Matt Walbeck

Catcher

Born: October 2, 1969 (age 47)
Sacramento, California

Batted: Switch

Threw: Right

MLB debut

April 7, 1993, for the Chicago Cubs

Last MLB appearance

September 28, 2003, for the Detroit Tigers

MLB statistics

Batting average

.233

Home runs

Runs batted in

208

Teams

Matthew Lovick Walbeck (born October 2, 1969) is a former right-handed Major League Baseball catcher who played from 1993 to 2003 for the Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Anaheim Angels and Philadelphia Phillies. He attended Sacramento High School.

Walbeck is the former third base and catching coach for the Texas Rangers.

Standing at 5'11" tall and weighing 190 pounds, Walbeck was taken by the Cubs 192nd overall (eighth round) by the Cubs in the 1987 draft. Although his professional career-started off very well-he hit .314 in 51 games in 1987-he would eventually level out and become an average hitter. He was not much of a power hitter, nor did he consistently hit for a high average. His best minor league season was perhaps 1992, when he hit .301 with seven home runs and 42 RBI. He did try stealing bases seven times that year, but was caught every single time.

Walbeck made his Major League debut on April 7, 1993 at the age of 23 against the Atlanta Braves. His rookie season would not be very successful; he hit only .200 in 30 at-bats that season. Walbeck hit the first home run of his career that season, off José DeLeón on April 18.

On November 24, 1993, the Cubs traded Walbeck (with Dave Stevens) to the Twins for pitcher Willie Banks.

Although his 1993 stats were fairly unimpressive, Walbeck was the Twins' primary catcher in 1994 and 1995. In 338 at-bats with the Twins in 1994, he hit .204. On April 27 of that year, he caught Scott Erickson's no-hitter. His batting average was better in 1995; he hit .257 in 393 at-bats. He began the season as the team's starter in 1996, but hit only .223 in 65 games and was replaced by Greg Myers as the starter.

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