Matt Mantei was a professional baseball player who played as a relief pitcher for various teams in Major League Baseball (MLB) during his career. He was born on July 7, 1973, in Tampa, Florida, and attended River Ridge High School in New Port Richey, Florida.
Mantei was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 1991 MLB draft, but he did not sign with the team. Instead, he attended Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Florida, before transferring to the University of Kentucky. He was then drafted by the Florida Marlins in the second round of the 1993 MLB draft.
Mantei made his MLB debut with the Marlins in 1995 and played for them until 1999. He was then traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he played from 1999 to 2003. He also played for the Boston Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds before retiring in 2005.
Throughout his career, Mantei was known for his fastball, which could reach speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. He was also known for his fiery personality and his willingness to stand up for his teammates.
Mantei's best season came in 1999, when he recorded 22 saves and a 2.39 earned run average (ERA) for the Diamondbacks. He was named to the National League All-Star team that year and helped the Diamondbacks reach the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
However, injuries plagued Mantei throughout his career. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2001 and missed most of the 2002 season. He also suffered from shoulder and back injuries later in his career.
Despite his injuries, Mantei continued to pitch at a high level when he was healthy. He finished his career with a 3.91 ERA and 93 saves in 385 appearances. He struck out 523 batters in 408 innings pitched.
After retiring from baseball, Mantei returned to his hometown of Tampa and became a firefighter. He also started a charity called the Matt Mantei Foundation, which raises money for various causes, including cancer research and children's charities.
In conclusion, Matt Mantei was a talented relief pitcher who played for several teams during his MLB career. He was known for his fastball and his fiery personality, and he helped the Diamondbacks reach the playoffs in 1999. However, injuries limited his playing time, and he retired from baseball in 2005. He has since become a firefighter and started a charity to help others.
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