Anthony Recker | |
---|---|
Catcher / First baseman | |
Born: Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, U.S. | August 29, 1983|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
August 25, 2011, for the Oakland Athletics | |
Last MLB appearance | |
April 19, 2017, for the Atlanta Braves | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .199 |
Home runs | 18 |
Runs batted in | 70 |
Teams | |
Anthony Vito Recker (born August 29,1983) is an American broadcaster and former professional baseball catcher and first baseman. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics,Chicago Cubs,New York Mets,and Atlanta Braves. [1]
Born in Allentown,Pennsylvania,Recker was raised by mother Alicia and stepfather Kip. [2] He attended Catasauqua High School,where he also played football and basketball,and later continued his baseball career at Alvernia College,a small NCAA Division III school in Reading,Pennsylvania. [3] [4] One of Recker's college teammates was Zach Lutz,and the pair were coached by Lutz's father. [5] While playing for the Crusaders,Recker spent some time on the mound,where he occasionally threw a knuckleball. [6] [7] Despite growing up in Pennsylvania,Recker's favorite team was the Oakland Athletics. [8]
Recker was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 18th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft out of Alvernia College. He began catching and,on occasion,playing first base professionally.
On August 23,2011,he was promoted to the major leagues for the first time. [9] He was named to the Triple-A All-PCL Team in 2011,a season in which he powered 16 home runs for the Sacramento River Cats. [10] He made the Athletics' 2012 Opening Day roster,but was optioned to the minor leagues in May. [11]
Recker was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Blake Lalli on August 27,2012. [12] He appeared in 9 games,in the last few weeks of that season. [1]
On October 24,2012,Recker was designated for assignment. [13] He was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets the next day. [14]
Recker made the Mets' 2013 Opening Day roster as a backup catcher. [15] Although Recker is a position player,he pitched the ninth inning for the New York Mets to preserve their regular pitchers in a lopsided game on June 30,2013,where the Mets were defeated by the Washington Nationals by a score of 13–2. The last position player to pitch for the Mets before Recker did so was catcher Rob Johnson on May 18,2012. [16] He was optioned to the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s on August 19. [17] He was recalled on August 28,as a backup to Travis d'Arnaud,due to the trade that sent catcher John Buck and outfielder Marlon Byrd to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Recker made the Opening Day roster in 2014 as a backup catcher to d'Arnaud. [18] On April 12,Recker hit a solo home run in the top of the 13th off Matt Shoemaker to break the 6–6 tie between the Mets and Angels and win the game for the Mets 7–6.
After an early-season injury to d'Arnaud in 2015,the Mets kept Recker as a backup catcher,and promoted prospect Kevin Plawecki to serve as the starter. [19] On April 14,Recker played 3B in an emergency role. On May 14,Recker had his first career multi-homer game against the Chicago Cubs,a game that the Mets went on to lose. [20] On November 6,Recker was outrighted off the 40-man roster,making him a free agent. [21] Recker hit .125 with two home runs,five RBIs in 80 at-bats in 32 games in 2015. From 2013 to 2015 as a Met,Recker hit 15 home runs in 140 games. However,Recker did manage to hit 8 home runs in just 108 plate appearances while playing for the Las Vegas 51s. Recker was known for his propensity to hit home runs late in games or in key situations.
On November 27,2015,Recker signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians,including an invitation to spring training. [22] He appeared in 19 games for the AAA Columbus Clippers,early in the 2016 season.
Recker was traded to the Atlanta Braves on May 9,2016,for cash considerations,and assigned to the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves. [23] The Braves promoted Recker to the major leagues after an injury to Tyler Flowers that July. [24]
On December 2,2016,Recker and the Braves avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to an $800,000 contract for the 2017 season. [25] He was initially optioned to Gwinnett at the end of spring training,but eventually was selected as one of the last two players to make the Braves’2017 Opening Day roster,alongside Chaz Roe. [26] [27] He had his contract purchased on July 21,2017. [28]
On July 24,2017,the Braves traded Recker,Jaime García,and cash considerations to the Minnesota Twins for prospect Huascar Ynoa. [29] The Twins subsequently outrighted Recker to the minor leagues on July 28,2017. He appeared in 19 games for the AAA Rochester Red Wings,that year. He elected free agency on October 10,2017.
On March 5,2018,Recker signed a minor-league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks,which included an invitation to spring training. [30] He spent the season with the Triple–A Reno Aces,catching in 66 of the 74 games in which he appeared and hitting .276/.358/.537 with 15 home runs and 50 RBI. Recker elected free agency following the season on November 2. [31]
Recker married Kelly Shepardson on November 2,2013. [32] His wife Kelly gave birth to their first child,Camden Anthony Recker,on December 29,2014. [33] They also have a younger son,Grady. [34] He recently became an analyst on the Mets' network SNY and has filled in for Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling in the booth with Gary Cohen. "In early 2019,I decided [playing baseball] wasn’t the right thing for me to do anymore," he told The Morning Call in April 2020. "As soon as I made that decision,I quickly turned my gaze toward the TV world. It was something I liked doing and I already had a little bit of experience" from working the David Wright finale in September 2018. [34]
Henry Ramón Blanco is a Venezuelan professional baseball coach and former player. He is currently the catching and strategy coach for the Washington Nationals. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1997 to 2013,appearing for the Los Angeles Dodgers,Colorado Rockies,Milwaukee Brewers,Atlanta Braves,Minnesota Twins,Chicago Cubs,San Diego Padres,New York Mets,Arizona Diamondbacks,Toronto Blue Jays,and Seattle Mariners. He later served as quality assurance coach for the Cubs. Although a light-hitting player,he was regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of his era.
Johnathan Richard Buck is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals,Toronto Blue Jays,Florida/Miami Marlins,New York Mets,Pittsburgh Pirates,Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He went to high school in Taylorsville,Utah.
Brayan Eduardo Peña is a Cuban-American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves,Kansas City Royals,Detroit Tigers,Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals. He is currently the manager of the Detroit Tigers' affiliate,the West Michigan Whitecaps.
Michael James Nickeas is a former professional baseball catcher. Nickeas played four seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays. Nickeas also represented Great Britain internationally.
RenéRivera is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners,Minnesota Twins,San Diego Padres,Tampa Bay Rays,New York Mets,Chicago Cubs,Los Angeles Angels,Atlanta Braves,Cleveland Indians,and Washington Nationals.
Jerry Richard Blevins,nicknamed Gordo,is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Blevins was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 17th round of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft,and made his major league debut in 2007. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics,Washington Nationals,New York Mets and Atlanta Braves. He currently serves as a studio analyst for the New York Mets' pregame and postgame shows on SNY,where he sometimes does color commentary for the network.
Steven James Lerud is an American former professional baseball catcher,who is currently a manager in the Chicago Cubs organization. During his playing days,he briefly played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies (2012–2013).
Travis Emmanuel d'Arnaud is an American professional baseball catcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the New York Mets,Los Angeles Dodgers,and Tampa Bay Rays. He made his MLB debut in 2013.
Chase Jonathan d'Arnaud,is an American former professional baseball utility player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates,Philadelphia Phillies,Atlanta Braves,Boston Red Sox,San Diego Padres,and San Francisco Giants.
Ryan Cole Lavarnway is an American-Israeli former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox,Baltimore Orioles,Atlanta Braves,Oakland Athletics,Pittsburgh Pirates,Cincinnati Reds,Miami Marlins,and Cleveland Indians. In international competition,he plays for Team Israel,and competed for them in the World Baseball Classic and in the Olympics.
Christian Gabriel Bethancourt Ruiz is a Panamanian professional baseball catcher and first baseman for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Atlanta Braves,San Diego Padres,Oakland Athletics,Tampa Bay Rays,and Miami Marlins,and in the KBO League for the NC Dinos. Bethancourt was signed by the Braves as an international free agent in 2008 and made his major league debut for them in 2013.
John Ryan Murphy is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees,Minnesota Twins,Arizona Diamondbacks,Atlanta Braves,and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Blake Thomas Lalli is an American former professional baseball first baseman and catcher and current manager for the Reno Aces,the Triple–A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs,Milwaukee Brewers,and the Atlanta Braves.
Kevin Jeffrey Plawecki is an American professional baseball catcher in the San Diego Padres organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets,Cleveland Indians,Boston Red Sox,and Texas Rangers.
Luis Alfonso Torrens Sáez is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the San Diego Padres,Seattle Mariners,and Chicago Cubs.
Kevan Alan Smith is an American former professional baseball catcher. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox,Los Angeles Angels,Tampa Bay Rays,and Atlanta Braves. Prior to playing professionally,Smith attended the University of Pittsburgh,where he played for the Pittsburgh Panthers baseball and football teams. The White Sox selected Smith in the seventh round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. He made his MLB debut in 2016.
Víctor Manuel Caratini is a Puerto Rican professional baseball catcher and first baseman for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs,San Diego Padres,and Milwaukee Brewers. Listed at 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) and 215 pounds (98 kg),he throws right-handed and is a switch hitter.
Tomás Enrique Nido Vicéns is a Puerto Rican professional baseball catcher in the Detroit Tigers organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs. He made his MLB debut in 2017 with the Mets.
William Jesus Contreras is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Atlanta Braves.
Chadwick Chandler Tromp is an Aruban professional baseball catcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). In 2013 he signed with the Cincinnati Reds organization as an international free agent. He has previously played in MLB for the San Francisco Giants.