Tim Laker is a former Major League Baseball player who played as a catcher for several teams during his career. He was born on November 27, 1969, in Encino, California, and attended Simi Valley High School. Laker was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the sixth round of the 1988 MLB draft and made his debut in the majors in 1992.
Laker played for several teams during his career, including the Montreal Expos, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He was primarily used as a backup catcher and played in a total of 582 games over 13 seasons. Laker was known for his strong defensive skills and ability to handle pitchers, but he was not a prolific hitter. He finished his career with a .226 batting average, 10 home runs, and 87 RBIs.
One of Laker's most memorable moments came in 1997 when he hit a walk-off home run for the Expos against the San Francisco Giants. The home run came in the bottom of the 10th inning and gave the Expos a 2-1 victory. Laker was also known for his work ethic and professionalism, and he was respected by his teammates and coaches.
After retiring from playing, Laker became a coach and manager in the minor leagues. He served as a hitting coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners before joining the Los Angeles Dodgers as their assistant hitting coach in 2016. Laker was promoted to hitting coach for the Dodgers in 2019 and helped lead the team to the World Series that year.
Overall, Tim Laker had a solid career as a catcher in the major leagues. While he was not a star player, he was a reliable backup and valued for his defensive skills and leadership. After retiring from playing, Laker has continued to make an impact in baseball as a coach and mentor to young players.
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