| Joey Curletta | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Curletta with theTulsa Drillers in 2016 | |
| First baseman | |
| Born: (1994-03-08)March 8, 1994 (age 31) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
Joseph Dominic Curletta (born March 8, 1994) is an American former professionalbaseballfirst baseman. Despite spending time on the40-man rosters of theSeattle Mariners andBoston Red Sox, he never played inMajor League Baseball (MLB).
Curletta attendedMountain Pointe High School inAhwatukee, Phoenix,Arizona.[1] TheLos Angeles Dodgers selected Curletta in the sixth round of the2012 MLB draft,[2] and he signed with the Dodgers rather than attend theUniversity of Arizona.[3]
Curletta began his professional career with theArizona League Dodgers.[3] He played for theOgden Raptors in theRookie-levelPioneer League in 2013 and theGreat Lakes Loons of theSingle–AMidwest League in 2014.[4]
On September 15, 2016, the Dodgers sent Curletta to thePhiladelphia Phillies as theplayer to be named later in their earlier trade forCarlos Ruiz.[5] On March 12, 2017, the Phillies traded Curletta to the Mariners in exchange forPat Venditte.[6] He played for theModesto Nuts of theHigh–ACalifornia League in 2017.[7] In 2018, he played for theArkansas Travelers of theDouble–ATexas League, and he won theTexas League Player of the Year Award.[8] Curletta was awarded the Ken Griffey Jr. Minor League Hitter of the Year by theSeattle Mariners for his 2018 season.[9]
On October 31, 2018, the Mariners added Curletta to their40-man roster to protect him from theRule 5 draft.[10][11] He began the 2019 season with theTacoma Rainiers of theTriple–APacific Coast League.[12]
On May 4, 2019, theBoston Red Sox claimed Curletta off ofwaivers, and assigned him to thePortland Sea Dogs of the Double–AEastern League.[13] On September 1, the Red Sox assigned Curletta outright to Portland, removing him from their 40-man roster.[14] He elected free agency following the season on November 4.[15]
On December 6, 2019, Curletta signed a minor league contract with theLos Angeles Angels.[16] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[17] Curletta was released by the Angels organization on May 29, 2020.[18]