| Mike Zunino | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Zunino with the Cleveland Guardians in 2023 | |
| Catcher | |
| Born: (1991-03-25)March 25, 1991 (age 34) Cape Coral, Florida, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 12, 2013, for the Seattle Mariners | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 14, 2023, for the Cleveland Guardians | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .199 |
| Home runs | 149 |
| Runs batted in | 372 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Michael Accorsi Zunino (born March 25, 1991) is an American former professionalbaseballcatcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theSeattle Mariners,Tampa Bay Rays, andCleveland Guardians.
Before beginning his professional career, Zunino played college baseball at theUniversity of Florida, where he won theDick Howser Trophy,Golden Spikes Award, andJohnny Bench Award in his junior year. The Mariners selected Zunino with the third overall pick in the2012 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut with Seattle in 2013. He set franchise records for home runs by a catcher for both the Mariners and Rays, with whom he made the2021 All-Star Game.
Born and raised inCape Coral, Florida, Mike is the son of Greg and Paola Zunino. He is of Italian descent. His parents met inItaly, where Greg played forFortitudo Baseball Bologna and Paola was a catcher for theItalian national softball team.[1][2] Greg was drafted in the 31st round of the1981 MLB draft and later worked as ascout for theCincinnati Reds.[3][4] Mike's uncle, Gary Zunino, was a catcher in theSt. Louis Cardinals system.[5]
Zunino played baseball atMariner High School in Cape Coral, where he graduated in 2009. He participated in the AFLAC All-American High School Baseball Game atDodger Stadium in 2008.[6]
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TheOakland Athletics selected Zunino in the 29th round of the2009 MLB Draft, but he did not sign and chose to attend college. He later said he never second guessed his decision to not sign with Oakland. Zunino accepted an athletic scholarship to attend theUniversity of Florida, where he played for theFlorida Gators from 2010 to 2012. He led the Gators to three consecutiveCollege World Series appearances in2010,2011, and2012.[7]
Zunino was named to theBaseball America All-American team as a sophomore in 2011 and was namedSoutheastern Conference (SEC) player of the year.[8] He was the second Gator to win the SEC player of the year award afterMatt LaPorta did so in 2005 and 2007.[6] In 2011, Zunino played with theYarmouth–Dennis Red Sox of theCape Cod Baseball League.[9] In 2012, Zunino won theGolden Spikes Award,Dick Howser Trophy, and theJohnny Bench Award.[10]
TheSeattle Mariners selected Zunino in the first round, with the third overall selection of the2012 MLB draft.[11] He signed with the Mariners on July 3, receiving a $4 millionsigning bonus,[10] and was assigned to theEverett AquaSox of theClass A-Short Season in theNorthwest League.[12] Zunino spent six weeks with Everett in 2012, batting .373 with 10home runs and 35runs batted in (RBIs). He was promoted to theJackson Generals of theDouble-ASouthern League on August 13.[13] In 15 games with Jackson, he batted .333. After the regular season, Zunino played for thePeoria Javelinas of theArizona Fall League (AFL). He batted .288 in 19 games for Peoria and appeared in the AFL Rising Stars Game.[10]
Zunino opened the2013 season as a member of theTacoma Rainiers of theTriple-APacific Coast League.[14] He batted .238 with 11 homers and 43 RBI with 59 strikeouts in 185 at-bats for Tacoma through June 10.[15]
The Mariners promoted Zunino to the major leagues on June 11, 2013.[15] He made his first major league start the next day and singled in his second at bat, on an 0–2 pitch. On June 14, he hit his first major league home run. Against theChicago Cubs on June 28, he collected the firstwalk-off hit of his career. On July 25, Zunino broke his hand and was placed on the 15-daydisabled list. He returned in early September, getting the bulk of the starts to end the season. In 52 games with the Mariners, he hit .214/.290/.329 with five home runs and 14 RBIs in his rookie season.[16]
The Mariners addedJohn Buck as a backup and mentor to Zunino ahead of the 2014 season.[7] That year, Zunino was good defensively and an over-aggressive power hitter.[17] He batted .199 in 2014 with 22 home runs. He had poor plate discipline, striking out 158 times and walking 17 times for a .254on-base percentage.[18] He led theAmerican League (AL) with 17hit by pitches.[19] He won theWilson Defensive Player of the Year Award at catcher.[20]
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Zunino started his second consecutiveOpening Day in 2015, again catchingFélix Hernández.[21] In August, the Mariners demoted Zunino to Tacoma. He was hitting .174 with 132 strikeouts in 112 games played in Seattle.[22] He remained in Triple-A for the final month of the season. After Seattle signedChris Iannetta, Zunino began the 2016 season in Triple-A. He was called up briefly in late June,[23] hitting two home runs in his first MLB game of the season, but returned to the minor leagues in early July.[24] He rejoined Seattle in late July, starting regularly the rest of the season.[25] He finished 2016 with a .207 batting average in 55 games with 12 home runs.[19]
Zunino had his best offensive season with the Mariners in 2017, with career bests with a .251 average, 64 RBI, 25 doubles and 124 games, also clubbing 25 home runs.[26][19] He said he changed his mindset after talking with teammateRobinson Canó and reading a book by former MLB pitcherBob Tewkesbury.[27] On May 8, 2018, Zunino caughtJames Paxton's no-hitter against theToronto Blue Jays, a 5–0 victory.[28] Zunino regressed in his final season with Seattle, hitting .201 with 20 home runs and 44 RBIs.[19]
While he struggled to make contact, Zunino set Mariners single-season and career records for home runs by a catcher, both later surpassed byCal Raleigh.[29][30]
On November 8, 2018, the Mariners traded Zunino,Guillermo Heredia, andMichael Plassmeyer to theTampa Bay Rays for outfieldersMallex Smith andJake Fraley.[31] Zunino hit his first home run as a Ray on April 22, 2019, a go-ahead two-run shot against theKansas City Royals.[32]
On November 25, 2019, Zunino agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract, avoiding salary arbitration.[33] Zunino finished the shortened 2020 season batting .147 with 4 home runs over 28 games. He missed several weeks with a left oblique strain.[34] The Rays had the best record in the AL.[19] In the ALplayoffs,r home runs with eight RBIs. The Rays won every game in which Zunino recorded an RBI, including Game 7 of theAL Championship Series against theHouston Astros. The Rays advanced to theWorld Series, losing to theLos Angeles Dodgers in six games. Zunino started all six games, getting one single and one walk in 17 plate appearances.[35]
The Rays declined their $4.5 million team option for Zunino for the2021 season on October 30, 2020, and he became a free agent.[36] On December 16, he re-signed with the Rays on a one-year, $3 million contract with a club option for 2022.[37] On July 4, Zunino was named to theAll-Star Game as a reserve.[38] He homered againstNew York Mets pitcherTaijuan Walker in the game, becoming the second Ray with an All-Star Game home run.[39][40] He had the highestslugging percentage against left-handers of all major leaguers in 2021, at .868.[41] His career-high 31 home runs were a franchise record, and localbaseball writers named him the team MVP.[42] He led the AL in passed balls for the second consecutive season.[19]
Zunino played in 36 games in 2022 through June 9, when he experiencedthoracic outlet syndrome in his left arm. He underwent surgery in July, ending his season.[43] He batted .148 with 5 home runs.[19] In four season with the Rays, he set the franchise record for home runs by a catcher with 51, 7 more thanToby Hall.[44]
On December 15, 2022, Zunino signed a one-year, $6 million contract with theCleveland Guardians.[45][46] In 42 games in 2023, he struggled to a .177/.271/.306slash line with 3 home runs and 11 RBI. He had the highest strikeout rate of any batter with 80 plate appearances and slowexit velocities on balls he did hit.[47][48] On June 16, Cleveland designated Zuninofor assignment as the team promoted pitcherTouki Toussaint.[49][50] Cleveland released Zunino on June 21.[51]
Zunino retired from professional baseball on March 6, 2024.[29][52]
Zunino married his high school girlfriend in Florida on October 6, 2012. They have two children, born in 2019 and 2020.[10][53][54][55]
