Ken Huckaby

Infobox MLB player


width=200
name=Ken Huckaby
position=Catcher
team=Free Agent
number=--
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1971|1|27
debutdate=October 6
debutyear=2001
debutteam=Arizona Diamondbacks
statyear=2007
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.222
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=3
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=31
formerteams=
*Arizona Diamondbacks (by|2001)
*Toronto Blue Jays (by|2002-by|2003)
*Baltimore Orioles (by|2004)
*Texas Rangers (by|2004)
*Toronto Blue Jays (by|2005)
*Boston Red Sox (by|2006)

Kenneth Paul Huckaby (born January 27, 1971 in San Leandro, California) is a backup catcher in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed. Through by|2007, Huckaby is a .222 hitter with three home runs and 31 RBI in 161 games played.

Previously, Huckaby played with the Arizona Diamondbacks (by|2001), Toronto Blue Jays (by|2002-by|2003, by|2005), Texas Rangers (by|2004), Baltimore Orioles (2004), and Boston Red Sox (by|2006). A competent defensive replacement with a strong throwing arm, he never hit well enough to secure the starting catching job. His most productive season came in 2002 with Toronto, when he posted career-highs in batting average (.245), home runs (3), RBI (22) and games (88).

Derek Jeter Collision

Arguably, Huckaby's most significant on field moment came in the 2003 season opener against the New York Yankees. With Derek Jeter on first base and Jason Giambi at bat, Toronto used an extreme shift that left third base uncovered. Giambi hit a soft grounder to the pitcher, Roy Halladay, who threw to first baseman Carlos Delgado for an out. Jeter, seeing Toronto out of position, rounded second and ran to third. Huckaby ran up the line to cover third and fielded Delgado's throw. Jeter dived headfirst into the bag, while Huckaby attempted to catch the baseball and block Jeter from reaching third. In do so, Huckaby fell onto Jeter; his shin guard driving into his shoulder. [citation | title= Jeter suffers dislocated left shoulder in collision | publisher=ESPN | url=http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2003/0331/1531991.html]

Jeter's shoulder popped out the front of the socket, and Yankee trainers and Blue Jay doctors tried to pop it back. After unsuccessfully attempting to reset his shoulder in the socket, Jeter was taken to the Yankees' clubhouse, where his shoulder was put back in place. Jeter, who had never played fewer than 148 games in the prior seven full seasons, was subsequently on the disabled list for six weeks, missing 36 games. [citation | title= Yanks win after injury takes out Jeter | publisher=USA Today | url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/games/2003-03-31-jeter-injury_x.htm]

Yankee players, including Jeter, were highly critical of Huckaby's play, believing that Huckaby, a marginal player had foolishly jeopardized the All-star shortstop's season. Willie Randolph, who was the Yankees' third-base coach, called Huckaby's play "unnecessary," [citation | title= BASEBALL; AGONY ON OPENING DAY | publisher=The New York Times Company | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9801E2DA1039F932A35757C0A9659C8B63] while Enrique Wilson described it as a "dirty play." [citation | title= MRI on Thursday will determine extent of injury | publisher=ESPN | url=http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2003/0401/1532294.html] Jeter was unsupportive of Huckaby, demurring when asked whether the play was dirty by ambiguously saying, "I don't know, it's tough." [citation | title= BASEBALL; AGONY ON OPENING DAY | publisher=The New York Times Company | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9801E2DA1039F932A35757C0A9659C8B63] Jeter's perception of Huckaby's play became clear when Huckaby reported that Jeter was unresponsive to his apology. "He stonefaced me," Huckaby said. "He just stared at me. He didn't say one word." [citation | title= Infamous Huckaby still chasing elusive big-league dream | publisher=CBSSports | url=http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/7201794]

2006

In the 2006 spring training, Huckaby had an opportunity of being the backup catcher for the Red Sox. Then, he injured his left knee during the first exhibition game and lost the job to Josh Bard, who was later sent to San Diego for Doug Mirabelli. On August 1, Huckaby was added to the 25-man roster to serve as Mirabelli's backup while Boston's regular catcher Jason Varitek recuperated from an ailing left knee. Before the call, he appeared in 68 games for Triple-A Pawtucket, hitting .207 with two home runs and 16 RBI. Huckaby's backup role was once again brought into question with Boston's acquisition of Javy López on August 3. That night, Huckaby went 1 for 3 with an RBI. However, the very next day, August 4, Huckaby was designated for assignment. He later cleared waivers and returned to Pawtucket.

2007

Prior to the 2007 season, Huckaby was invited to attend spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was assigned to Triple-A at the end of spring, where he spent the entire season playing for the Las Vegas 51s.

2008

In January by|2008, Huckaby signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals. Huckaby was released by the Royals on May 10, 2008.

External links

*baseball-reference|id=h/huckake01
* [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/Phuckk001.htm Retrosheet]
* [http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/H/ken-huckaby.shtml The Baseball Cube]
* [http://www.sonsofsamhorn.net/wiki/index.php/Ken_Huckaby Ken Huckaby @ SoSH Wiki]

References