Kevin Cash

Kevin Cash
Catcher
Born: December 6, 1977 (1977-12-06) Tampa, Florida
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 6, 2002 for the Toronto Blue Jays
Last MLB appearance
October 3, 2010 for the Boston Red Sox
Career statistics
Batting average	.183
Home runs	12
Runs batted in	58
Teams
Toronto Blue Jays (2002–2004) Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2005) Boston Red Sox (2007–2008) New York Yankees (2009) Houston Astros (2010) Boston Red Sox (2010)
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion (2007)

Kevin Forrest Cash (born December 6, 1977 in Tampa, Florida) is a former American professional baseball catcher who is currently an advance scout for the Toronto Blue Jays. He has played for the Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers.

Early life

Cash played for Northside Little League in Florida when they made it to the Little League World Series in 1989. Cash played college baseball for the Florida State University Seminoles under head coach Mike Martin. He bats and throws right-handed. In the summer of 1999, he played for the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Major league career

2002-2004: Toronto

Cash played a total of 101 games from 2002 to 2004 with the Toronto Blue Jays, serving mainly as a backup and defensive replacement.

2005: Tampa Bay

Cash joined the Devil Rays in 2005. On April 5, 2006, the Devil Rays designated Cash for assignment, and after clearing waivers, reported to Triple-A Durham where he spent the entire 2006 season.

2007-2008: Boston

Cash signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox on January 24, 2007.

On August 17, 2007, Red Sox backup catcher Doug Mirabelli pulled a calf muscle rounding third base in the first game of a doubleheader against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Cash was flown to Boston from Ottawa (where the Pawtucket Red Sox were playing the Ottawa Lynx) to catch in the nightcap of the doubleheader. He made it to Fenway Park after the game had started. He started the game on August 19 against the Angels.

On November 2, 2007, Cash opted for free agency after refusing to accept an outright assignment to AAA Pawtucket. On December 13, 2007, Cash re-signed with the Red Sox to a minor league contract and an invitation to spring training.

On March 25, 2008, Cash's contract was purchased. He acted as the personal catcher for knuckleball pitcher Tim Wakefield after Doug Mirabelli left the Sox. He was also notable for wearing his plastic catcher's cap forward (similar to how a field player wears a normal baseball cap) under his mask; normally, catchers will turn the cap around to provide stability for their mask. In Boston, Cash wore the uniform number 36, except from August 16, 2008 to the end of the 2008 season, due to Paul Byrd's joining the Red Sox and wearing his customary number 36. During this period, Cash switched to number 30. On December 12, 2008, Cash was non-tendered by the Red Sox, officially making him a free agent.

2009: New York

On December 23, 2008, Cash signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees with an invitation to spring training. He began the 2009 season with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. On May 8, Cash was called up due to injuries to both Jorge Posada and José Molina. He was optioned to AAA Scranton on May 29 and was placed on the disabled list to undergo surgery for a torn rotator cuff.

Released by the New York Yankees' organization on September 5, 2009, Cash announced his retirement from baseball. However, he soon changed his mind, and on January 22, 2010, Cash signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros.

2010: Houston/Second stint with Boston

On May 5, 2010, Cash was called up to the Astros to replace a struggling J. R. Towles. He had 11 hits in 54 at bats with Houston.

On July 1, 2010, Cash was acquired by the Red Sox for Ángel Sánchez after Jason Varitek went on the disabled list. As the backup catcher for the Red Sox for part of the season, he had 60 at bats and a .133 batting average, compiling just eight hits with the team. He finished the year with .167 average (AL and NL stats combined). He refused a minor league assignment on October 12, and became a free agent. He signed a minor-league contract with the Texas Rangers on November 11, 2010, and played the entire 2011 season at their Triple-A affiliate in Round Rock.

Post-playing career

On January 8, 2012, Cash announced his retirement. He will now be an advanced scout for the Blue Jays.

Family

Cash, his wife Emily and their two daughters reside in Tampa, Florida.

Awards and honors

• 1999 College World Series - Tallahassee Regional MVP
• 2001 Florida State League All-Star Team
• 2002 All-Star Futures Game

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)