Matt Kata

Kata playing for the Texas Rangers in 2007

Utility player

Born: March 14, 1978 (age 38)
Fairview Park, Ohio

Batted: Switch

Threw: Right

MLB debut

June 15, 2003, for the Arizona Diamondbacks

Last MLB appearance

August 11, 2009, for the Houston Astros

MLB statistics

Batting average

.239

Home runs

Runs batted in

Teams

Matthew John Kata (born March 14, 1978 in Fairview Park, Ohio) is a Major League Baseball infielder.

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, 2003. He also played briefly for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2005, and Texas Rangers in 2007.

Along with Robby Hammock, Alex Cintrón 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.

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