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Jeff Datz

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Jeff Datz
Datz throwing batting practice for the Mariners in 2012
Catcher
Born: (1959-11-28) November 28, 1959 (age 64)
Camden, New Jersey, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 5, 1989, for the Detroit Tigers
Last MLB appearance
September 30, 1989, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
Batting average.200
Hits2
Walks1
Teams
As player

As coach

Jeffrey William Datz (born November 28, 1959) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) catcher and coach who played for the Detroit Tigers in 1989, and who is currently a scout for the New York Yankees.

Playing career

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A native of Camden, New Jersey, Datz grew up in the Mullica Hill section of Harrison Township, New Jersey and graduated from Clearview Regional High School.[1] He attended Rowan University. In 1981, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Chatham A's of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[2] He was selected by the Houston Astros in the 19th round (485th overall) of the 1982 Major League Baseball draft.[3]

Datz signed as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers prior to the 1989 season, and appeared in seven games for the team that year.[4]

Coaching career

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Datz was manager of the minor league Buffalo Bisons in 1998 and 1999. He led the Bisons to the league championship crown in 1998.

On March 19, 2002, Datz was hired as the bench coach for the Cleveland Indians under manager Charlie Manuel.[5] In 2003, Manuel was replaced by Eric Wedge, and he moved Datz to first base coach.[6] Datz served on Cleveland's coaching staff until the end of the 2009 season, when general manager Mark Shapiro fired the entire coaching staff.[7] At the 2008 Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium, Datz pitched for Cleveland Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore.[8]

On October 29, 2009, Datz was hired as the bench coach for the Baltimore Orioles.[9]

On November 4, 2010, Datz was hired to be third base coach for the Seattle Mariners starting with the 2011 season. The hiring reunited him with Eric Wedge, who had recently been hired as the Mariners' manager.[10] Before a Mariners game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on April 27, 2013, Datz announced that he was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer,[11] and Tacoma Rainiers manager Daren Brown was promoted to substitute for Datz.[12] On August 23, 2013, Datz resumed his position on the team as an extra coach.

Scouting career

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On November 25, 2013, it was announced that Datz will serve the Mariners as a member of the club's professional scouting staff for the 2014 season.[13]

Datz later joined the New York Yankees, where he was listed as a professional scout for the 2016 season.[14][15]

References

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  1. ^ Carchidi, Sam (April 4, 2004). "Family again witnesses history". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved September 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Jeff Datz was a lifelong Phillies fan when he grew up in Mullica Hill in Gloucester County. He attended Clearview High, where he was a baseball and football standout, and later played baseball at Glassboro State College.
  2. ^ "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). Cape Cod Baseball League. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  3. ^ "19th Round of the 1982 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball Reference. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  4. ^ "Jeff Datz Statistics and History". Baseball Reference. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  5. ^ "Roundup: Indians hire Datz to replace Little on bench". ESPN. March 19, 2002. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  6. ^ Hill, Justice B. (November 27, 2002). "Wedge hires Bell as bench coach". Cleveland Indians. MLB.com. Archived from the original on December 19, 2002. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  7. ^ Castrovince, Anthony (September 30, 2009). "Indians dismiss Wedge, coaching staff". Cleveland Indians. MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  8. ^ Langosch, Jennifer (July 14, 2008). "Sizemore relaxes, has fun at Derby". Cleveland Indians. MLB.com. Archived from the original on July 18, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  9. ^ Fordin, Spencer (October 29, 2009). "Orioles hire Datz as bench coach". Baltimore Orioles. MLB.com. Archived from the original on November 2, 2009. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  10. ^ "M's Kotchman refuses outright assignment, is FA". ESPN. November 4, 2010. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  11. ^ "Mariners' 3B coach diagnosed with cancer". Yahoo! Sports. The Sports Xchange. April 27, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2013.
  12. ^ "Mariners add Brown to coaching staff". Yahoo! Sports. Associated Press. May 2, 2013. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved May 2, 2013. [permanent dead link]
  13. ^ Johns, Greg (November 25, 2013). "Mariners announce McClendon's coaching staff". Seattle Mariners. MLB.com. Archived from the original on November 30, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2013.
  14. ^ Leventhal, Josh, ed. (2015). Baseball America 2015 Directory. Durham, N.C.: Baseball America. ISBN 978-1-932391-56-5.
  15. ^ Norris, Josh, ed. (2016). Baseball America 2016 Directory. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN 978-1-932391-62-6.
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