Mike Difelice is a former professional baseball player who played as a catcher for several teams during his career. He was born on May 28, 1969, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and attended Louisiana State University, where he played college baseball.
Difelice was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 11th round of the 1991 Major League Baseball draft. He made his major league debut with the Cardinals in 1996 and played for them until 1998. During his time with the Cardinals, Difelice was primarily a backup catcher and played in a total of 63 games.
In 1999, Difelice signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as a free agent. He played for the Devil Rays for two seasons, serving as their primary catcher in 2000 and playing in a total of 179 games for the team. During his time with the Devil Rays, Difelice was known for his strong defensive skills and his ability to handle the team's young pitching staff.
After his stint with the Devil Rays, Difelice played for several other teams during his career. He played for the New York Mets in 2002 and 2003, the Toronto Blue Jays in 2004, and the Detroit Tigers in 2005. During this time, he continued to serve primarily as a backup catcher and played in a total of 98 games over four seasons.
In 2006, Difelice signed with the Florida Marlins and played for them for two seasons. During his time with the Marlins, he served as a backup catcher and played in a total of 70 games. He was known for his strong defensive skills and his ability to work well with the team's young pitching staff.
Difelice's final season in the major leagues was in 2008, when he played for the New York Mets. He played in a total of 31 games that season and served as a backup catcher.
Overall, Difelice played in a total of 483 games over 13 seasons in the major leagues. He had a career batting average of .219, with 14 home runs and 94 runs batted in. While he was not known for his offensive prowess, he was highly regarded for his defensive skills and his ability to work well with young pitchers. After his playing career, Difelice went on to work as a coach and instructor in the minor leagues.
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