Craig Tatum
Encyclopedia
Craig Browning Tatum is an American
professional baseball
catcher
for the Houston Astros
of Major League Baseball
.
and pitcher
. He was named the Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year after hitting a team-best .435 with 51 hits and 54 Runs Batted In. He had a 7-3 pitching record with a save and a 3.94 earned run average and 80 strikeouts
s and a team-leading 60 RBI, in route to second-team All-All-SEC
honors as a sophomore. He majored in Banking and Finance
.
in the third round (78th overall) of the 2004 MLB Draft.
He was called up from the minors from Triple-A Louisville Bats
on July 19, 2009 after starting catcher Ramon Hernandez
had a knee injury. On July 21, 2009 he made his major league debut against Los Angeles Dodgers
, he went 0-2 and was the last player retired in the game. On July 25, Hanigan was scratched from his scheduled start to a stiff neck which allowed Tatum took his first Major League start against the Chicago Cubs
. On July 28 against the San Diego Padres
, Tatum notched his first Major League hit and first career RBI with a single that scored Laynce Nix
On August 29, 2009, Tatum hit his first career home run, a line drive off knuckleballer Charlie Haeger
. On November 20, 2009, Tatum was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles
. Making the team out of spring training, he backed up Matt Wieters
for the 2010 season. In 2011 Tatum did not make the team out of spring training but was called up after catcher Jake Fox
was designated for assignment on June 1. He has backed up catcher Matt Wieters since then.
Tatum was claimed off waivers by the Astros on October 28.
closer Jonathan Papelbon
, and they are offseason workout partners.
He is married to Daniele Rocconi.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
Early years
Tatum attended Hattiesburg High School where he played as a catcherCatcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
and pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He was named the Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year after hitting a team-best .435 with 51 hits and 54 Runs Batted In. He had a 7-3 pitching record with a save and a 3.94 earned run average and 80 strikeouts
College career
In 2002 Tatum was redshirted before be the team's starting catcher. In 2004, Tatum hit .325 with 13 home runHome run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and a team-leading 60 RBI, in route to second-team All-All-SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
honors as a sophomore. He majored in Banking and Finance
Finance
"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...
.
MLB career
Tatum was drafted by the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in the third round (78th overall) of the 2004 MLB Draft.
He was called up from the minors from Triple-A Louisville Bats
Louisville Bats
The Louisville Bats, which play in Louisville, Kentucky, are the AAA minor league baseball affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The team, formerly known as the Louisville RiverBats, plays in the International League...
on July 19, 2009 after starting catcher Ramon Hernandez
Ramón Hernández
Ramón José Hernández Marin is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher who plays for the Colorado Rockies. Previously, he played with the Oakland Athletics , San Diego Padres , Baltimore Orioles , and Cincinnati Reds .-Career:Hernández is a career .263 hitter with 144 home runs, 651 RBI, and 455...
had a knee injury. On July 21, 2009 he made his major league debut against Los Angeles Dodgers
2009 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 2009 Los Angeles Dodgers season sees the team defend their National League West title while earning the best record in the National League, and marks the fiftieth anniversary of their 1959 World Series Championship...
, he went 0-2 and was the last player retired in the game. On July 25, Hanigan was scratched from his scheduled start to a stiff neck which allowed Tatum took his first Major League start against the Chicago Cubs
2009 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs' 2009 season was the 137th season of American baseball for the Chicago Cubs. It involved the Cubs attempting to win the NL Central division for the third consecutive season, although falling short in second place.-Minor League affiliates:...
. On July 28 against the San Diego Padres
2009 San Diego Padres season
The San Diego Padres' 2009 season is a season in American baseball.-Roster:-Game log: During the Padres 6-5 win over the New York Mets at Citi Field on April 13, 2009, Jody Gerut became the first player to open a new ballpark with a leadoff home run, hitting the first base hit and home run on the...
, Tatum notched his first Major League hit and first career RBI with a single that scored Laynce Nix
Laynce Nix
Laynce Michael Nix is a Major League Baseball outfielder. Nix plays all three outfield positions, but plays most of his games at left field. His younger brother is Jayson Nix, a utility player for the Toronto Blue Jays....
On August 29, 2009, Tatum hit his first career home run, a line drive off knuckleballer Charlie Haeger
Charlie Haeger
Charles Wallis Haeger is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Boston Red Sox organization in Major League Baseball.-High school:...
. On November 20, 2009, Tatum was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. Making the team out of spring training, he backed up Matt Wieters
Matt Wieters
Matthew Richard Wieters is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Baltimore Orioles. Wieters was drafted 5th overall in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. Wieters played college baseball for Georgia Tech, and his agent is Scott Boras. Wieters is a tall athletic hitter, standing 6 feet...
for the 2010 season. In 2011 Tatum did not make the team out of spring training but was called up after catcher Jake Fox
Jake Fox
Jacob Quirin Fox is an American professional baseball catcher and outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball.-Early years:...
was designated for assignment on June 1. He has backed up catcher Matt Wieters since then.
Tatum was claimed off waivers by the Astros on October 28.
Personal
Tatum played in college with Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
closer Jonathan Papelbon
Jonathan Papelbon
Jonathan Robert Papelbon is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. Before joining the Phillies, Papelbon played with the Boston Red Sox from 2005-2011....
, and they are offseason workout partners.
He is married to Daniele Rocconi.