Jarrod Saltalamacchia - wikipedia Jarrod Saltalamacchia Jarrod Saltalamacchia Saltalamacchia playing for the Detroit Tigers in 2016 Free agent Catcher / First baseman Born : ( 1985 - 05 - 02 ) May 2, 1985 ( age 32 ) West Palm Beach, Florida Bats : Switch Throws : Right MLB debut May 2, 2007, for the Atlanta Braves MLB statistics ( through 2017 season ) Batting average. 233 Hits 662 Home runs 110 Runs batted in 381 Teams Atlanta Braves ( 2007 ) Texas Rangers ( 2007 -- 2010 ) Boston Red Sox ( 2010 -- 2013 ) Miami Marlins ( 2014 -- 2015 ) Arizona Diamondbacks ( 2015 ) Detroit Tigers ( 2016 ) Toronto Blue Jays ( 2017 ) Career highlights and awards World Series champion ( 2013 ) Jarrod Scott Saltalamacchia ( / ˌsɒltələˈmɑːkiə / ; born May 2, 1985 ) is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball ( MLB ) for the Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, and Toronto Blue Jays. At 14 characters, his last name is the longest in Major League Baseball history. Saltalamacchia is Italian for `` jump over '' ( salta ) `` the thicket '' ( la macchia, Southern Italy dialectical term that refers to a kind of tall shrub ). His nickname is Salty. Contents 1 Background 2 Professional career 2.1 Atlanta Braves 2.2 Texas Rangers 2.3 Boston Red Sox 2.4 Miami Marlins 2.5 Arizona Diamondbacks 2.6 Detroit Tigers 2.7 Toronto Blue Jays 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External links Background Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, Saltalamacchia attended Royal Palm Beach High School in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, graduating in 2003. Saltalamacchia attended high school along with future Texas Rangers teammate Kason Gabbard, and the two were friends growing up. A standout, Saltalamacchia was a member of Team Florida USA and won gold with the team in the 2001 Junior Olympics. Professional career Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves selected Saltalamacchia in the first round ( 36 overall ) of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft. In 2006, Saltalamacchia had a breakout season for the Class A Myrtle Beach Pelicans, where the switch - hitting slugger hit. 314 with 35 doubles, 19 homers, and 81 runs batted in ( RBIs ) in 129 games. Saltalamacchia ranked 18th in Baseball America top 100 prospects in 2006, and 36th the following year. Saltalamacchia batting for the Atlanta Braves in 2007 In the 2007 season, Saltalamacchia started at catcher for the Double - A Mississippi Braves. In 22 games played, he belted 7 home runs with a batting average of. 373. On his 22nd birthday, he was called up to Atlanta to replace Brayan Peña on the roster and to fill in for Brian McCann, who re-injured his finger on May 1, 2007. Saltalamacchia 's call - up made him the new record - holder of the longest surname in Major League Baseball history, at 14 letters, breaking the record set by William Van Landingham ( or tying it, depending on whether one counts the space in the latter 's surname ). On May 6, 2007, Saltalamacchia had the first hit of his major league career in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the seventh inning, with two outs and two men on base, Saltalamacchia got his first RBI, which also drove in the winning run for the Braves. On May 27, 2007, Saltalamacchia hit his first major league home run, a solo shot off Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies. On June 26 in a start at first base, Saltalamacchia had his first multi-home run game. Both blasts came batting right - handed off Washington Nationals pitcher Mike Bacsik. Because Saltalamacchia was `` blocked '' ( by McCann, who was recently signed to a large contract with Atlanta ), he was the subject of much trade speculation within baseball, and was traded to the Texas Rangers on July 31, 2007, with Elvis Andrus, Neftalí Feliz, Matt Harrison, and Beau Jones for first baseman Mark Teixeira and reliever Ron Mahay. In 2007, Saltalamacchia batted. 284 with 4 home runs and 12 RBIs in 47 games with Atlanta. Texas Rangers Upon joining the Rangers after being traded Saltalamacchia changed his number to 25. In his first game with the Rangers on August 1, 2007, Saltalamacchia started at first base and drove in two runs. On August 22, 2007, Saltalamacchia had two home runs and seven RBIs in the historic 30 -- 3 rout of the Baltimore Orioles. In 46 games with the Rangers in 2007, Saltamacchia batted. 251, collecting seven home runs and 21 RBIs. On March 26, 2008, Saltalamacchia lost the starting catching job to Gerald Laird, and the Rangers chose to send him down to the minors to catch every day instead of sitting as the backup. However, Saltalamacchia was soon called up on April 25, 2008. Saltalamacchia during his tenure with the Texas Rangers in 2009 After the Rangers signed free agent Andruw Jones, Saltalamacchia gave up his number 25 to Jones and selected the number 21. On April 25, 2009, Saltalamacchia struck out in his 28th consecutive game played, setting a new MLB strikeout streak record for a position player ( pitcher Bill Stoneman holds the all - time record with 37 games ). Saltalamacchia 's streak started on July 23, 2008. Saltalamacchia suffered a shoulder injury on August 15, 2009 and was placed on the disabled list. Saltalamacchia was placed on the disabled list after the second game of the 2010 season. On April 27, 2010, Saltalamacchia was removed from the DL and assigned to the Oklahoma City RedHawks. He has struggled with throwing the ball back to the pitcher. Boston Red Sox Saltalamacchia was traded to the Boston Red Sox just before the Major League Baseball trading deadline on July 31, 2010. The Rangers received minor league prospects Chris McGuiness, Román Méndez, a player to be named later ( Michael Thomas ), and cash. He reported to the Pawtucket Red Sox of the Class AAA International League. Saltalamacchia was called up on August 11 after Kevin Cash went on the disabled list needing surgery in his left thumb, in September 2010. In the 2011 season, Saltalamacchia was slated at the beginning of the year to be Boston 's primary catcher with veteran Jason Varitek taking the role as the backup. Out of the gate, he struggled defensively and showed weakness in the batter 's box. However, he showed improvement at the plate as the season progressed, hitting. 327 in the month of June. Despite his low average, Saltalamacchia showed decent power and finished out the year hitting. 235 /. 288 /. 450 with 16 HR, and 56 RBIs in 103 games played. Saltalamacchia playing for the Boston Red Sox in 2012 On January 15, 2012, Saltalamacchia avoided arbitration by signing a one - year, non-guaranteed contract worth $2.5 million with the Sox to be their starting catcher. Kelly Shoppach was his backup until being traded, making Ryan Lavarnway his backup catcher. On May 26, 2012, with one out in the ninth inning, Saltalamacchia hit a 2 - run walk - off home run off of Fernando Rodney to beat the Tampa Bay Rays. As the season progressed, Saltalamacchia was moved to 1st base as manager Bobby Valentine gave Ryan Lavarnway a look as the team 's starting catcher. Saltalamacchia finished the year batting. 222 /. 288 /. 454 with 25 HR, and 59 RBIs in a career high 121 games played. Saltalamacchia was the starting catcher in 2013 for the Red Sox, and David Ross and Ryan Lavarnway were his backups. He went 1 - 2 with 3 walks and a double on Opening Day against the Yankees. On October 13, 2013, Saltlamacchia hit a walk - off single, driving in Jonny Gomes to beat the Detroit Tigers 6 - 5 in the second game of the 2013 ALCS. Saltalamacchia was benched for the final three games of the 2013 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals in favor of David Ross following a series of defensive errors. Saltalamacchia appeared in 121 games in 2013 and hit. 273 / 338 /. 466 with 14 home runs, 65 RBIs, 68 runs and 40 doubles, becoming the thirteenth different catcher ever to have 40 doubles in a season. Following the 2013 season, the Red Sox declined to offer Saltalamacchia a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent. Miami Marlins On December 3, 2013, Saltalamacchia agreed to a three - year, $21 million contract with the Miami Marlins. The deal was finalized on December 6. He was designated for assignment by the Marlins on April 27, 2015, and released on May 5. Arizona Diamondbacks Saltalamacchia with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015 On May 7, Saltalamacchia signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. After reporting to extended spring training and then playing for the Reno Aces for a week, the Diamondbacks promoted him to the major leagues to replace Tuffy Gosewisch, who suffered a season - ending knee injury, as their starting catcher. Detroit Tigers On December 6, 2015, Saltalamacchia signed a one - year major league contract with the Detroit Tigers for the league minimum salary. The Miami Marlins are still paying the bulk of Saltalamacchia 's existing contract. On April 13, 2016, Saltalamacchia hit his 100th career home run, a grand slam off Arquimedes Caminero of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Saltalamacchia would finish the 2016 season with a. 171 batting average. Toronto Blue Jays On February 6, 2017, Saltalamacchia signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays that included an invitation to spring training. He made the Opening Day roster as the backup catcher to Russell Martin. On April 28, Saltalamacchia was designated for assignment. He was released on May 3, and signed a new minor league contract with Toronto on May 16. He was assigned to the Triple - A Buffalo Bisons. On June 30, Saltalamacchia was released from his minor league contract. Personal life Saltalamacchia is a Christian. Saltalamacchia and his former Rangers teammate Kason Gabbard were childhood friends. Both attended Royal Palm Beach High School and were traded to the Rangers from different teams on July 31, 2007. He is married to Ashley Saltalamacchia, who was a gym teacher at his high school during his time there. They started dating a year after he graduated and were married in the summer of 2005. The couple have four daughters : Sidney, Hunter, Sloane and April. In August 2017, Saltalamacchia has worked as a Red Sox studio analyst for New England Sports Network ( NESN ), and made his debut as color commentator with play - by - play announcer Dave O'Brien during the August 20, 2017 home game against the New York Yankees. References Jump up ^ Glier, Ray ( May 9, 2007 ). `` Q&A : Catching up with the longest name in baseball ''. USA Today. Retrieved May 5, 2010. Jump up ^ Lundblad, Jeremy. `` Bee stumper : S-A-L-T-A-L-A-M-A-C-C-H-I-A - Boston Red Sox Blog - ESPN Boston ''. Espn.go.com. Retrieved December 6, 2013. Jump up ^ `` About Jarrod ''. Retrieved December 7, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Prospects : All - Time Top 100 Prospects ''. BaseballAmerica.com. Retrieved September 2, 2012. Jump up ^ Rogers, Bowman ( May 3, 2007 ). `` Saltalamacchia solid in debut ''. Braves.com. Retrieved May 3, 2007. Jump up ^ Glier, Ray ( May 3, 2007 ). `` Man of letters : Saltalamacchia sets mark ''. USA Today. Jump up ^ T.R. Sullivan ( August 22, 2007 ). `` Rangers break record. ''. MLB.com. Jump up ^ `` Laird named Rangers ' starting catcher, Saltalamacchia sent down ''. ESPN.com. March 26, 2008. Jump up ^ Anthony Andro ( April 25, 2008 ). `` JD confirms Saltalamacchia ''. Foul Territory. Retrieved August 2, 2011. Jump up ^ http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/02/saltalamacchia-giving-up-jersey-number.html Archived June 28, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ Maldre, Matt ( May 15, 2011 ). `` Top ten longest strikeout streaks ''. 57hits.com. Retrieved May 15, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Transactions texasrangers.com : Team ''. Texas.rangers.mlb.com. June 19, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012. Jump up ^ Bob Hersom ( May 12, 2010 ). `` OKC catcher : just trying to play catch ''. okcredhawks.com. Retrieved August 2, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Saltalamacchia nets Texas two prospects texasrangers.com : News ''. Texas.rangers.mlb.com. Retrieved September 2, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Red Sox recall catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia from Triple - A Pawtucket ; place catcher Kevin Cash on 15 - day disabled list redsox.com : Official Info ''. Boston.redsox.mlb.com. June 19, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Jarrod Saltalamacchia to have thumb surgery Tuesday -- ESPN Boston ''. Sports.espn.go.com. September 27, 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2012. Jump up ^ Craig Calcaterra ( April 6, 2011 ). `` Jarrod Saltalamacchia has until June ''. NBC Sports. Retrieved August 2, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Red Sox agree on 1 - year contract ''. KSPR.com. Associated Press. January 15, 2012. ^ Jump up to : Bradford, Rob ( November 5, 2013 ). `` Full Count '' Jarrod Saltalamacchia on Red Sox : ' It would be nice to have them call ' ``. WEEI - FM. Retrieved December 3, 2013. Jump up ^ Pouliot, Matthew ( September 27, 2013 ). `` Jarrod Saltalamacchia collects rare 40 - double season for catcher ''. NBC Sports. Jump up ^ Frisaro, Joe ( December 3, 2013 ). `` Marlins, Saltalamacchia reach three - year deal ''. MLB.com. Retrieved December 3, 2013. Jump up ^ Frisaro, Joe ( December 6, 2013 ). `` Marlins, Saltalamacchia complete three - year deal ''. MLB.com. Jump up ^ Gleeman, Aaron ( May 5, 2015 ). `` Marlins did n't find a taker for Jarrod Saltalamachia, will release him ''. hardballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved May 5, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Marlins release catcher Saltalamacchia ''. ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Diamondbacks agree to minor league deal with Jarrod Saltalamacchia ''. azcentral. May 7, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Arizona Diamondbacks will ease Jarrod Saltalamacchia into everyday catcher duties ''. azcentral. June 2, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Tigers sign catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia ''. Detroit News. December 6, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015. Jump up ^ Beck, Jason ( April 13, 2016 ). `` 100 grand : Salty 's milestone HR memorable ''. MLB.com. Retrieved April 13, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Jarrod Saltalamacchia Stats Baseball-Reference.com ''. Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 27. Jump up ^ Macklin, Oliver ( February 6, 2017 ). `` Blue Jays sign Salty, extend spring invite ''. MLB.com. Retrieved February 6, 2017. Jump up ^ Davidi, Shi ( April 28, 2017 ). `` Blue Jays to part ways with Saltalamacchia, recall Maile ''. Sportsnet. Retrieved April 28, 2017. Jump up ^ Todd, Jeff ( May 3, 2017 ). `` Minor MLB Transactions : 5 / 3 / 17 ''. mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved May 3, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Blue Jays sign Saltalamacchia to minor - league deal ''. Sportsnet. May 16, 2017. Retrieved May 16, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Jarrod Saltalamacchia released by Buffalo Bisons ''. Sportsnet. June 30, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Forgiveness After the Boston Bombings ''. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Gabbard tastes victory in home debut ''. texas.rangers.mlb.com. August 8, 2007. Jump up ^ O'Brien, David ( March 20, 2006 ). `` Fame finds slugger 's wife ''. AJC.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2006. Retrieved April 15, 2017. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Official website Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball - Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball - Reference ( Minors ) 2003 Major League Baseball Draft First Round Selections Delmon Young Rickie Weeks Jr. Kyle Sleeth Tim Stauffer Chris Lubanski Ryan Harvey Nick Markakis Paul Maholm John Danks Ian Stewart Michael Aubrey Lastings Milledge Aaron Hill Ryan Wagner Brian Anderson Jeff Allison David Murphy Brad Snyder Conor Jackson Chad Cordero Matt Moses David Aardsma Brandon Wood Chad Billingsley Brad Sullivan Brian Snyder Eric Duncan Daric Barton Carlos Quentin Mitch Maier Adam Miller Matt Murton Omar Quintanilla Craig Whitaker Luis Atilano Jarrod Saltalamacchia Adam Jones Atlanta Braves first - round draft picks 1965 : Grant 1966 : Santorini 1967 : Finlay 1968 : Moore 1969 : Holbert 1970 : Broaddus 1971 : Duncan 1972 : Hanna 1973 : Rockett 1974 : Murphy 1975 : Young 1976 : Smith 1977 : Cole 1978 : Horner 1979 : Komminsk 1980 : Dayley, Acker 1981 : Roberts 1982 : Ward 1983 : None 1984 : Denson 1985 : Greene 1986 : Mercker 1987 : Lilliquist 1988 : Avery 1989 : Houston 1990 : C. Jones 1991 : Kelly 1992 : Arnold 1993 : None 1994 : Shumate 1995 : Hutchinson 1996 : Zapp, Marquis 1997 : Cameron 1998 : None 1999 : None 2000 : Wainwright, Thorman, K. Johnson, Herr 2001 : McBride, Burrus, Lewis 2002 : Francoeur, Meyer 2003 : Atilano, Saltalamacchia 2004 : None 2005 : Devine, B. Jones 2006 : C. Johnson, Rasmus, Evarts 2007 : Heyward, Gilmore 2008 : DeVall 2009 : Minor 2010 : Lipka 2011 : Gilmartin 2012 : Sims 2013 : Hursh 2014 : Davidson 2015 : Allard, Soroka 2016 : Anderson 2017 : Wright Boston Red Sox 2013 World Series champions 2 Jacoby Ellsbury 3 David Ross 5 Jonny Gomes 7 Stephen Drew 11 Clay Buchholz 12 Mike Napoli 15 Dustin Pedroia 16 Will Middlebrooks 18 Shane Victorino 19 Koji Uehara ( ALCS MVP ) 22 Félix Doubront 29 Daniel Nava 31 Jon Lester 32 Craig Breslow 34 David Ortiz ( World Series MVP ) 36 Junichi Tazawa 37 Mike Carp 39 Jarrod Saltalamacchia 41 John Lackey 44 Jake Peavy 46 Ryan Dempster 50 Quintin Berry 56 Franklin Morales 67 Brandon Workman 72 Xander Bogaerts Manager 53 John Farrell Third base coach 13 Brian Butterfield Bench coach 17 Torey Lovullo Hitting coach 28 Greg Colbrunn First Base coach 43 Arnie Beyeler Pitching coach 47 Juan Nieves Assistant hitting coach 57 Vic Rodriguez Bullpen coach 58 Dana LeVangie Bullpen catcher 83 Brian Abraham Bullpen catcher 88 Alex Martinez Regular season American League Division Series American League Championship Series Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jarrod_Saltalamacchia&oldid=803460750 '' Categories : 1985 births American expatriate baseball players in Canada American people of Sicilian descent American people of Italian descent Arizona Diamondbacks players Atlanta Braves players Baseball players from Florida Boston Red Sox players Buffalo Bisons ( minor league ) players Detroit Tigers players Frisco RoughRiders players Gulf Coast Braves players Jupiter Hammerheads players Leones del Escogido players Living people Major League Baseball catchers Miami Marlins players Mississippi Braves players Myrtle Beach Pelicans players Oklahoma City RedHawks players Oklahoma RedHawks players Pawtucket Red Sox players Peoria Javelinas players Phoenix Desert Dogs players Rome Braves players Reno Aces players Sportspeople from Atlanta Sportspeople from West Palm Beach, Florida Texas Rangers players Toronto Blue Jays players Toros del Este players Boston Red Sox broadcasters Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from April 2017 Articles with permanently dead external links Use mdy dates from December 2013 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Français 日本 語 Polski Suomi 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 2 October 2017, at 17 : 47. 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Question: who has the longest last name in mlb history
Answer: Saltalamacchia