Casey Kotchman

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Casey Kotchman bigraphy, stories - Major League Baseball first baseman

Casey Kotchman : biography

February 22, 1983 –

Casey John Kotchman (born February 22, 1983) is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball. He is known for setting the record for having the most consecutive put-outs without committing an error.

High school

He was on the 2001 national champion team of Seminole High School in Seminole, Florida.

Personal life

He is the son of Tom Kotchman, longtime Angels’ minor league manager and scout. His mother, Sue Kotchman, works as a principal and was formerly a teacher. She suffered a brain hemorrhage during the 2008 season; as a result Kotchman had to be placed on the Major League bereavement list, and later the restricted list. She recovered, however. His sister Christal Kotchman is a former College of Charleston softball team member.

Professional career

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The Anaheim Angels selected Kotchman with the thirteenth overall pick in the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft.

In , the Angels moved starter Darin Erstad back to center field, announcing that Kotchman would likely open the season at first base. After struggling in his at-bats early in 2006 because of mononucleosis, Kotchman was placed on the disabled list in early May. In , Kotchman proclaimed himself fully healthy and proved it by winning the Angels’ opening day first baseman job for the second straight year.

Kotchman missed 128 games in , as he was kept away from the field with complications stemming from mononucleosis. After a spring in which the Opening Day starting first baseman batted better than .400, he hit just .152 with one home run and six RBI in 29 games with the Angels. Kotchman tried to return to the field, but his rehab assignment was cut short when he experienced dizzy spells in July while playing for Triple-A Salt Lake. He spent much of the rest of the season at home in Florida, performing cardio exercises.

In , he was one of seven Angels regulars to hit over .290 (most in majors) and established career highs in several offensive categories including batting average (.296), home runs (11) and RBI (68). He also hit .320 at Angel Stadium and .274 on the road. He had a 7-game hit streak (7-8/31-8/7), his 4th seven-game streak of season (each matching a career-high). He left the June 16 game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 7th after being hit on the helmet by a pickoff throw at second base by Dodgers catcher Russell Martin and was diagnosed with a mild concussion and received three stitches behind his right ear. On June 25, he returned to the starting linup after missing seven games. He logged the first three triples of his career. He connected for his second career grand slam in the first inning on May 14 against the Texas Rangers. He had a .997 fielding percentage and was ranked fourth among AL first basemen (3 E/1049 TC) in the 2007 season. He hit a solo home run on Opening Night against the Texas Rangers in his first at-bat of the season, his first home run since May 4, 2006, against the Detroit Tigers. He connected for the game-winning RBI single in the 9th inning on July 13 against the Rangers. He collected a career-best four hits in 1 game on August 17 against the Boston Red Sox.

Atlanta Braves

On July 29, , Kotchman was traded to the Atlanta Braves along with minor league pitcher Stephen Marek for first baseman Mark Teixeira. Kotchman started his tenure with the Braves on a terrible note, batting just .157 in his first 20 games but he ended the season with a .237 batting average with the Braves.

Kotchman was placed on the bereavement list after his mother fell ill on August 20, 2008. After seven days, the Braves placed Kotchman on the restricted list so he could continue to be with his mother in Florida. After 11 days from first being placed on the bereavement list, the Braves activated Kotchman.

On January 31, , Kotchman avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year, 2.885 million contract. Kotchman mentioned at spring training in 2009 that playing for the Braves was always a dream of his. Kotchman suffered a shin contusion after being hit by a pitch from Arizona Diamondbacks’ pitcher Max Scherzer on May 31 and was expected to be out two to three days. The injury did, however, force Kotchman on the 15-day disabled list and was activated on June 16.