55 Mike Redmond; Catcher

Name: Michael Patrick Redmond
Birth date: 05/05/1971
Birthplace: Seattle, WA
Height: 5-11
Weight: 200
School: Gonzaga
Draft: undrafted Free Agent
Nickname: Mike Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Position: Catcher
Experience: 7 years
2005 Salary: $900,000
Contract Status: signed 2-year deal worth 1.8M thru 2006 season on 11/24/04
Service Time: 6.129

Minnesota Twins back-up catcher, Mike Redmond, was born on May 5, 1971 in Seattle, Washington. Mike graduated from Gonzaga Preparatory School (WA) in 1989 and then went on to attend Gonzaga University. Mike made his Major League debut with the Florida Marlins in 1998. He played with the Marlins through the 2004 season, including their 2003 World Series championship. He then signed a two-year contract with the Twins before the 2005 season.

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Mike has had an up and down season with the Marlins. In 2004, he was expected to split time behind the plate with Ramon Castro, but Mike got the full-time spot when Castro flopped. He wound up logging 171 at-bats by the All-Star break, and after a solid start, his hitting began to suffer. The Marlins moved Mike back to a reserve role with the acquisition of Paul Lo Duca on July 30. During his hitting slump, he reported to the Miami Herald “Ballplayers do some strange things. I did them naked. I had to break a losing streak, so I did it by taking batting practice in the cage wearing nothing but spikes and batting gloves." Through the 2004 season, Mike compiled a .284 batting average and hit 11 home runs in 485 games.

As Mike Redmond wore down, his swing got longer and pitchers took advantage of him. Even his career-long dominance of lefties disappeared. During the first half he tried too hard to pull pitches and got in trouble. Revered by Marlins pitchers for his game-calling and receiving skills, Mike even uncharacteristically struggled with his throwing. He does hustle running the bases, but has a typical catcher's speed.

Mike got his first crack at free agency after the season and signed a two-year, $1.8 million contract with the Twins in November. He figures to serve as the top backup to promising second-year catcher Joe Mauer, with his playing time somewhat dependent on how well Mauer has recovered from his 2004 knee surgery.