Frank Catalanotto

About Me

Name:

Frank Catalanotto

About Me:

Background

Frank Catalanotto graduated from Smithtown East High School (NY) in 1992. He played baseball, soccer, ran track, and as a senior, Frank earned All Long Island Honors.

Frank and his wife Barbara serve as honorary chairs of the Vascular Birthmark Foundation, a foundation that has provided treatment to over 25,000 children.



Career Transactions

Selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 10th round of the June, 1992 Free Agent Draft

Selected by the Oakland Athletics in Major League Baseball’s Annual Rule V draft on December 9, 1996. Returned to the Tigers on March 21, 1997

Acquired by the Texas Rangers, along with right-handed pitcher Francisco Cordero, left-handed pitchers Justin Thompson and Alan Webb, catcher Bill Haselman and outfielder Gabe Kapler, in exchange for outfielder Juan Gonzalez, right-handed pitcher Danny Patterson, and catcher Gregg Zaun on November 2, 1999

Signed by the Toronto Blue Jays as a free agent on December 30, 2002

Signed by the Texas Rangers as a free agent on November 21, 2006

Signed by the New York Mets as a minor league free agent on January 30, 2010



Timeline

1994

Paced the entire Detroit organization in batting average and hits
Named to the South Atlantic League All Star Team
1995

Led Southern League (AA) second basemen in fielding, assists, double plays and total chances
1996

Named to the Southern League All Star Team
Helped Jacksonville (AA) capture the Southern League title
1997

Selected by Oakland from the Tigers in the Major League Baseball’s annual Rule V Draft on December 6, 1996. Returned to Detroit on March 21st
Selected to the AAA All Star Game, July 9th at Des Moines, Iowa's Sec Taylor Stadium, home of the Iowa Cubs.
Was Named MVP of the AAA All Star Game, going 2-4, a double and a HR, with 2 runs scored and 2 RBI.
1998

Hit his first major league home run on May 10th at Anaheim off Ken Hill
Optioned to Toledo (AAA) of the International Leagues on June 1st and recalled on July 23rd
Hit for the cycle, July 19th vs. Buffalo
1999

In his first full season in the majors, Frank started 24 games at first base, 20 contests at second base, and 18 at third base. He also started seven games as the Designated Hitter
Acquired by Texas in a nine player trade involving Juan Gonzalez on November 2nd
2000

Hit .357 (10-28) as a pinch hitter, the fourth highest average in the American League.
Set club records with 10 consecutive hits and reaching base 13 straight times, April 21st - May 18th.
Went 5-5 vs. Tampa Bay on May 17th
2001

Led the Rangers and finished fifth in the American League with a career high .330 batting average.
Held a 13 game hitting streak from August 15th - August 28th
Tied a club record with nine at bats, August 25th vs. Boston
2002

Injuries disrupted his season
On the DL from August 17th until the end of the season with at broken bone in his right hand after getting hit by a pitch by Toronto’s Mark Hendrickson
2003

Established career highs in home runs, RBI, and total bases (231)
Tied his career best in games played
2004

Went 6-6 in the second game of a doubleheader on May 1st vs. the Chicago White Sox. Frank became the first player in Toronto history to collect six hits in a game
2005

Tied his career best in RBI
Won two American League Player of the Week awards, July 18th - July 24th and September 26th - October 2nd
2006

Established career high in doubles and walks
Compiled the second highest on base percentage average of his career (.376)
Tied for eighth in the American League with 10 outfield assists
Played for Italy in the inaugural World Baseball Classic and hit .364 (4-11) with one double, one triple and three RBI.
2007

Hit four leadoff home runs during the year, the last one came on September 19th at Minnesota (off Matt Garza)
Was hit by a pitch a career high 11 times
Collected his 1,000th career hit on September 22nd vs. Baltimore, a single off Radhames Liz.
2008

Fashioned a .350 (7-20) batting average as a pinch hitter, first in the American League and seventh in the majors (minimum 20 at bats). Finished second in the AL with his seven pinch hits (Wilson Betemit had eight with the Yankees).
Batted .357 (35-70) in the seventh inning or later
Made 25 starts at first base, 20 in left field and 18 as a Designated Hitter
Hit .365 (19-52) in May.
2009

Went to Spring training with Texas. Released on April 6th & signed a minor league contract with Milwaukee on May 12th
Appeared in 3 games for Huntsville (AA) of the Southern League before his contract was purchased by Milwaukee on May 25th
Made 32 starts for the Brewers: 29 in Right field and 3 in Left field
Hit .293 (39-133) vs. Right-handed pitching
Batted .300 (9-30) in 20 games in July and .296 (16-54) in 22 games in August
For the year, Frank had 10 multi hit games: nines contests with two hits & one contest with three hits, September 2nd at St. Louis
Played for Italy in the World Baseball Classic and hit .300 (3-10) in three games.
2010

Went to spring training with the NY Mets and made the major league team
Played in 24 games
Released from the Mets on May 17th
2011

Coached for the Italian National Team in Vero Beach during Spring Training, along with future Hall Of Famer Mike Piazza.

Started Proven4 a Vitamin & Supplement Co.

Birthday:

April 27, 1974

City:

Long Island

State:

New York