Matt Kata
Encyclopedia
Matthew John Kata is a Major League Baseball
infielder
who is currently in the Texas Rangers
organization.
Kata graduated from St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio in 1996 and attended college at Vanderbilt University
. He was selected by Arizona
in the ninth round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft
and made his major league debut for the Diamondbacks June 15, . He also played briefly for the Philadelphia Phillies
in , and Texas Rangers
in .
Along with Robby Hammock
, Alex Cintron
and Brandon Webb
, he was one of the "Baby Backs" who were called up when a surge of injuries hit Diamondbacks veteran players in 2003. The Baby Backs were popular and contributed to a winning season, but ultimately failed to make the playoffs.
Kata was signed to a minor league
contract by the Texas Rangers
in November 2006
and was a non-roster invitee to their 2007 spring training
camp. He earned a spot on the team's opening day roster as a utility player.
He appeared in 31 games for Texas, batting .186, before he was designated for assignment
June 5 when the Rangers activated pitcher
John Rheinecker
and infielder
/outfielder
Jerry Hairston
from the disabled list
.
After clearing waivers, he signed a minor league contract with Pittsburgh
on June 15 and was recalled by the Pirates June 30. Kata became a free agent
after the season.
On December 21, 2007, the Colorado Rockies
signed Kata to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Kata did not make the team and opted for free agency.
On March 30, , Kata rejoined the Pittsburgh Pirates organization by signing a minor league contract. He became a free agent at the end of the season and signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros. He appeared in 40 games for the Astros.
Through 2009, Kata's major league batting line in 695 at bats was BA/OBP/Slugging 239/.290/.370.
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...
infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
who is currently in the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
organization.
Kata graduated from St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio in 1996 and attended college at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
. He was selected by Arizona
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
in the ninth round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft
1999 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1999...
and made his major league debut for the Diamondbacks June 15, . He also played briefly for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in , and Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
in .
Along with Robby Hammock
Robby Hammock
Robert Wade Hammock is a retired Major League Baseball catcher.-Career:Hammock was drafted three times: in 1995 by the Florida Marlins, in 1997 by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and in 1998 by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played five seasons at various minor league levels from to...
, Alex Cintron
Alex Cintrón
Alexander Cintrón is a former Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals. His last Major League game was in April 2009...
and Brandon Webb
Brandon Webb
Brandon Tyler Webb is a Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the 2006 National League Cy Young Award winner.-High school:Webb attended Paul G...
, he was one of the "Baby Backs" who were called up when a surge of injuries hit Diamondbacks veteran players in 2003. The Baby Backs were popular and contributed to a winning season, but ultimately failed to make the playoffs.
Kata was signed to a minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
contract by the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
in November 2006
and was a non-roster invitee to their 2007 spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
camp. He earned a spot on the team's opening day roster as a utility player.
He appeared in 31 games for Texas, batting .186, before he was designated for assignment
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
June 5 when the Rangers activated 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...
John Rheinecker
John Rheinecker
John Philip Rheinecker is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.-High school years:Rheinecker attended Gibault Catholic High School in Waterloo, Illinois, and was a student and a letterman in baseball. He grew up in Hecker, Illinois and first starred at the Hecker Dome...
and infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
/outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Jerry Hairston
Jerry Hairston, Jr.
Jerry Wayne Hairston, Jr. is a Mexican-American professional baseball utility player.-Professional career:...
from the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
.
After clearing waivers, he signed a minor league contract with Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
on June 15 and was recalled by the Pirates June 30. Kata became a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
after the season.
On December 21, 2007, the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
signed Kata to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Kata did not make the team and opted for free agency.
On March 30, , Kata rejoined the Pittsburgh Pirates organization by signing a minor league contract. He became a free agent at the end of the season and signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros. He appeared in 40 games for the Astros.
Through 2009, Kata's major league batting line in 695 at bats was BA/OBP/Slugging 239/.290/.370.