Jarrod Saltalamacchia is a former American professional baseball player who played as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for over a decade. He was born on May 2, 1985, in West Palm Beach, Florida, and attended Royal Palm Beach High School. Saltalamacchia was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the 2003 MLB draft.
Saltalamacchia made his MLB debut with the Braves in 2007, but he was traded to the Texas Rangers later that year. He played for the Rangers until 2010, during which he established himself as a solid defensive catcher with a strong arm. He also showed some offensive potential, hitting 11 home runs in 2008 and 9 home runs in 2009.
In 2010, Saltalamacchia was traded to the Boston Red Sox, where he played for two and a half seasons. He had a career year in 2012, hitting .222 with 25 home runs and 59 RBIs. However, his defensive skills were criticized, and he struggled with passed balls and wild pitches.
After leaving the Red Sox, Saltalamacchia played for several teams, including the Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, and Toronto Blue Jays. He was primarily used as a backup catcher and a pinch hitter during this time, and his offensive production declined.
Saltalamacchia retired from baseball in 2018 with a career batting average of .233, 110 home runs, and 381 RBIs. He was known for his strong arm and ability to throw out base stealers, but his defensive skills were sometimes inconsistent. He was also criticized for his high strikeout rate and low on-base percentage.
Off the field, Saltalamacchia was involved in several charitable organizations, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club. He also founded the Saltalamacchia Family Foundation, which supports children with cancer and their families.
In conclusion, Jarrod Saltalamacchia had a solid career as a catcher in MLB, playing for several teams over the course of more than a decade. He was known for his defensive skills and strong arm, but his offensive production was sometimes inconsistent. He retired from baseball in 2018 and has since been involved in charitable work.
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