract with Boston before the 2001 season. Varitek went on a hot streak, averaged out at 310 per cent at one point, and on May 20, 2001, the catcher homered three times in a single game before having to throw a foul ball. During the month of July 2001, the play continued to be a top Web Gem. Varitek finished the season with a.293 average, seven home runs, and 25 RBI in 51 games.

Varitek played a full time in the 2002 season for the Red Sox. Varitek's return to the table was not fruitful, however, as Varitek struggled to find himself on the field. Despite not being able to develop his full offensive potential, pitchers and coaches alike began to notice how much Varitek's preparation and knowledge of the game were assisting the pitchers. His research habits and extra hours of work with pitchers will soon be his signature attribute. Varitek and the Red Sox started the 2003 season on a high-fire in the playoffs after losing in the previous three years. Varitek immediately established himself as a leader in the clubhouse, with new faces including Kevin Millar, David Ortiz, Bill Mueller, and Todd Walker, as well as original players Trot Nixon and Lou Merloni. Varitek's best to date, and he received his first All-Star selection after the fans voted him in for his first All-Star selection in the All-Star Final Vote. With 15 home runs and 51 RBI going into the All-Star break and ending the season off with a respectable.273 average, 25 home runs, and 85 RBI, all career highs. Before losing the 2003 ALCS to the Yankees, the Red Sox earned a Wild Card berth and their first playoff appearance since 1999.

Varitek posted a career-high batting average in 2004 with 18 home runs and 73 RBI. Varitek yelled his glove against Yankee Alex Rodriguez after Rodriguez was struck by a pitch and gestured toward pitcher Bronson Arroyo, sparking a bench-clearing brawl. Despite being suspended (along with Rodriguez) from the game after the incident, the Red Sox, who were inspired by the game, came from behind to win 11–10. Since the melee, the Red Sox's season is also considered to be the turning point in the Red Sox's season, with MLB's best record after the melee. Boston won its first World Series championship in 86 years after being the first MLB team to win a three games to none deficit in the ALCS against the Yankees. Varitek went 4-for-4 in Game 6 of the ALCS' pivotal Game 6 (the "Bloody Sock game"), in which Boston defeated 4-2.

Varitek became a free agent and committed to a four-year, $40 million deal with the Red Sox at the end of the year.

Varitek's resignation as a team captain, only the fourth Red Sox player to be honoured since 1923, following the Hall of Famers Jimmie Foxx (1966-1942), and Jim Rice (1986-1989) Jim Rice (1986–1989). Varitek was one of only three captains in MLB at the time (the others, Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees and Paul Konerko of the Chicago White Sox), and others were Lee Jeter of the New York Yankees and Paul Konerko of the Chicago White Sox). Varitek remained captain until his retirement in the 2012 season. Varitek wore a "C" patch on his uniform, making him the first player to do so in a World Series.

Varitek's first Gold Glove Award, his first Silver Slugger, and his second All-Star selection were awarded in 2005.

Varitek played in three games for the United States in the World Baseball Classic in 2006. He made the most of his playing time, winning a grand slam against Team Canada, allowing Team USA to have a small 8–2 advantage down to 8–6. However, Team Canada maintained the lead in the upset victory.

Varitek appeared in his 991st game as a catcher for the Boston Red Sox on July 18, 2006, smashing Carlton Fisk's club record. Varitek's success was acknowledged before the game was official and couldn't be cancelled due to weather). For a few moments before playing returned to Fenway Park, Varitek received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd. Varitek was hurt rounding the bases in a 9–8 win over the Cleveland Indians in his 1,000th game as catcher, but the angler said he sustained the injury while blocking home plate to make the tag against the Angels Mike Napoli on July 29, 2006. On August 3, 2006, he underwent surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee. Varitek returned to the Red Sox family in Pawtucket on September 4 after undergoing a short recovery stint.

Varitek was honoured at a pre-game parade on September 19, 2006, as the first Red Sox catcher to watch 1,000 games. Carlton Fisk, the Boston club's highest-ever player, was given a special award by the Hall of Famer, who held the Boston team record with 990 career games before Varitek surpassed it. Varitek played his 1,000th game on July 31 on July 31, and the ceremony's audience had 1,009 games behind the plate by the evening. Varitek also received the 2006 Red Sox Heart and Hustle Award from the local chapter of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, which is given to a player exemplifying the game's spirit, history, and spirit.

Varitek and the Red Sox returned to the World Series in 2007, winning for the second time in four years. Varitek hit his 1,000th career peak during the season. He caught Jon Lester's no-hitter on May 19, 2008, giving him his first appearance in Major League history of getting four straight no-hitters in his career.

Varitek unveiled Captain Cabernet, a charity wine with proceeds benefiting Pitching In For Kids and Children's Hospital Boston, honoring the brave service of the captain.

Varitek decided against free agency at the end of the 2008 season. According to Boston Globe articles, Scott Boras, the Boston Globe's agent, was using Jorge Posada's four-year, $52.4 million contract as a model for negotiations. Varitek signed a new one-year contract with the Red Sox worth $5 million, or a $3 million player trade, for 2010. Varitek's numbers in 2009 were similar to his dismal 2008 debut, with slightly more home runs (14), doubles (24) and runs batted in (51), a higher slugging percentage (.390) and less at bats (425). Victor Martinez, the Red Sox's backup catcher, was eventually named after the Red Sox acquired All-Star Victor Martinez on July 31 trade deadline.

Varitek signed a one-year, $2 million contract to remain with the Red Sox for the 2011 season, according to Sports Illustrated on December 2, 2010. On December 10, the agreement was signed. Varitek was off the bench during the 2011 season, playing in 68 games, posting.221 with 11 home runs, 36 RBI, with a.300 on-base percentage.

Varitek became a free agent once more after the 2011 season, and the Red Sox gave him a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. Varitek officially announced his resignation on March 1, 2012 at Jet Blue Park in Fort Myers, Florida.

Ryan Lavarnway, a fellow catcher and colleague of Varitek in 2011, ranked Boston as his favorite player growing up. "Varitek has set the gold standard for the position," says the contestant, who has taken four no-hitters and won two World Series titles." He's a true expert at managing a pitching team, and it's something I'd like to become as my career progresses.

Post-playing career

Varitek had been named special assistant to the general manager on September 27, 2012, according to then-Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington. Varitek will be involved in activities such as "major league personnel decisions, assessments, and mentorship and training of young players," Cherington said. By March 2018, he had been "Special Assistant to the President of Baseball Operations." After not appearing in the team's front-office directory during the 2019 season, he was named as "Special Assistant / Catching Coach" in 2020. Varitek was promoted to a uniformed coaching role on manager Alex Cora's coaching staff on November 20, 2020. Prior to the 2021 season, his position was changed to Player Information Coach.

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