Dave Racaniello
Dave Racaniello | |
---|---|
Racaniello with the Mets in 2016 | |
New York Mets – No. 77 | |
Bullpen catcher | |
Born: (1978-06-03) June 3, 1978 (age 45) Stamford, Connecticut | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
Teams | |
As coach
|
David Racaniello (born June 3, 1978), usually known as Dave and nicknamed Rac, is a bullpen catcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Early life
Born June 3, 1978, in Stamford, Connecticut, Racaniello attended Westhill High School, later going on to attend Norwalk Community College and Central Connecticut State University.[1][2]
Amateur career
Racaniello played baseball at Westhill High School, including time as a catcher. He later went on to play baseball for Norwalk Community College for two years, where he was a teammate of future MLB pitcher Érik Bédard. In 1998, Racaniello's team at Norwalk won the NJCAA Division III Baseball World Series.[citation needed] Afterwards, Racaniello transferred to Central Connecticut State University, where he also played baseball.[3]
Professional career
In the summer of 1997, Racaniello, then still a student at Norwalk, attended a Mets game with a friend. His friend's father was friends with the Mets' then-manager, Bobby Valentine, giving Racaniello and his friend an opportunity to meet the New York skipper before the game. The Mets' regular bullpen catcher at the time was not able to come to the game due to a recent family emergency, so Valentine, who had heard Racaniello had caught, asked him if he was willing to fill in. Racaniello agreed and suited up as a Met for the first time. Racaniello would then fill in as the Mets' bullpen catcher and help out in the bullpen for most of the remainder of the 1997 season until he returned to Norwalk. After his part-time success with the organization, when the position opened up for the 2001 season, the Mets asked Racaniello if he was interested in the job. Racaniello accepted and immediately dropped out of school to serve as the bullpen catcher for the Mets. Racaniello originally planned to possibly return to school, but his continued employment with the Mets prevented such a return. Since 2001, Racaniello has continuously served as the bullpen catcher for the Mets, warming up pitchers as well as throwing batting practice and serving as a "dummy" in drills.[4] On March 30, 2017, Racaniello led off for the Mets' major league squad at designated hitter in a game against the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s, an affiliate of the Mets. Racaniello recorded a hit off of Jacob deGrom, but was thrown out attempting to steal second base by Travis d'Arnaud.
Personal life
Racaniello prefers to remain somewhat silent in the Mets clubhouse, reading books and staying out of the way. He is close friends with third baseman David Wright, who first met him before the 2004 season.[4] Racaniello is physically active, having climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in January 2012 and run the New York City Marathon twice.[1] In 2011, Racaniello consumed 14 cheesesteaks to break Dmitri Young's record for most consumed in the Philadelphia Phillies visiting clubhouse.[5] In 2016 his engagement to his longtime girlfriend, a St. Louis native, was announced on the scoreboard at Busch Stadium.
References
- ^ a b "Coaches: Dave Racaniello". New York Mets. Archived from the original on April 25, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
- ^ "Dave Racaniello Baseball Stats". The Baseball Cube.
- ^ "The Legend that is Dave Racaniello". Daily Stache.
- ^ a b "New York Mets bullpen catcher Dave Racaniello is jack of all trades, master of being invisible". NJ.com.
- ^ Adam Rubin. "Light Moment: Rac Sets Record". ESPN. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012.
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External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB
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- 1 Jeff McNeil
- 2 Omar Narváez
- 3 Tomás Nido
- 6 Starling Marte
- 9 Brandon Nimmo
- 12 Francisco Lindor
- 15 Tyrone Taylor
- 20 Pete Alonso
- 22 Brett Baty
- 23 David Peterson
- 27 Mark Vientos
- 28 J. D. Martinez
- 29 DJ Stewart
- 30 Jake Diekman
- 35 Adrian Houser
- 38 Tylor Megill
- 40 Luis Severino
- 44 Harrison Bader
- 45 Christian Scott
- 52 Jorge López
- 59 Sean Manaea
- 62 José Quintana
- 71 Sean Reid-Foley
- 75 Reed Garrett
- 91 Josh Walker
- 47 Joey Lucchesi
- 54 Cole Sulser
- 56 Grant Hartwig
- 70 José Buttó
- 72 Dedniel Núñez
- 72 Alex Ramirez
- 73 Luisangel Acuña
- 81 Danny Young
- -- Ty Adcock
- 4 Francisco Álvarez
- 10 Ronny Mauricio
- 19 Shintaro Fujinami
- 25 Brooks Raley
- 33 Drew Smith
- 34 Kodai Senga
- 39 Edwin Díaz
- Manager 64 Carlos Mendoza
- Bench 68 John Gibbons
- First base 66 Antoan Richardson
- Third base 64 Mike Sarbaugh
- Hitting 51 Eric Chavez
- Hitting 60 Jeremy Barnes
- Pitching 55 Jeremy Hefner
- Bullpen coach 67 José Rosado
- Catching 53 Glenn Sherlock
- Asst. coach 79 Danny Barnes
- Bullpen catcher 78 Eric Langill
- Bullpen catcher 57 Dave Racaniello