Jason Andrew Varitek (born April 11, 1972) is an American baseball player born in Rochester, Michigan. After being traded as a minor league prospect by the Seattle Mariners, Varitek has played his entire major league career for the Boston Red Sox. A two time all-star and Gold Glover, Varitek was an integral part of the 2004 World Series Championship. In 2005 he was named the captain of the Red Sox, the eighteenth player given the honor. He is a switch-hitting catcher.
Little League career
Varitek played in the 1984 Little League World Series. His Altamonte Springs, Florida, team lost in the finals to Seoul, South Korea, by a score of 6-2[1]. Varitek played shortstop, third base, and catcher in his three LLWS games. He was hitless going 0-7[2]. Varitek was 12 years old at the time, while most of his teammates and competition were 13.
High school career
While in high school, Varitek was a third baseman and catcher for the Lake Brantley High School baseball team in Altamonte Springs, FL. The Patriots' usual catcher was Jerry Thurston, himself a major league prospect. In 1990, the Patriots won the state championship[3]and were later named as the number one team in the nation, by USA Today.
Collegiate career
Varitek then went on to Georgia Tech, where he played with future teammates Nomar Garciaparra, Darren Bragg and Jay Payton[4], and took part in the 1992 Summer Olympics. During his senior season in 1994 , he played in the college baseball national championship game. After his senior season, Varitek won three collegiate baseball awards: the Dick Howser Trophy, the Golden Spikes Award and the Rotary Smith Award, each recognizing the outstanding collegiate baseball player in America. He was the first baseball player in school history to have his number retired. He has many records and awards there including:
- His number 33 is only number ever retired by Georgia Tech
- Baseball America's 1993 player of the year
- Named by Baseball America to "All-Time College All-Star Team"[2]
- 1994 Golden Spikes Award
- 1994 Rotary Smith Award
- 1994 Dick Howser Trophy
- Three time consensus All-American (1992, '93, '94) [3]
- Inducted into Georgia Tech Hall of Fame[4]
- 1994 College World Series runner-up
- Most career games played (253)
- Most career runs scored (261)
- Most career base hits (351)
- Most career doubles (82)
- Most home runs in a single game (3)t
- Most career home runs (57)
- Most career RBI's (251)
- Most career total bases (610)
- Most walks in a season (76)
All Georgia Tech records courtesy of RamblinWreck.com, the official website of Georgia Tech athletics[1]
Early professional career
Varitek played two seasons in the Cape Cod League with the Hyannis Mets. In 1993 he hit .371 while winning both the league batting championship and MVP. He was drafted 21st overall in the first round by the Minnesota Twins in 1993[5], but opted to return for his senior year of college. Following graduation, Varitek signed with agent Scott Boras and was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the first round of the 1994 amateur draft, with the 14th pick overall[6]. A pioneer of the loopholes in the draft process, Varitek signed with the St. Paul Saints in the independent Northern League[7] before agreeing to terms with the Mariners, and consequently did not enter the Mariners' minor league system until 1995. When he finally did join the franchise, Varitek was sent to the AA affiliate Port City Roosters where he first meets longtime teammate Derek Lowe. He was traded with pitcher Derek Lowe to the Red Sox during the 1997 season, in return for reliever Heathcliff Slocumb, often cited as one of the best trades in the Red Sox's favor in recent history.
- See also: List of Jason Varitek's awards
Major league career
Beginning in 1997 until present day, Jason Varitek has played for the Boston Red Sox
1998 rookie year - 2001
Varitek was called up for a single game on September 24, 1997, collecting a single in his only at bat. The next season Varitek split time with incumbent catcher Scott Hatteberg playing in 86 games[8]. Varitek showed signs of things to come in the 1998 season and with a strong spring training following the season, Varitek ensured himself the starting role. 1999 was a breakout year for the young catcher; he played 144 games in that season while hitting for a .269 average, with 20 home runs, and 76 RBIs[8]. 1999 also gave Varitek his first taste of the playoffs. Varitek went 5-21 with 3 RBI in the ALDS against the Cleveland Indians[9] and 4-20 with 1 RBI in the ALCS against the New York Yankees[10]. Varitek looked forward to building on his success from the year before, but in 2000 he did not show the same potential and had a disappointing offensive output. He hit just .248 with only 10 home runs and 65 RBI[8]. Prior to the 2001 season, Varitek signed a 3 year $14.9 million contract with the Red Sox, and off to a hot start before he was sidelined for the season with a broken left elbow after he dove to catch a foul ball on July 7. The play went on to be a top Web Gem for the month of July in 2001. Varitek finished the season with a .293 average, 7 home runs, and 25 RBI in just 51 games played[8]. Stretched out over a season, this would lead to over 20 home runs and 75 RBIs, in line with his 1999 season, encouraging the Red Sox front office.
2002 and 2003
Varitek returned to the Red Sox lineup fulltime in the 2002 season. The return did not go smoothly, however, as Varitek struggled to find himself at the plate. Despite not reaching his full offensive potential[8], pitchers and coaches alike began to notice how much Varitek's preparation and knowledge of the game was helping the pitchers. His study habits and extra hours of work with pitchers would soon become his defining attribute and make him a household name around the league. Varitek and the Red Sox entered the 2003 season with a renewed fire to reach the playoffs after missing in the previous three years. Varitek instantly became a leader in the working class clubhouse featuring new faces such as Kevin Millar, David Ortiz, Bill Mueller, and Todd Walker along with original Dirt Dogs Trot Nixon and Lou Merloni. 2003 was Varitek's best year to date and earned his first all-star selection after the fans voted him on with the "All-Star Final Vote". He was hitting .296 with 15 HRs and 51 RBIs[11] going into the all-star break and finished the season off with a solid .273 average, 25 HRs and 85 RBIs[8], all career highs. Varitek also led the Red Sox to a Wild Card birth and their first playoff appearance since 1999.
2004 and the World Series
In 2004, Varitek compiled a career-high .296 batting average with 18 home runs and 73 RBI. During a nationally televised game in July 2004, Varitek shoved his glove into the face of Yankees' Alex Rodriguez to protect Bronson Arroyo, causing a benches clearing brawl. The moment sparked Boston to a 9-8 come from behind victory. It is also sometimes regarded as the turning point in the the Red Sox season, as they posted MLB's best record after the melee. The Red Sox culminated the season with their first World Series championship in 86 years. At the end of the year, Varitek became a free agent and signed a 4-year, $40-million contract with the Red Sox.
Free agency, the Captain, and beyond
After Varitek's re-signing, the Red Sox appointed him to be the third team captain in since 1923, after Carl Yastrzemski (1969-83) and Jim Rice (1986-89). There are currently only three other captains in Major League Baseball, Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees, Paul Konerko of the Chicago White Sox, and Mike Sweeney of the Kansas City Royals.
According to baseball media, Varitek is valued as a catcher for his ability to work with pitchers, using scouting reports and video footage to plan each game. He also won his first Gold Glove Award and first Silver Slugger award in 2005.
Through the end of the 2005 season, Varitek has a career batting average of .272 with 119 home runs and 488 RBI.
In 2006, Varitek represented the United States in the World Baseball Classic. He made the most of his playing time, hitting a grand slam home run against Team Canada allowing Team USA to move from 8-2, to 8-6, Team Canada however, was able to hang on to the lead in the upset loss.
On July 18, 2006, Varitek played his 991st game at catcher for the Boston Red Sox, breaking Carlton Fisk's club record. That game was a home game vs. Kansas City, during which Varitek's achievement was recognized before the top of the 5th inning (after the game was official and couldn't be cancelled due to weather). Varitek received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd at Fenway Park for a few moments before play began. On July 31st, 2006, Varitek was injured rounding the bases in a 9-8 victory over the Cleveland Indians (his 1000th Career Game as catcher) but said he believed the initial injury to the knee occurred while he was blocking home plate to make the tag against the Angels Mike Napoli on July 29, 2006. He had surgery on August 3, 2006 to repair torn cartilage in his left knee and although he will start rehabilitation immediately, is still expected to be out approximately four to six weeks. During his press conference prior to the surgery, Varitek said he will continue assisting with the pitching staff, though he will not be behind the plate.
- See also: List of Jason Varitek's awards
See also
References
- ^ Sporting News History of LLWS
- ^ Jason vs. Jason: LLB World Series Participants Square Off in MLB World Series
- ^ History of Florida State Champions
- ^ Georgia Tech letterman by name
- ^ Inside Baseball at the College World Series
- ^ Varitek, Garciaparra Inducted Into Cape Cod Baseball Hall of Fame
- ^ Varitek, Seattle finally agree; MLB averts lawsuit
- ^ a b c d e f Baseball Reference Cite error: The named reference "bbr" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ 1999 ALDS Stats
- ^ 1999 ALCS Stats
- ^ 2003 Varitek, Jenkins are All-Stars