Red Sox at Orioles
7:05 p.m., NESN
Published 23:21, June the 29th, 2009
Kottaras finally belongs
Red Sox backup catcher adjusting to life as Wake’s personal backstop
Red Sox at Orioles
7:05 p.m., NESN
It might have taken a month or two, but George Kottaras is beginning to feel like the term “big leaguer” applies to him.
The 26-year-old catcher was awarded the backup spot on Boston’s roster when Josh Bard was cut during the spring, and the lefty swinger has been rock-solid for the Red Sox.
Kottaras entered last night hitting only .227, but he’d racked up nine doubles in 66 at-bats. The backup backstop could certainly stand to improve a .289 OBP, and more power will develop as his confidence grows, but he hasn’t looked out of place in the bigs.
“It’s starting to feel like I do belong,” Kottaras said. “For a while there, it’s a question like that you have about whether you have something to prove.”
Hitting coach Dave Magadan has preached hitting the ball to all fields, and hinted that Kottaras is just beginning to realize his offensive potential.
“George is a kid that hit 22 home runs at Triple-A last year, and he’s definitely got some pop when he pulls the ball,” Magadan said.
When the biggest assignment on his responsibility list is being Tim Wakefield’s personal catcher, however, not being noticed might be the best compliment possible to a catcher chasing down the flutter ball. Kottaras has been consistently anonymous there.