Casey Kotchman is a former professional baseball player who played as a first baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. He was born on February 22, 1983, in St. Petersburg, Florida, and attended Seminole High School in Seminole, Florida.
Kotchman was drafted by the Anaheim Angels in the first round of the 2001 MLB draft and made his debut in the major leagues in 2004. He played for the Angels until 2008, during which he established himself as a reliable first baseman with a strong defensive game. In 2007, he had a career-high batting average of .296 and hit 11 home runs.
In 2009, Kotchman was traded to the Atlanta Braves, where he played for one season. He then played for the Seattle Mariners in 2010, where he had a career-high 48 doubles and a .307 batting average. He also won the Gold Glove Award for his defensive performance that year.
Kotchman played for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2011, where he hit .306 and had a .378 on-base percentage. He also set a record for the most consecutive errorless games by a first baseman in the American League. He played for the Cleveland Indians in 2012 and the Miami Marlins in 2013 before becoming a free agent.
Overall, Kotchman played in 1,142 games in his MLB career, with a batting average of .260, 71 home runs, and 441 runs batted in. He was known for his strong defensive skills, winning the Gold Glove Award in 2010 and setting records for errorless games played at first base.
After his playing career, Kotchman became a coach, serving as a hitting coach for the Seattle Mariners' minor league team in 2016 and as a manager for the Clinton LumberKings in 2017. He also worked as a scout for the Los Angeles Angels in 2018.
In conclusion, Casey Kotchman had a successful career as a first baseman in MLB, known for his strong defensive skills and consistent hitting. He played for several teams during his career and won the Gold Glove Award in 2010. After retiring from playing, he became a coach and scout in the baseball industry.
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