Casey Kotchman

He had a 7-game hit streak (7-8/31-8/7), his 4th seven-game streak of season (each matching a career-high).

Casey John Kotchman (born February 22, 1983) is an American former professional baseball first baseman.

He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Anaheim Angels / Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Indians, and Miami Marlins.

In 2001, Baseball America ranked the team number one nationally, with Kotchman the top-ranked player nationally—the team went undefeated on the field in 31 games (with an official record of 21–10 due to forfeits) and won the state Class 5A championship.

The Anaheim Angels selected Kotchman with the thirteenth overall pick in the 2001 MLB draft.

In, the Angels moved starter Darin Erstad back to center field, announcing that Kotchman would likely open the season at first base.

After struggling in his at-bats early in 2006 because of mononucleosis, Kotchman was placed on the disabled list in early May.

In, Kotchman proclaimed himself fully healthy and proved it by winning the Angels' opening day first baseman job for the second straight year.

Kotchman missed 128 games in, as he was kept away from the field with complications stemming from mononucleosis.

After a spring in which the Opening Day starting first baseman batted better than .400, he hit just .152 with one home run and six RBI in 29 games with the Angels.

Kotchman tried to return to the field, but his rehab assignment was cut short when he experienced dizzy spells in July while playing for Triple-A Salt Lake.

He spent much of the rest of the season at home in Florida, performing cardio exercises.

In, he was one of seven Angels regulars to hit over .290 (most in majors) and established career highs in several offensive categories including batting average (.296), home runs (11) and RBI (68).

He also hit .320 at Angel Stadium and .274 on the road.

He hit a solo home run on Opening Night against the Texas Rangers in his first at-bat of the season, his first home run since May 4, 2006, against the Detroit Tigers.

Kotchman holds the major league record for consecutive error-less games at first base, with 274, set between June 2008 and August 2010.

Kotchman played baseball for Seminole High School in Seminole, Florida.

Kotchman was placed on the bereavement list after his mother fell ill on August 20, 2008.

After seven days, the Braves placed Kotchman on the restricted list so he could continue to be with his mother in Florida.

Eleven days from first being placed on the bereavement list, the Braves activated Kotchman.

On January 31,, Kotchman avoided arbitration and agreed to a one-year, $2.885 million contract.

Kotchman mentioned at spring training in 2009 that playing for the Braves was always a dream of his.

Kotchman suffered a shin contusion after being hit by a pitch from Arizona Diamondbacks' pitcher Max Scherzer on May 31 and was expected to be out two to three days.

The injury did, however, force Kotchman on the 15-day disabled list and was activated on June 16.

On July 31, 2009, Kotchman was acquired by the Red Sox in a trade for first baseman Adam LaRoche.

In Kotchman's first game with the Red Sox, he hit a two-run home run off of Joba Chamberlain.

With the Red Sox, Kotchman hit .218 with three doubles, one home run, seven RBIs, and one stolen base in 29 games.

This gave Kotchman a combined average of .268 with 23 doubles, seven home runs, 48 RBIs, and 39 walks in 126 games between Boston and Atlanta.

In early January the Red Sox traded him to the Seattle Mariners for utility player Bill Hall, a minor league player, and cash.

On February 3, Kotchman and the Mariners agreed on a new contract, avoiding salary arbitration.

On June 3, 2010, Kotchman set the Major League Baseball individual streak record with 2,003 consecutive chances without an error.

He connected for the game-winning RBI single in the 9th inning on July 13 against the Rangers.

He collected a career-best four hits in 1 game on August 17 against the Boston Red Sox.

On July 29,, Kotchman was traded to the Atlanta Braves along with minor league pitcher Stephen Marek for first baseman Mark Teixeira.

Kotchman started his tenure with the Braves by batting just .157 in his first 20 games but he ended the season with a .237 batting average.

He left the June 16 game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 7th after being hit on the helmet by a pickoff throw at second base by Dodgers catcher Russell Martin and was diagnosed with a mild concussion and received three stitches behind his right ear.

On June 25, he returned to the starting lineup after missing seven games.

He logged the first three triples of his career.

He connected for his second career grand slam in the first inning on May 14 against the Texas Rangers.

He had a .997 fielding percentage and was ranked fourth among AL first basemen (3 E/1049 TC) in the 2007 season.