Scott Cursi is the clubhouse assistant and former bullpen catcher for the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team.[1]
Career
He played as a catcher at Pickerington High School in Ohio and Seminole Community College, where he later served as an assistant while taking classes at University of Central Florida. He took a summer job as a bullpen catcher for the Chicago Cubs' Double-A Southern League affiliate, which later became the Orlando Rays under the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (now the Tampa Bay Rays) organization.[1] Cursi served as Orlando's bullpen catcher for three seasons, from 1996 to 1998,.[2]
In 1999, Larry Rothschild, then Tampa Bay manager, offered Cursi a job as bullpen catcher on the recommendation of Orlando manager Bruce Kimm.[3] Cursi began catching in Tampa Bay's bullpen on Easter Sunday in 1999, working home games while he completed his college degree, before becoming the full-time bullpen catcher later that season.[4] Cursi went to the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game with the Rays' coaching staff, as Tampa Bay was the defending American League champions.[4] There, Cursi warmed up pitchers and caught two rounds of the Home Run Derby.[3]
Cursi previously coached at Bishop Waterson High School in Columbus, Ohio for four years, following his high school graduation in 1989.[3]
Off the field
Cursi graduated from University of Central Florida with a degree in physical education.[1] He and his wife Stephanie live in St. Petersburg, Florida with their son, Noah.[1] Cursi also works as an umpire for Little League games in Pinellas County.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d Chastain, Bill (March 2, 2015). "'Nicest guy in baseball' took alternate route to The Show". MLB.com.
- ^ a b "Scott Cursi #77". MLB.com.
- ^ a b c Znidar, Mark (August 18, 2009). "Scott Cursi usually arrives at the ballpark four or five hours before the first pitch". Columbus Dispatch. Dispatch.com.
- ^ a b Mooney, Roger (July 9, 2013). "Rays' Cursi catching every moment in pen". Tampa Bay Times. TBO.com.